Waller named JCSD Director of Business Services

JOHNSTON, IA (Dec. 9, 2021) — Maria K. Waller has been hired as the Johnston Community School District’s Director of Business Services, filling the vacancy created by Ryan Eidahl being hired as the district’s Chief Financial Officer. She will begin her work in the district on Jan. 3.

Waller is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a certified administrator of school finance and operations (SFO) who has served as business manager for Sauk Centre Public Schools in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, for the past 12 years.

In her new role, Waller will manage the day-to-day implementation of all business functions at the Johnston Community School District. That includes overseeing employee benefit programs, maintaining accounting records for all departments and schools in the district, and supervising payroll, purchasing procedures, accounts payable and receivables.

“I have been hoping to find an opportunity to get back to my hometown of Des Moines and was very excited to see this opening,” Waller said. “I pride myself on being an enthusiastic and passionate leader while contributing to the strategic direction of the district. School finance is my passion and I am eager to join a team dedicated to providing the best quality education to all students.”

A few of Waller’s essential responsibilities as Director of Business Services will include supervising business office personnel, preparing state reports including the Certified Annual Report (CAR), monitoring an accurate account of all bills payable, and presenting them to the school board monthly for audit and approval.

“Maria brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about accounting and school finance to this position,” Superintendent Laura Kacer said. “We are excited to welcome her back home to Iowa, to have her join our district leadership team, and to help us continue our district’s longstanding reputation of being financially healthy.”

Before her current role, Waller worked as a staff accountant and tax preparer for accounting firms in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in economics from St. Cloud State University.

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