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Reports to: County Superintendent ofSchools
Division: Administrative Services

Our ideal candidate
You are an excellent and visionary leader with many years of experience, preferably in school/district leadership, the field of accounting, school finance, or business administration. You take pride in the services you and your division provide to school districts and County Education Office programs and departments, and you inspire others to strive for excellence. You have a track record of success in overseeing fiscal, budget, facilities, risk management, and informational technology matters. You are adept at improving systems, bringing people together for collaboration and decision-making. You effectively handle and manage multiple projects simultaneously. You have a high level of discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive situations, and you provide insightful counsel. You work well with your Cabinet colleagues and a variety of people who are at varying levels of school business knowledge and sophistication. You are an excellent communicator, both orally and in writing, and are effective at simplifying complex financial concepts.

General description
A senior management position reporting directly to the County Superintendent of Schools and responsible for the administration of the Administrative Services Division (School Business Advisory Services, Internal Services, North County Facility, and Information Technology Services). Convene meetings with local education agencies in support of their fiscal operations. Plan, organize, coordinate, and provide guidance and direction to assigned department heads, managers, and staff. Ensure that school districts and the County Education Office's programs receive proper advice regarding all aspects of their financial responsibilities, including fiscal integrity. Perform special projects as assigned by the County Superintendent and interpret policies, rules, and regulations as required. Assume responsibility for the continued operation of the County Education Office in the absence of the County Superintendent of Schools.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to departments within the division to assure that school district and County Education Office programs receive a consistently high level of service and that the budgetary, financial accounting, facilities, risk management, information technology support, and management service functions operate in a high quality and reliable manner.
• Advise the County Superintendent on all fiscal matters, including proposed and enacted legislation and the effects of the legislation.
• Advise school district management and boards regarding decisions related to funding, legislation, business, maintenance and operations, transportation, food service, and political issues.
• Select, train and direct personnel as required; conduct regular performance reviews; confer with division staff and management personnel to identify and resolve problems, conflicts, and controversies.
• Ensure reports are prepared in a timely manner according to the goals and directives of the County Superintendent and State, Federal, and other laws and regulations.
• Meet with and/or facilitate committees, Boards, advisory groups and other meetings to recommend courses of action and uses of allocated resources and to communicate assigned program activities and plans.
• Serve as a member of the SBCEO negotiations team as assigned.
• Ensure the monitoring of the financial conditions of school districts and, as needed, provide consultative services to school district superintendents, business managers, and other district staff.
• Represent the County Education Office at a variety of meetings with other agencies, companies, or individuals as needed.
• Represent the County Education Office and districts at the SISC JPA Boards for property and liability and for health care as assigned.
• Participate in workshops, conferences, meetings, and seminars in school business and finance and provide reports and interpretation of such meetings to appropriate staff of the County Education Office.
• Maintain communication with other County Offices of Education, State Department of Education, school districts, and County Education Office programs with respect to current issues regarding school finance.
• Provide leadership in the preparation of statistical data related to the fiscal operation of school districts and the County Education Office by preparing reports, correspondence, and memorandums; initiate studies and surveys as necessary.
• Advise on the preparation and monitoring of the annual and interim department/program budgets and the completion of financial documents and reports.
• Perform other senior administrative duties as assigned by the County Superintendent.
• Perform other essential job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities: a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration or related field; responsible experience in business and information technology, including at least five years of experience at a management level with progressively increasing responsibility, preferably in a school or governmental setting. Preferred: Master’s degree and/or CASBO Chief Business Official Certification or equivalent.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of governmental budgeting and accounting.
• Principles and practices of administration, fiscal management, training, and supervision.
• Principles and practices of information technology management and school business services.
• Organization, policies, practices and operations of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
• Applicable laws, regulations and policies affecting the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
• Facilities modernization practices.
• Legislative process and monitoring legislation as it affects the operations of the Santa Barbara County Education Office and school districts.
• Budget preparation and control.
• Reading, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Problem-solving techniques.
• Public relations techniques.
• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including proficiency in a variety of business software programs.

Ability to:

• Work effectively with other professionals in school business, facilities, legal, and information technology fields.
• Develop specifications for technical studies and communicate technical information effectively.
• Research complex problems, reach logical conclusions, and make high quality decisions and recommendations.
• Administer and effectively direct the work of others.
• Communicate effectively through speech and writing, including interactive and multimodal presentations.
• Interact with others using tact, patience, and courtesy including regarding topics of a politically sensitive nature.
• Meet schedules and timelines and set priorities to manage many tasks and projects at once.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Plan and organize work, including that of others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Train and supervise others.
• Work confidentially and with discretion.
• Monitor the budget of the County Education Office.
• Prepare and administer appropriate department/program budgets.
• Serve as a planning consultant to the County Superintendent.
• Advocate for education funding and legislation at local, state, and federal levels.
• Represent the County Superintendent at meetings and other activities as requested.

Licenses and certificates
Incumbents in this class must possess a valid California Driver's License and insurance coverage as required by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Working conditions
Typical office environment; subject to driving to a variety of locations to conduct work. Subject to weekend and evening work.

Classified Senior Management Salary Schedule

Approved by the Personnel Commission: Jan. 25, 1996
Revised: Sept. 23, 1999
Revised: Oct. 13, 2022
Revised: Nov. 17, 2022