EdPost

School District Business Support Manager

Central Minnesota Educational Research & Development Council (cmERDC)

Salary: $100,000+ (commensurate with experience)
Location: Central Minnesota | Remote/Hybrid Negotiable
Travel: Regular travel within 14 central Minnesota counties (mileage reimbursed)
Benefits: Full benefits package
Professional Membership: MASBO annual fee paid

Position Summary

cmERDC is seeking an experienced School Business Support Manager to provide regional leadership and support for school district finance and payroll operations across central Minnesota.

This role is ideal for current or former Minnesota school business officials or school district auditors who want to leverage their expertise across multiple districts while avoiding the day-to-day pressures of running a single district.

The position combines strategic advisory work, team leadership, and systems expertise, with a focus on SMART Systems Finance and Payroll support.

Key Responsibilities

Regional School Business Support

• Provide consultative support to school district business officials in 14 central Minnesota counties.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert in:
  • Minnesota school finance and government accounting standards
  • MDE reporting and audit preparation
  • SMART Systems (Finance, Payroll, TimeTracker)
• Support districts with systems optimization, internal controls, staff training, and audit readiness.

Team Leadership

• Lead cmERDC’s SMART Systems Finance and Payroll support team, including:
  • 1 Payroll / Payroll-Finance support position
  • 2 Finance support positions
  • 1 AP/PO & Payroll support position
  • 6 Payroll support positions
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and workload coordination for a collaborative professional team.

Support Development

• Co-create a new shared-account position in collaboration with:
  • cmERDC Board Personnel Committee
  • Selected Active Member Districts
• Help define support scope, structure, and sustainability for this shared-support model.

Required Qualifications

• Current or former Minnesota school district business manager, finance director, or school district auditor.
• Demonstrated experience with Minnesota school finance systems and reporting.
• Required working knowledge of:
  • SMART Systems (Finance, Payroll, TimeTracker)
  • Government accounting practices and standards
  • MDE reporting requirements
• Experience leading or mentoring professional staff preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly within central Minnesota.

Why Consider cmERDC

• Regional impact without single-district pressure
• Strategic advisory role rather than transactional processing
• Leadership opportunity with an established, specialized team
• Stable organization with competitive compensation and benefits
• Continued engagement with MASBO and Minnesota school finance peers

To Apply:

Email to LHaagenson@cmERDC.org your:

• Cover Letter
• Three recent (within one calendar year) letters of recommendation
• Resume

The Selection Process:

• This position posting will remain active until the position is filled
  • Applicants selected to interview will be notified by January 5, 2026
  • Interviews will be scheduled the week of January 8-12, 2026
  • Successful selected candidate will be contacted by January 12, 2026
    • If no candidate is selected from among the first round the

process will repeat using applications received January 8-12.

• Selected candidates contacted January 12, 2026
• Interviews the week of January 15 – January 19, 2026.

Lowell Haagenson, Ed.D.
Executive Director

Supporting education through collaborative relationships.

t. 320.257.1924

c. 320.492.9092

e. lhaagenson@erdc.k12.mn.us

w. www.cmerdc.org

Proudly inviting stakeholders into collaborative relationships

with knowledgeable staff focused on organizational best practices,

relevant innovative solutions and measurable results.