UP Education Network: Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

UP Education Network is a nonprofit school management organization whose mission is to rapidly transform chronically underperforming district schools into extraordinary schools that sustain high achievement over time. Our turnaround schools ensure that students acquire the knowledge, skills, and strength of character necessary to succeed on the path to college and to achieve their full potential. UP Education Network currently operates four schools, UP Academy Charter School of Boston (grades 6-8), UP Academy Leonard Middle School (grades 6-8), UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester (grades K1-5), and UP Academy Oliver (grade 6). Across our network, we will serve more than 2500 students in Boston and Lawrence in fall 2014.

Role: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the management and oversight of all aspects of UP Education Network's financial planning and administration for the network office and all network schools. The CFO will lead a team of individuals in developing and implementing a series of systems and procedures that enable UP Education Network to effectively manage its finances and achieve its goals. The CFO will be a member of the organization's senior leadership team and will report directly to the Chief Administrative Officer.

Specific Responsibilities:

Financial systems and controls

• Ensure the network and its schools have effective systems in place for invoice processing and for managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, and balance sheet and cash flow management;
• Support Associate Director of Finance in ensuring that effective training, systems and reports are in place to assist school leaders and department heads with managing their budgets and measuring how actual expenses compare to budgeted expenses;
• Develop systems for monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations and execute necessary items on monthly, quarterly and annual close-out check lists as needed;
• Work with the Associate Director of Finance to develop and maintain a documented system of financial policies and procedures, and ensure these procedures conform to generally accepted accounting principles;
• Ensure the organization is up to date regarding compliance and best practices with school districts, DESE, and other state and federal regulations, tax, and accounting issues; and
• Proactively anticipate and adapt systems, processes, and controls as the organization grows.

Expense, revenue, assets, and cash flow reporting

• Develop systems for effectively projecting, monitoring and analyzing expenses, revenue, assets, and cash flow against budgets and forecasts for UP Education Network and its schools;
• Work with the Associate Director of Finance to ensure UP Education Network and its schools are generating accurate and meaningful financial statements that effectively communicate the organization's financial position to a variety of stakeholders, including the boards of directors, school district leaders, DESE, and institutional funders;
• Serve as primary liaison to CFOs of school districts;
• Assist Associate Director of Finance in developing productive relationships with other members of district finance teams; and
• Work with the Associate Director of Finance to develop systems for ensuring the accurate reconciliation of UP Education Network's school-based finances with district financial systems.

Budgeting and strategic planning processes

• Work with the Associate Director of Finance to design and implement a process for developing an annual budget for UP Education Network and its schools that aligns with the organization's growth, priorities, and goals with input from multiple stakeholders;
• Support the Strategy, Data and Evaluation Team and Chief Executive Officer in developing a strategic plan and long-term financial models for the organization;
• Work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure that communication systems and protocols are developed to effectively coordinate the work of the School Operations Team with the Finance Team; and
• Provide ongoing expertise and guidance related to financial decisions based on budgeted and forecasted expenses, revenue, assets, and cash flow analysis.

Organizational audit, grant-specific audits, and other grant-reporting requirements

• Ensure organization and Horace Mann Charter schools within the network receive a clean audit opinion every year;
• Work with the Associate Director of Finance to develop systems that ensure UP Education Network and its schools are complying with all grant requirements, including requirements for federal and state grants; and
• Review and certify the accuracy of all financial reports for school districts, DESE, and federal entitlements.

Management

• Lead the Finance Team, and provide direct management to members of the team where applicable.

Qualifications:

• A passionate belief in UP Education Network's mission, values, and educational model;
• An eagerness to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals, and a relentless drive to achieve them;
• An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges;
• An obsessive attention to detail and outstanding organizational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong public speaking skills;
• A sense of humility in the face of success;
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in accounting- or business-related field required (Master in Business Administration or CPA certification preferred);
• Five or more years of experience in financial management or a related field required;
• Non-profit financial management, charter school finance and/or public education finance experience preferred; and
• Current authorization to work in the United States – A candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.

Compensation:

We offer a competitive compensation package including comprehensive health benefits.

To Apply:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please visit http:www.upeducationnetwork.org/careers and formally apply for this position through our on-line application system.

UP Education Network is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by applicable law. This policy extends to, but is not limited to, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination.

How to apply

To Apply:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please visit http:www.upeducationnetwork.org/careers and formally apply for this position through our on-line application system.