Jennifer Mellott

School Business Manager

Southern Fulton School District

06.2019 - Current

Results-driven School Business Manager with 6 years of experience overseeing the budgeting process, transportation, food service management, technology implementations, buildings and grounds initiatives, RFP processes and procurement, human resources responsibilities, budgeting and audit processes, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
Focused on optimizing resources to ensure smooth operations within regulatory frameworks utilizing the resources available to achieve district goals.
Collect and calculate budgeted requests, salaries and benefits, projections of future costs of operational expenses, and compiled data into budget reports presented to the Board of Directors for annual budget approval. Once approved, budget submitted to the PA Department of Education for approval and implementation.
Facilitate collaboration between all administrative heads by implementing regular meetings to establish strategic goals related to finances, facilities management, human resources, and technology infrastructure, and more by providing relevant financial information that aligns with strategic goals in order to budget effectively for future years and activities.
Strengthened financial transparency by developing and distributing clear, easy-to-understand budget reports to all stakeholders.
Improved financial efficiency by streamlining budgeting processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
Complete monthly financial reporting, including reconciliation of bank accounts, credit card accounts, and general ledger accounts to ensure all payables and receivables are accounted for, and to ensure accuracy for future expenditures and reduce the risk of fraudulent activities.
Review and prepare budgets for federal grant funding and state grant funding, as well as complete quarterly reporting and cash-on-hand reports for compliance to state and federal guidelines.
Ensure timely and successful completion of annual audits by maintaining accurate financial records and liaising effectively with external auditors, resulting in no findings and 100% compliance.
Develop financial statements, including an analysis of the balance sheet and profit and loss statement, and the Management Discussion and Analysis yearly for stakeholder review.
Developed a multi-year capital plan that addressed necessary improvements in school buildings while managing costs effectively over time.
Streamlined purchasing process by creating clear guidelines which helped reduce unnecessary expenses.
Implemented data-driven decision making strategies across all aspects of business operations within the school setting resulting in improved overall effectiveness.
Evaluated existing software tools used within the organization for finance-related tasks; recommended and implemented software to reduce the burden on administration and staff for payroll reporting and absence tracking.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations by staying current on policy changes and updating school procedures accordingly.
Manage procurement processes, ordering, tracking, and receiving to ensure timely delivery of essential supplies and services while minimizing costs by comparison shopping with vendors, reducing shipping costs, and evaluating long-standing contracts.
Negotiate favorable contracts with vendors, securing quality products at competitive prices for the school community.
Spearhead technology initiatives to support student learning and academic excellence, especially during the school closures related to the 2020 pandemic, which included management and distribution of wireless hotspots, chromebooks, and other technology-related items needed for remote learning.
Prepare and monitor budget of about $15 million yearly in order to ensure reduction of waste spending, and that over-arching strategic planning is achieved.
Investment of surplus funds into high-interest bearing accounts to maximize resources to the fullest.
State and federal reporting required on a yearly, quarterly, or monthly basis relating to grants, transportation, food service, debt management, payroll for retirement, and additional reporting as necessary.
Manage payroll processes and all that it encompasses, and reporting necessary for payroll processes.
Any other additional duties as assigned.

Summary

Overview

Work History

School Business Manager

Education

Master of Science - Educational Leadership And Management

Bachelor of Science - Accounting And Finance

Associate of Science - Business Administration

Skills

Timeline

School Business Manager

Master of Science - Educational Leadership And Management

Bachelor of Science - Accounting And Finance

Associate of Science - Business Administration

Similar Profiles

Allison GreenAllison Green

Kara O'MalleyKara O'Malley

Kara FarrandsKara Farrands

Daniel BrownDaniel Brown

Jacob SimpsonJacob Simpson