Deputy Commissioner Of Finance (Deputy Director II)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values:

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.

• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.

• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.

• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

The posted salary range budgeted for this position is between $17,519 and $22,019 monthly. New hires will be typically brought into the agency at a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification in the Office of Finance unless the average pay exceeds the midpoint for the state position's classification salary group. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications, and we will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who far exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Deputy Commissioner of Finance serves as a key member of the agency's executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Commissioner of Education, and is responsible for all internal operations related to financial services, public school funding, and the administration of state and federal grants. The position partners with agency cabinet members and other staff to support the execution of agency priorities and serves as a key thought-partner on strategic initiatives with cabinet members and the commissioner.

The Deputy Commissioner of Finance works under minimal supervision and extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Ideal candidates will hold a deep, authentic belief in TEA's mission, be an outstanding personnel and team manager, and be highly skilled in change management and stakeholder engagement. Successful candidates will have deep knowledge of and expertise in public financial services, administration, management, and grants, as well as prior experience with the Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) process and experience working with the Texas legislature.

Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check and financial background check.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

• Management and Supervision: Supervises an office of approximately 240 staff including three agency departments that provide core financial services to the agency, school districts and charter schools, and other stakeholders: the Department of Agency Finance, the Department of School Finance, and the Department of Grant Compliance and Administration; serves as the administrative supervisor and liaison between the commissioner and the agency internal auditor; fosters a positive and cohesive organizational culture; and models exemplary management practices and supports department efforts to attract, develop, and retain high-performing staff.

• Strategic Allocation of Agency Resources: Leads strategies to ensure that the agency makes the best possible decisions regarding the allocation of its administrative and programmatic funds; ensures that the agency budget is aligned with the commissioner's priorities and that internal financial systems and processes support TEA's overall strategic approach; identifies methods within the regulatory framework that maximize the funds that can be used to improve student outcomes; and advises the commissioner on short- and long-term budgetary planning.

• Operations and Processes: Empowers departments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of internal financial processes in collaboration with programmatic teams; applies strong management practices to motivate and support staff to achieve ambitious goals; ensures that finance staff provide excellent customer service and support to agency stakeholders; and uses continuous improvement strategies to streamline business processes and to identify and eliminate redundant or unnecessary functions.

• Transparency and Accountability: Leads agency efforts to improve the transparency of the public school finance system; oversees communications efforts to clarify requirements to school districts and charter schools and provide accurate financial data and analysis to all agency stakeholders, including state legislators; ensures that legislative and gubernatorial directives are executed and financial audit-related action plans are implemented; and advises the commissioner throughout each legislative session regarding public school finance and related statutory requirements.

• Compliance and Reporting: Ensures that all agency financial processes comply with federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations based on an established system of internal controls; supervises teams that monitor local educational agencies and grant subrecipients for appropriate administration and reporting of federal and state funds; oversees processes that ensure that the agency submits all required federal and state financial reports by applicable deadlines; and reviews and approves the agency's Legislative Appropriations Request and other key budget documents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in public financial management and finance leadership.

Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military

• Exemplary talent management practices, including the ability to recruit, develop, and retain talented financial professionals; ability to lead and manage large teams of people and to be part of a large, complex organization

• Excellent judgment, integrity, and commitment to personal responsibility and accountability

• Knowledge of state budgeting processes, including the Legislative Appropriations Request process, fiscal note development, and detailed knowledge of the General Appropriations Act bill pattern for the Texas Education Agency

• Experience with state and federal grant and contracting legal requirements and practices and state and federal auditing requirements

• Complete fluency in Microsoft Excel and related tools

• Experience with analytics tools, ERP systems, and/or CRM systems (preferred)

• Broad knowledge of public education policy and practice, the Texas public school finance system, including the property tax system and school system funding formulas, and school system budgets and budgeting processes (preferred)

• Strong project management and performance management skills

• Skill in business process redesign (and track record) to improve efficiency, including deploying aligned modifications to management information systems

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to effectively communicate with stakeholders including education service center (ESC) staff, school district staff, and TEA program areas

• Ability to work collaboratively with agency leadership team to reach agency goals and strategic priorities

• Ability to think and problem solve at a systems-level (as opposed to a program- or organizational-delivery level)

• Ability to deal productively with ambiguity and conflict

• Skill in balancing competing priorities and driving teams towards results

• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.