School Finance Partner

About the role

The School Finance Partner at National Heritage Academies (NHA) is an active member of a high‑functioning, fast‑moving team and plays a critical role in supporting school and student needs. Reporting to the Manager of School Finance in the Financial Services group, this position monitors, analyzes, and advises on budget decisions for multiple funding sources across our schools. Success requires motivated problem‑solving, strong organizational and time‑management skills, a passion for customer service, and a blend of technical and interpersonal abilities.

This is an in‑person position at the NHA Service Center, 3850 Broadmoor Ave., Grand Rapids, MI.

Company Information

National Heritage Academies partners with communities to build and operate public charter schools. Founded in 1995, NHA now serves over 100 schools in nine states, educating more than 65,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The schools aim to eliminate the achievement gap and provide school choice, preparing children for success in college, career, and life. A majority of schools consistently outperform their local districts on state tests. According to Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes, NHA is a leading performer among charter schools and management organizations, surpassing both conventional district schools and other charter operators. Over 90 % of employees report that their work feels meaningful.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with school leadership and supporting departments to develop, review, and adjust school budgets; provide regular, timely updates on spending to enable proactive decision‑making.
• Evaluate and monitor spending against school budgets for sustainability, allowability, and program alignment.
• Produce timely and accurate financial statements, budget‑related spending reports, and student‑record information using multiple company and state data, financial, and grant system platforms.
• Acquire and maintain expertise regarding applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as accounting rules and regulations.
• Advocate for schools’ needs with departments of education, school boards, and chartering authorizers.
• Communicate clearly with teammates, schools, vendors, Service Center departments, and state education agencies while delivering excellent customer service.
• Assess complex situations and provide solutions both independently and through a comprehensive team approach.
• Assist with programmatic and financial audits as needed.
• Adhere to strict confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; accounting, business, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in business, accounting, or a related field.
• Experience working in interdependent teams requiring strong collaborative skills.
• Self‑directed, highly motivated, and growth‑mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office products, especially Excel.
• Proven ability to analyze and summarize large amounts of data for customers.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adhere to strict timelines and due dates.