The Washington Township Board of Education named Janine Wechter as the District’s new School Business Administrator/Board Secretary effective August 1, 2019.  Wechter, a 1991 graduate of Washington Township High School, assumed oversight of the District’s $150 million operating budget as its chief financial officer.

Wechter, a certified public accountant and qualified purchasing agent, arrived in Washington Township with considerable experience in the field, having worked as a shared school business administrator at both the Logan Township and South Harrison school districts (2009-15). She assumed a solo stint at Logan Township (2015-19) and spent the past year as the business administrator for the Gloucester City Public Schools. In these positions, Wechter was responsible for all financial operations, budget preparation and administration, insurance and risk management oversight, and grants administration and reporting. She also was responsible for oversight of transportation, food services, purchasing, personnel, technology, buildings and grounds, and maintenance departments.

Wechter began her professional career with Bowman and Company, LLP, in 1996 and rising to a supervisory role with a specialization in governmental accounting responsible for performing audits of New Jersey school districts, municipalities, counties, authorities, fire districts and non-profits. She spent six years (2013-19) as a member of the Gloucester County Advisory Board.  She also served stints as treasurer and secretary of the Gloucester County Association of School Business Officials.

In her Washington Township role, Wechter supervises the assistant school business administrator as well as the managers of the purchasing, operations, security and human resources departments, and the manager of the performing arts center.  She also oversees business office personnel. She serves as the District’s school safety specialist, affirmative action officer, public agency compliance officer and District ADA coordinator for facilities. Additionally, Wechter is responsible for the District’s risk management program and the oversight of processing legal and insurance claims. She assumes all duties of the Board Secretary, as the custodian of all securities, documents, records, bonds, title papers and other papers belonging to the Board of Education.

Wechter holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Rowan University (1995).  She obtained her CPA in 2002, her school business administrator certification in 2011 and her license as a qualified purchasing agent in 2013.