Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Professional Development
Timeline
Generic

Kris Terwilleger

Summary

Strategic finance leader with experience in school district budgeting, accounting, payroll, and financial operations. Demonstrated success in forecasting, financial analysis, and treasury oversight to drive fiscal responsibility and support academic priorities. Skilled in maintaining accurate ledgers and reconciliation reports, auditing transactions, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Proven ability to improve financial systems, strengthen internal controls, and lead efficient reporting and process improvements to sustain a sound financial structure for public education environments.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Finance

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
08.2023 - Current


  • Assisted in the successful passage of a $150 million bond measure during the November 2024 election, contributing to the district's capital improvement initiatives.
  • Contribute to the development and ongoing revisions of the annual expenditure budget.
  • Direct capital project and bond funds toward approved projects and purchases, ensuring proper accounting of restricted resources.
  • Assisted in the fiscal planning and community engagement efforts for the closure of five schools for the 2025-2026 school year, ensuring transparent decision-making, responsible resource allocation, and minimal disruption to students and staff.
  • Coordination of external audits of district financials, ensuring compliance with Arizona audit standards and federal requirements.
  • Improved budgeting controls by implementing budget control groups for departments and school sites.
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department and implement best practices to enhance services and operational functions.
  • Provide financial guidance to schools and departments and enforce policies to ensure responsible stewardship of funds.
  • Maintain effective fiscal management systems with appropriate controls, reporting mechanisms, and support protocols for schools and departments.
  • Collaborate with district leaders and assist the Executive Director of Business Services in communicating financial matters to community members, ensuring transparency.
  • Ensure the fair allocation of financial resources to align with student-focused outcomes as outlined by the Governing Board and Superintendent guardrails.
  • Enhance department efficiency and foster excellence by overseeing the implementation of employee cross-training initiatives, ensuring staff readiness for complex projects.
  • Oversee employee functions, including staff supervision and development, project and duty reassignment, and the creation of new opportunities for cross-training and career growth.
  • Led budgeting process, collaborating with department heads to allocate resources strategically and ensure alignment with organizational goals.


Director of Business Services

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2022 - 01.2023
  • Supervised the accounts payable department, procurement, payroll, and warehouse operations, ensuring efficient processing and adherence to USFR compliance and district policy.
  • Outlined the implementation of a new purchasing card program to streamline purchasing, reduce errors, and achieve cost savings.
  • Facilitated audits by preparing and submitting required documentation.
  • Enhanced budgeting and forecasting by promoting continuous improvement and best practices.
  • Assisted with procurement for new facility construction, facility additions, and furniture, including developing RFPs and bid documents, and advising on product assessments and award recommendations.
  • Collaborated with state and federal program coordinators to resolve grant-related issues.
  • Oversaw tax credit, student activity, and auxiliary funds, the compliance of the funds, and supported high school bookstore managers.
  • Approved requisitions, validated account code assignments, verified remaining budgets using control groups, completed grant reimbursements, and recorded receipts with the Maricopa County Treasurer's Office.

Budget Manager

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2021 - 01.2022
  • Led fund and grant reporting efforts to provide senior management with insights into the district's financial status and supported the preparation and submission of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) through accurate financial recordkeeping.
  • Supported schools and departments in budget management, provided revenue reports, and processed purchase requisitions in compliance with USFR guidance, contract pricing, and School District Procurement Rules.
  • Streamlined the journal entry approval process by automating Excel imports and implementing digital workflows, while maintaining proper separation of duties to uphold internal controls.

Payroll Manager

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2018 - 01.2021
  • Managed payroll operations for over 1,200 staff and substitutes, overseeing payroll processing, workflow management, hours computation, and payroll creation.
  • Improved accuracy by refining processes for deductions, salaries, taxes, benefits, and garnishments while maintaining detailed records to eliminate discrepancies.
  • Collaborated with HR to reduce the number of payrolls by optimizing onboarding, introduced quality assurance measures to enhance accuracy, and implemented TCP for hourly absence tracking and automated holiday pay based on employee roles.
  • Streamlined substitute payroll by establishing an interface in Visions for accurate payment processing.
  • Additionally, reduced the number of work calendars managed, completed annual payroll rollover, and updated payroll tax and retirement rates each year.

Accountant

UNIMARKETA, LLC
01.2014 - 01.2018
  • Built and maintained the accounting structure to support business development and success.
  • Managed month-end and year-end close processes, maintained general ledger records, and ensured accurate accounting information for vendors and customers.
  • Actively contributed to the completion of annual tax returns, payroll processing, payroll tax deposits, quarterly payroll reports, and creation of annual W-2 forms.
  • Oversaw all accounting functions, including the preparation of financial statements, account reconciliations, financial analysis, and accounts payable processing.

Accounts Payable/Fixed Assets/Payroll

DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2006 - 01.2014
  • Accounts payable and fixed asset duties, including invoice review, transaction reconciliation, and vendor account statements.
  • Directed asset tagging, fixed asset inventory management, and supervision of $150M in district assets, conducting annual inventories across 23 facilities while maintaining a 5% variance limit.
  • Prepared financial reports for the One-cent Local Option Sales Tax and Property, Plant, and Equipment Levy Funds.

Education

Master of Science - Accounting

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Phoenix, AZ
12.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Accounting

CLARKE UNIVERSITY
Dubuque, IA
12.1998

Skills

  • Arizona School District Finance & Compliance

  • Budget Development & Oversight

  • Fund Accounting

  • ADE/Grants Management & Reimbursement

  • Payroll & Financial Reporting

  • Procurement & Purchasing

  • RFPs

  • Bids & Vendor Management

  • Reconciliations

  • General Ledger

  • Cash Handling

  • Audit Preparation & Internal Controls

  • Financial Forecasting & Data Analysis

  • Automated Financial Systems

Professional Development

Aspiring School Business Officials Academy, 12/2023

Timeline

Director of Finance

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
08.2023 - Current

Director of Business Services

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2022 - 01.2023

Budget Manager

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2021 - 01.2022

Payroll Manager

QUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2018 - 01.2021

Accountant

UNIMARKETA, LLC
01.2014 - 01.2018

Accounts Payable/Fixed Assets/Payroll

DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
01.2006 - 01.2014

Bachelor of Arts - Accounting

CLARKE UNIVERSITY

Master of Science - Accounting

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

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Kris Terwilleger