Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Friendship Public Charter School•Washington, DC

14d•$150,000 - $170,000

About The Position

Friendship Public Charter School operates a thriving network of college preparatory public charter schools. Headquartered in Washington, DC. Friendship serves over 4,800 students in preschool to grade 12 and guides a growing network of alumni to college completion annually. Our mission is to prepare students to become ethical, literate, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens by providing a world-class education that motivates students to reach high academic standards, to enjoy learning, to achieve success, and to contribute actively to their communities. For 25 years, with the support and guidance of our exceptional faculty, our students have risen to the challenge with high graduation rates, college acceptances and unparalleled success academically and socially. Please note the salary range is $150,000 - $170,000 contingent on relevant experience and education. Responsibilities Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Deputy Chief Financial Officer supports the team in stewarding the fiscal resources in support of Friendship’s strategic plan and leading the work of the Finance team across the areas of budget, accounting, procurement, grants and compliance. This team member will create the financial strategy to support effective budget planning, maximizing available funds, and ensuring an equitable distribution of resources for the day-to-day operations to support Friendship’s vision for student success. The Deputy Chief Financial Officer must be an experienced and accomplished finance professional with knowledge of accounting, a key advisor to the CFO and other Friendship executive team members, and a collaborator with other departments and stakeholders (internal and external) that support the district’s improvement. The team includes Budget and Planning, Procurement and Purchasing, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Grants and Accounting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, or a related career field from an accredited college or university.
Must have an active CPA
At least five (5) years of progressive, full-time, professional experience in budget leadership, public policy, public administration, or business management.
Direct experience in budgeting, budget preparation, financial monitoring, and financial analysis and evidence of success leading and managing a multi-million dollar budget.
Five (5) years of senior level supervisory/administrative/management experience, preferably in a large non-profit organization, government agency or school district.
Thorough knowledge of various types of public budgeting practices, policies, procedures, and challenges.
Experience in implementing comprehensive financial management systems, practices, and policies for an organization of significant size.
Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, and to prioritize work efforts to execute overall strategy.

Nice To Haves

MBA, Master’s strongly preferred.
Public sector work experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the implementation of strategic financial strategies that maximize available funds and ensure equitable distribution of resources across the district to support student success.
Provide strategic leadership to develop the district’s annual budget and multi-year financial plans in conjunction with Friendship’s campus and network leaders.
Spearhead, in collaboration with the CFO, annual capital planning and monitoring processes so that capital expenditures reinforce broader programmatic goals.
Ensure compliance with requirements from the charter authorizer, bondholders and financial institutions, and State and Federal laws governing the oversight of the organization’s finances.
Represent the district, as needed, on budgetary matters in a variety of venues, including public hearings and external stakeholder and community meetings.
Manage the performance and effectiveness of the Finance Office across all areas, including but not limited to: the successful implementation of financial and budget goals, effective controls and monitoring of the district’s budget, efficient operational processes, and excellent service to schools and district offices.
Forecast short- and long-range cash requirements and obligations as a basis for sound financial and equitable funding mechanisms.
Coordinate the preparation and presentation of monthly budget reporting and annual projections for all aspects of the budget; collaborate with the team and external support to ensure accuracy of analysis and data in departmental reports.
Emphasize the importance of the Finance Office’s essential role serving the district’s students, families, staff, and community partners in interactions and communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Assist with the annual financial audit and reporting to external authorities as well as the completion of any required financial reports, including ongoing financial reports and grants reporting.
Ensure the successful implementation of the Finance Office’s tools, including Vena, ADP, and Coupa to improve organizational insights and data visualization.
Provide project management oversight and for priority short- and long-term initiatives; develop tools to track progress and monitor key performance goals.
Implement adequate internal controls and ensures adequate accounting records to document compliance with relevant laws and policies.
Serve as a critical thought-partner and support for department leaders and on budgetary matters and build their capacity as fiscal stewards of the district’s resources.
Create proactive systems that garner feedback from stakeholders to inform the budget process, budget transparency, and fiscal stewardship for departments and campus teams.
Effectively communicate and share data with broad audiences to improve transparency, trust, and confidence in the district and to promote sharing learning.
Lead and coach an effective team united around a common vision of operational excellence and support.
Support staff to develop, implement, and evaluate project plans and strategy to achieve goals and objectives.
Cultivate positive relationships among staff internally and within the broader district, including principals, support staff, and the larger community.
Support staff in ensuring up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge of relevant requirements, best-in-class operations, and use of tools.