Director of Finance

Summit Public Schools•Redwood City, CA

22d•$131,937 - $156,084•Remote

About The Position

This position is located in Redwood City CA. Preference for candidates located in the Bay Area or Seattle Area, but remote candidates with charter school finance experience will be considered. Position Overview The Director of Finance is a key member of the Summit Public Schools Finance team, responsible for financial planning and analysis, fiscal compliance, reporting, and audits across all Summit schools. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this role provides leadership and expertise in accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting, while ensuring compliance with state and local requirements, managing month-end close, and supporting audit preparation. The Director of Finance also provides ongoing support to the broader finance team, establishes coding structures to ensure accurate reporting for department and budget leads, upholds internal controls and segregation of duties, and assists with the SPS audit process Who We Are: What if all students graduated high school with the knowledge, skills and habits they need to lead a fulfilled life? This is the question that guides our mission at Summit Public Schools . To collectively prepare a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a chosen concrete next step toward a fulfilled life. We operate 10 schools serving over 3,300 students in the Bay Area and Washington state. 100% of Summit graduates are college ready and Summit graduates complete college at double the national average. We need exceptional, diverse, and mission-aligned staff members to join our team to help prepare our students for a fulfilled life. Join us! What Youll Do: Financial Strategy, Planning & Analysis In partnership with the CFO, development of annual budgets for Summit schools, departments, and regional teams, ensuring alignment to organizational priorities and student outcomes. Build and maintain multi-year financial models and scenario plans (e.g., enrollment changes, funding shifts, staffing assumptions, strategic initiatives). Forecast year-end financial performance, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections. Analyze financial results, identify trends and risks, and develop recommendations to support sustainability and effective resource allocation. Partner with budget owners to support planning decisions, monitor spending, and drive financial accountability. Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies without compromising school quality. Financial Reporting & Stakeholder Communication Prepare and present monthly and quarterly financial reporting to stakeholders, including school leaders, executive leadership, finance committees, boards, and external partners as needed. Produce budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, dashboards, and clear narratives that translate financial data into actionable insights. Support board materials and presentations, including financial summaries, interim reports, and ad hoc analyses. Provide timely, accurate reporting for authorizers, funders, philanthropy partners, and other external stakeholders as required. Finance Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership Lead, coach, and develop finance staff, building a high-performing team with strong customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement. Serve as a trusted finance partner to school leadership teams and department leaders across Summit. Collaborate with Talent, Operations, Academics, and Development teams to align financial planning with staffing, programmatic, and strategic needs. Establish clear finance processes, calendars, and communication rhythms that support schools and departments throughout the year. Financial Operations Oversight (in partnership with Accounting) Partner with the accounting team to ensure timely and accurate month-end and quarter-end close, including supporting schedules and reconciliations. Provide oversight of key financial operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense reporting, payroll coordination, and cash management processes. Ensure revenue and expense accruals are accurate throughout the year and reconciled at year-end to support clean financial statements. Respond to internal and external inquiries regarding financial transactions, posted items, and reporting needs, ensuring issues are resolved promptly. Support continuous improvement of systems, workflows, and internal controls to strengthen accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. Audit, Compliance & Risk Management Lead planning and coordination for state, independent, and regulatory audits as applicable; support Summits consolidated annual audit in partnership with the accounting team. Ensure Summit maintains strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and charter authorizer requirements across California and Washington. Maintain audit-ready documentation and support the development of finance policies and procedures. Proactively identify financial risks (cash flow, compliance, funding, operational) and recommend mitigation strategies. Treasury & Cash Flow Management Monitor cash position and liquidity needs and recommend transactions or strategies to ensure sufficient funds for ongoing operations. Support bank reconciliations and cash activity tracking, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Strengthen cash forecasting practices and ensure alignment with fiduciary policies and financial covenants.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required. A masters degree is preferred.
At least 6+ years of progressive finance experience, with significant responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
Experience with charter school, education or non-profit financial management
Experience with audit standards (GAAP, FASB, GASB, Federal A133 audits).
Experience and fluency with accounting software & other business management programs preferred.
Advanced skills in Excel and Google Sheets.
Meet health clearance, and pass the reference, background/criminal checks, per education code.
If remote, the ability to travel to the Bay Area and/or up to 6 times per year.

Nice To Haves

Spanish language proficiency is a plus.

Responsibilities

In partnership with the CFO, development of annual budgets for Summit schools, departments, and regional teams, ensuring alignment to organizational priorities and student outcomes.
Build and maintain multi-year financial models and scenario plans (e.g., enrollment changes, funding shifts, staffing assumptions, strategic initiatives).
Forecast year-end financial performance, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections.
Analyze financial results, identify trends and risks, and develop recommendations to support sustainability and effective resource allocation.
Partner with budget owners to support planning decisions, monitor spending, and drive financial accountability.
Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies without compromising school quality.
Prepare and present monthly and quarterly financial reporting to stakeholders, including school leaders, executive leadership, finance committees, boards, and external partners as needed.
Produce budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, dashboards, and clear narratives that translate financial data into actionable insights.
Support board materials and presentations, including financial summaries, interim reports, and ad hoc analyses.
Provide timely, accurate reporting for authorizers, funders, philanthropy partners, and other external stakeholders as required.
Lead, coach, and develop finance staff, building a high-performing team with strong customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a trusted finance partner to school leadership teams and department leaders across Summit.
Collaborate with Talent, Operations, Academics, and Development teams to align financial planning with staffing, programmatic, and strategic needs.
Establish clear finance processes, calendars, and communication rhythms that support schools and departments throughout the year.
Partner with the accounting team to ensure timely and accurate month-end and quarter-end close, including supporting schedules and reconciliations.
Provide oversight of key financial operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense reporting, payroll coordination, and cash management processes.
Ensure revenue and expense accruals are accurate throughout the year and reconciled at year-end to support clean financial statements.
Respond to internal and external inquiries regarding financial transactions, posted items, and reporting needs, ensuring issues are resolved promptly.
Support continuous improvement of systems, workflows, and internal controls to strengthen accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
Lead planning and coordination for state, independent, and regulatory audits as applicable; support Summits consolidated annual audit in partnership with the accounting team.
Ensure Summit maintains strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and charter authorizer requirements across California and Washington.
Maintain audit-ready documentation and support the development of finance policies and procedures.
Proactively identify financial risks (cash flow, compliance, funding, operational) and recommend mitigation strategies.
Monitor cash position and liquidity needs and recommend transactions or strategies to ensure sufficient funds for ongoing operations.
Support bank reconciliations and cash activity tracking, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Strengthen cash forecasting practices and ensure alignment with fiduciary policies and financial covenants.