School Finance Manager- Charter Schools (CFO/Director of Finance)

About the role

The School Finance Manager serves as a strategic financial partner for a portfolio of charter schools across the country, acting as an outsourced CFO to help education leaders make informed decisions through financial analysis, forecasting, and operational guidance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor for a portfolio of 5-8 schools, providing outsourced CFO support, strategic guidance, and operational expertise.
• Advising leadership teams and boards on financial strategy, operational decisions, policies, and long-term planning.
• Develop financial forecasts, budgets, and strategic models aligned with school goals and sustainability objectives.
• Present financial insights and recommendations during finance committee and board meetings.
• Analyze financial data, identify challenges, and develop practical solutions tailored to each school’s unique needs.
• Build strong relationships with school leaders and proactively identify opportunities to improve financial performance and operational effectiveness.
• Support school finance processes by collaborating with internal specialists and analysts.
• Provide informal guidance and development support to finance team members working on school-specific processes.
• Contribute to the improvement and innovation of finance services, tools, and best practices.
• Balance strategic financial leadership with hands-on involvement in accounting processes, reporting, and operational problem-solving.
• Support schools at different stages of growth by providing customized financial expertise and recommendations.

Requirements

• Experienced school finance professional with strategic thinking, financial expertise, and a passion for supporting educational organizations.
• Comfortable working independently, managing multiple client relationships, and communicating financial insights to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to a school finance function, preferably in a School Finance Manager, CFO, or Director of Finance capacity.
• Experience working as part of a school leadership team or closely partnering with school executives.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and financial analysis.
• Experience using accounting software and interpreting financial reports.
• Intermediate Excel skills, including formulas such as VLOOKUPs and SUMIFS.
• Strong quantitative analysis, strategic planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to adapt financial strategies and solutions to the unique needs of different schools.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts to audiences with varying levels of financial knowledge.
• Ability to advise and challenge executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and time management skills in a fast-paced environment.
• General comfort with technology tools and systems, including cloud-based productivity platforms.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a distributed team.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and supporting educational communities.

Benefits

• Salary range of $96,217 - $128,690 per year, based on experience and geographic location.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible location options.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting schools and improving student outcomes.
• Professional growth opportunities through innovation projects and best practice development.
• Inclusive workplace culture that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
• Opportunity to work directly with school leaders and contribute to strategic decision-making.