School Finance Officer

Overview

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applicants for the position of School Finance Officer at the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA), a statewide residential school that provides advanced programs of study in vocal music, theatre, visual arts, media arts, dance, and literary arts. The Mississippi School of the Arts is located on the historic Whitworth College Campus in Brookhaven, Mississippi, which is approximately 60 miles south of Jackson, the state capital.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WORK: This is highly technical and administrative work in providing technical assistance and in-service training, and directing the activities of the accounting/business office of the MS School of the Arts to ensure sound financial management. Work involves on-site management and training on an accounting system mandated by the State Department of Audit. Incumbent exercises authority in establishing objectives, standards, and control measures within the context of policy guidelines for school financial management.

Incumbent evaluates MSA financial operations and performance by analyzing all major fiscal activities of the district. Incumbent advises the school board and superintendent on financial matters. Reports are prepared and submitted to the school board and School Superintendent, the Director of Educational Accountability, the State Superintendent of Education, and the State Board of Education for appropriate action.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Examples of work performed in this classification include, but are not limited to, the following:
Evaluation, implementation, and creation when necessary, of sound accounting practices for the MS School of the Arts in alignment with purchasing laws. Evaluates and monitors MSA’s financial accounting procedures, Financial Audit Report Corrective Action Plans, and Deficit District Corrective Plan, and provides MSA with financial management using generally accepted accounting principles and the State Department of Audit’s Public School District Financial Accounting Manual.

Performs technical review, analysis and edits of financial reports using knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, rules and regulations established by the State Department of Education, the State Department of Audit and the State Legislature. Provide technical assistance and oversight to all accounting practices of the MS School of the Arts; provide training to staff for their roles in the functionality of the school.

Perfo rms internal audits of all accounts and practices conducted by school personnel. Monitor central office human resource functions conducted by school personnel. Prepares reports to the MSA Executive Director, the State Superintendent of Education, and the State Board of Education on financial status. Performs related or similar duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

A Master’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, business administration, school administration, or related field,

AND

Experience:

Seven (7) years experience in work related to the above-described duties;

OR

Education:

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, business administration, school administration or a related field,

AND

Experience:

Eight (8) years experience in work related to the above-described duties.

Substitution Statement
Certification by the State of Mississippi as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) may be substituted for two (2) years for the required work experience; OR Certification by the Institute of Internal Auditors as a Certified Internal Auditor may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Additional essential functions may be identified and included by the hiring agency. The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Interested persons can access the application brookhaven.org and email to employment. Inquiries may be made to Suzanne Hirsch at  or by email sch. The deadline for application is February 25, 2026. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by phone.

The Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi School of the Arts do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

(Mississippi School of the Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer)

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