Management – Page 4 – FiscalShare

Tag: Management

Shock Points: Hiring an Analyst Part II

I find that among the ranks of young and eager accounting graduates who enter school district business offices there is a certain percentage who go into shock soon after they first arrive. Despite our efforts to select someone who is both enthusiastic and capable, these “shock points” are generally in the following areas: Lack of knowledge

September 28, 2013 Short URLaccounting, analysis, analyst, budget, business, employee engagement, employment, expectations, getting fired, government, graduate, job requirements, jobs, Management, problem solving, public education, stepping upAccounting, School District Jobs, Working Together

Boxes, In and Out

When the old boss first arrived she reviewed a particular process and said, “Just tell me one thing. Tell me the reason you aren’t following the accounting manual.” She elaborated that it is OK to break the rules if you have a well-reasoned argument. It is not OK if you don’t even know what the

September 24, 2013 Short URLbusiness, customer experience, disruption, job description, Management, old guard, problem solving, thinking outside the boxWorking Together

Workarounds

Not too long ago I put this one word sign on my desk: Workaround? The meaning being that I should constantly ask myself “Is this a workaround?” If yes, fix the root cause. Perhaps I am working around a person I don’t trust? That has to be addressed too. Workarounds arise when you have to

September 23, 2013 Short URLbusiness, computers, continuous improvement, fiscal, information technology, Management, problem solving, process. software, workaroundsBook Reviews, Working Together

Technology and Job Descriptions

When you work in the Business Office, you have to stick your nose into everyone’s business. For example I remember getting involved in a controversy about job descriptions for clerical positions at school sites. Wouldn’t that be an issue between Human Resources and school principals, you ask? Well, no. Not when you are charged with

September 22, 2013 Short URLanalysis, bell curve, computers, data, early adopters, Excel, grievance, information technology, innovators, job descriptions, laggards, Management, technology, VisicalcAnalysis, Data, Excel, Working Together

Silos, at School and Work

When my son was in the 6th grade I met with his math teacher, because he had said he “hated math”. I said, your students are learning about ancient Egypt in Social Studies, which he really enjoys. Couldn’t the students learn about Egyptian mathematics and how the ancient Egyptians may have discovered these concepts? This suggestion fell

September 20, 2013 Short URLdysfunctional organizations, job description, Management, problem solving, promotion, silos, workWorking Together

Hiring an Analyst: Inside Scoop

In a school district business office there is usually a position called Budget Analyst. When I first went to the Pretty Big School District I needed to fill a Budget Analyst vacancy. I started by talking to current staff to see who would be interested in applying. One (I thought) promising employee asked “do you need to

September 19, 2013 Short URLaccounting, accounting analyst, analysis, budget, budget analyst, data, Excel, hiring, job interview, Management, modellingAnalysis, Data, Excel, School District Jobs, Working Together

What’s my Job, Really

Those of us in the business of education usually have no classroom experience. When first entering into this field we generally defer to the instructional experts and function in support roles. You want me to crunch the numbers on that proposal? Sure! You need us to report your program expenditures to the state? Done! But

September 16, 2013 Short URLbusiness, job description, Management, partnership, preschool, school finance, supportWorking Together

Data Woes

Every business transaction creates data. Ensuring easy and efficient transaction entry is on the top of everyone’s list when evaluating a new financial system. However, information must not only get into a system it must get out again. The main methods of retrieving data are canned reports, and dumping data into Excel for ad hoc analysis. The Dangers

September 2, 2013 Short URLdata, errors, Excel, Management, reports, responsibility, validationData, Excel