Chief Financial Officer

Aspire Public Schools • Oakland, CA

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

Aspire NorCal is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to build and run the budget and multi-year plan, and lead the finance side of the Aspire Los Angeles separation and the one support office. As the senior leader accountable for financial health, stewardship, and long-term sustainability, the CFO will report to the President, serve on the Executive team, and oversee Aspire NorCal's budget of more than $200 million across 22 schools. The CFO will lead finance, accounting, payroll, compliance, and real estate, and partner with the CEO and the Board's Finance and Audit Committees. This leader will translate organizational priorities into sustainable financial plans, make resource trade-offs visible, and build financial discipline and understanding across the organization. The CFO will help the organization make sound long-term decisions while maintaining financial discipline, strong controls, and the capacity to invest in schools and scholars, especially as Aspire NorCal navigates enrollment shifts, changing state and federal funding, and significant facilities needs.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership, including significant experience leading a complex finance function at the executive or senior leadership level.
• Experience serving as a CFO, VP of Finance, or equivalent senior finance leader is strongly preferred.
• Experience leading finance for a multi-site organization with a budget of $50M+.
• Deep knowledge of nonprofit accounting and public-sector finance; California K-12 or charter school finance strongly preferred.
• Expert knowledge of GAAP and federal Uniform Guidance.
• Capital-markets experience, including bond financing and facilities transactions.
• A track record of presenting to a board and audit committee and leading clean audits.
• Proven experience as a strategic thought partner to a CEO and board, translating strategic priorities into operational and financial plans.
• Expert financial modeling and FP&A skills, and fluency with ERP and accounting systems.
• Experience leading and developing a high-performing finance team and building financial literacy among non-finance leaders.
• Bachelor's degree required; CPA and/or MBA preferred.

Nice To Haves

• CPA and/or MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual and multi-year budgeting across schools and the one support office, aligning resources with Aspire NorCal's academic and organizational priorities.
• Lead monthly budget-to-actual and variance reviews with school and support office leaders, and maintain position controls that keep staffing and other major costs within budget.
• Build enrollment forecasts and track their financial impact, working with the Chief Schools Officer.
• Build multi-year, scenario-based financial models and forecasts that make trade-offs and risks clear to the CEO, President, and Board.
• Provide the CEO, President, executive team, and Board with timely financial and operational dashboards to support informed decisions.
• Maximize and diversify revenue, including LCFF, ELO-P, school meals, federal grants, charter-school start-up funds, and philanthropy, while anticipating the financial impact of enrollment and state and federal policy changes.
• Partner with the President and senior leaders to evaluate the operating model, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and align resources with Aspire NorCal's highest priorities.
• Ensure Aspire NorCal maintains a structurally balanced budget, healthy reserves, and the financial capacity to sustain and invest in strong scholar outcomes.
• Oversee accounting, payroll and close to deliver timely, accurate financial statements and clean audits.
• Own payroll accuracy, and lead the payroll and HRIS modernization with the Chief Technology Officer and the people function.
• Lead the finance cutover from Aspire Los Angeles by July 1, 2027, separating books, payroll, banking and audit.
• Own financial and grant compliance, including federal grants under Uniform Guidance and financial reporting to authorizers.
• Refine and enforce internal controls, policies and systems that let a lean team operate at scale.
• Oversee financial review and approval of contracts and binding agreements, working with General Counsel and other functional leaders on complex matters.
• Lead capital-markets activity: bond financings, lines of credit, refinancing and cash investment decisions.
• Optimize cash flow, forecasting and liquidity across Aspire NorCal's schools, and manage banking and lender relationships to strengthen cash management.
• Lead financial modeling, sources and uses, and negotiations for facility acquisitions, leases and construction.
• Lead the financial evaluation of growth and strategic opportunities, including new schools, charter expansions or consolidations, and partnerships.
• Oversee the financial strategy and negotiation of major contracts, including insurance and benefits, in partnership with the appropriate functional leaders.
• Lead, coach, and hold accountable roles including Controller, Director of Finance and leaders of compliance and real estate, and a team anticipated to be ~15.
• Deliver the finance, payroll and accounting services Aspire NorCal provides to Aspire Los Angeles after July 1, 2027, as part of the President's services to Aspire Los Angeles, including service agreements, service levels and cost recovery, while keeping Aspire NorCal's finances clearly separate.
• Set an annual strategic plan and workplan for the finance function, and build a culture of accuracy, service and continuous improvement.
• Build financial literacy across Aspire NorCal so principals and support office leaders can own their budgets.
• Contribute to Aspire NorCal's strategy and enterprise resource decisions as a member of the Executive team, bringing a clear focus on financial sustainability and scholar outcomes.
• Serve as the primary financial partner to the Board's Finance and Audit Committees, overseeing agendas, financial reporting, audit processes, and engagement with auditors and other advisors.
• Partner with the Chief Schools Officer on staffing models and school budgets, with the people function on compensation and benefits, with Operations on facilities, and with Advancement on philanthropy.
• Partner with the Chief Technology Officer to select, implement, and optimize financial systems (ERP, budgeting and payroll) that support a lean, scalable finance team.
• Make timely, evidence-based decisions and explain them clearly.
• Identify and interrupt inequitable practices in the work they lead and influence.

Benefits

• Eligible for Aspire health benefits
• Retirement through CalSTRS or CalPERS, depending on the role's credential requirements, with a 403(b) option
• Paid time off and additional teammate benefits to be determined in accordance with updated employee value proposition to be shared prior to offer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive