Description
About the Finance Team
As a key member of the four-person finance team reporting to the Director of Finance the Strategic Finance Manager is responsible for serving as a financial adviser and running the analyses behind our key organizational risks. As a function the finance team reports directly to the CFO and serves as a strategic internal consultancy on major decisions.
The objective of the finance team is to maximize student outcomes over the long term through the efficient effective and sustainable allocation of financial resources. This is accomplished through an effective balance of hard and soft skills as our work is rooted in empowering organizational leaders who bring academic expertise and proximity to students with high-quality financial information and advising to make effective decisions.
Position Summary
As the Strategic Finance Manager you will be a key member on our finance team bringing a blend of technical expertise and strong strategic thinking to guide the organizations financial health. This role will focus on both long-term financial strategy and day-to-day fiscal operations ensuring the delivery of accurate reliable financial information that drives strategic decision-making organizational improvement and efficient resource allocation. By building strong processes sustainable financial models and clear analytical frameworks you will give valuable time back to our school and regional teams.
Core to the role is serving as a financial advisor to our principals operations managers and senior leaders managing a portfolio of cross-functional projects at the intersection of real estate compensation and general operations. Youll lead all real estate financing efforts from due diligence on large loans to capital planning and own the annual compensation process for the region. Attention to detail and proactiveness are essential as you will be responsible for both executing on our financial strategy and anticipating challenges before they become problems.
The ideal candidate is a proactive and resourceful problem-solver who thrives in a collaborative environment. They bring curiosity flexibility and a strong ability to translate complex financial analysis into clear actionable insights for non-financial audiences. This role is a critical member of the finance team.
This role sits on our Finance Team and reports to our Director of Finance. This is a hybrid role with the expectation that 3 days per week be spent at our Regional Support Office in Oakland.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
3 years of progressive experience in finance with a strong preference for experience in non-profit finance or education finance. Experience working in K-12 charter education is a plus.
Direct participation in financial planning and analysis with proven ability to manage large-scale budgets.
Experience with cross-functional project leadership collaborating with various teams and stakeholders to achieve organizational goals.
Knowledge/skills required:
Proficient to advanced skills in Excel and financial software specifically with Workday Adaptive Planning (formerly Workday Adaptive Insights).
Strong skills and comfort with Microsoft Excel PowerPoint and Google Suite
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate financial data into clear actionable insights for non-financial audiences.
Expert at (and enjoys) building models and structuring analyses
Analytical and strategic thinker who considers pros and cons across multiple functions and stakeholders
Manages up and sets expectations constantly against competing deadlines from stakeholders
Results-oriented with attention to detail
Builds relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and utilizes strong communication and presentation skills to influence across functions
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Serve as a financial adviser
Advise and serve as a thought partner with school principals and operations managers (5-10 schools) on fiscal operating decisions and multi-year planning and collaborate with them to achieve financial sustainability goals.
Partner closely with Regional Directors and other Budget Managers to drive strong financial outcomes through collaborative planning data-informed decision-making and proactive support on regional budgeting and sustainability efforts.
Thought partnering with our Special Education team on their $20M annual budget spending decisions communications and multi-year expense projections.
Partner with the Real Estate team ensuring that all of our facility expense forecasts across the region are prudent and accurate. Support the Real Estate team on the financial affordability of any facility agreements.
Lead analysis and metrics for key strategic initiatives
Run analyses monitor financial performance and recommend solutions. Analyze trends in spending and behavior to maximize resource allocation and student results.
Lead all real estate financing efforts including financial modeling for project underwriting due diligence on $10M loan issuances and capital planning. Support senior finance leaders in executing real estate financial strategy assessing new campus viability monitoring financial health managing lender relationships securing short-term construction financing and determining timing for tax-exempt bond offerings.
Own and lead all compensation work for the region including conducting annual compensation refreshes for faculty and staff gathering and analyzing market benchmarks developing compensation recommendations and updating compensation structures to ensure equity competitiveness and financial sustainability.
Support the cash management strategy including monitoring cash flow updating interest income projections and optimizing liquidity to maximize returns.
Grow into a finance team leader
Contribute to the multi-year vision and annual initiatives for the finance team.
Support the finance teams culture of continuous learning and shared voice through frequent participation and leadership in team meetings.
Special projects as determined.
Physical Mental and Environmental Demands
Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs. Physical agility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively which may include kneeling walking pushing/pulling squatting twisting turning bending stooping and reaching overhead
Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives work with interruptions concentrate for long periods of time read calculate perform routine math problems memorize and recall objects and people.
Environmental: Office environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. KIPP adheres to health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC CDE and public health agencies recommendations.
Classification
This is a full-time exempt position based on a full year calendar cycle based out of our Regional Support Office. The KIPP Regional Support Office operates in a hybrid environment. Most positions can expect to work in person 3 days per week and remotely the remaining days subject to change based on the needs of the role.
About KIPP Public Schools Northern California
We are a thriving nonprofit network of 23 free public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities we create joyful academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choosecollege career and beyondso they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
Our student community consists of nearly 7000 elementary middle and high school students in East Palo Alto Oakland San Francisco San Lorenzo San Jos Redwood City and Stockton. 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch 34% are multilingual learners and 12% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students diversity.
Compensation
KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your familys well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical dental vision and transportation benefits.
We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $90000 and $113000. Most candidates would be compensated at $97000.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume by clicking apply on this page.