Finance Operations Manager (930959)

Equus•Madison, MS

About The Position

This position is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and operational excellence of accounting, billing, and receivables processes across the Job Corps portfolio. The role leads key components of the monthly close, oversees invoicing and cash collection activities, and maintains a strong internal control environment aligned with federal program requirements. This position serves as a hands‑on finance partner to operational leaders, providing clear financial insights, resolving complex accounting and billing issues, and supporting cost‑effective program delivery. The role also owns statutory audit responsibilities, contributes to continuous process improvement, and supports the development of a disciplined, high‑performing finance function.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
7 - 8 years of relevant accounting experience
Previous experience supporting external audits
Strong Excel and financial systems capability
Detail-oriented, organized, and able to meet deadlines

Nice To Haves

Experience in multi-site or program-based environments preferred
Government, grant, or contract-based accounting experience a plus

Responsibilities

Act as an independent reviewer of Balance Sheet reconciliations and routine reporting, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with corporate accounting standards.
Evaluate trends, variances, and anomalies within financial statements to identify risks, opportunities, and areas requiring corrective action.
Support cost control efforts by delivering actionable insights, including analysis of spending patterns, contract utilization, and operational drivers that influence financial performance.
Prepare and refine financial dashboards and recurring reports to support leadership decision making and improve visibility into program performance.
Collaborate with operational teams to translate financial data into meaningful business narratives, strengthening financial literacy across the Job Corps portfolio.
Maintain strict adherence to internal accounting policies, federal program requirements, and contract specific financial guidelines, ensuring all processes meet regulatory and audit standards.
Fully own statutory audits associated with Puerto Rico, including preparation of audit schedules, coordination with external auditors, and timely resolution of audit inquiries.
Support Group level audits as needed, acting as a key liaison between corporate finance, and operational teams.
Ensure strong documentation and control discipline, including maintenance of process narratives, internal control matrices, and evidence of compliance for all key financial cycles.
Identify control gaps and recommend enhancements to strengthen the financial control environment and reduce operational risk.
Monitor compliance with federal cost principles and grant requirements, ensuring financial practices align with program rules and allowable cost structures.
Partner closely with program, operational, and administrative teams to resolve financial issues, clarify billing requirements, and ensure alignment between financial processes and program operations.
Serve as a key finance contact for day to day accounting and billing matters, providing timely guidance, troubleshooting support, and clear communication to internal stakeholders.
Educate non finance partners on financial processes, controls, and expectations, helping to build a culture of accountability and operational discipline.
Participate in cross functional meetings and working groups, representing the finance function and ensuring financial considerations are incorporated into operational decisions.
Provide proactive updates on billing status, receivables, and financial risks, enabling stakeholders to anticipate and address issues before they escalate.
Provide guidance, coaching, and oversight to junior accounting staff (as applicable), helping develop technical skills, process knowledge, and professional growth.
Review work prepared by junior team members, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to internal standards.
Contribute to a structured and disciplined finance cadence, including regular close cycles, reporting timelines, and operational check ins.
Support the development and refinement of standard operating procedures, promoting consistency and efficiency across the finance function.
Foster a collaborative, high performance team environment, encouraging continuous improvement and shared ownership of financial outcomes.
Review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules to validate completeness, accuracy, and proper documentation, escalating issues and proposing corrections where needed.
Support the monthly and year end close processes, ensuring all financial activities are recorded accurately and in accordance with GAAP, internal policies, and federal program requirements.
Ensure financial records are accurate, complete, and audit ready, maintaining a high standard of data integrity across all Job Corps accounting activities.
Coordinate with cross functional teams to gather required close inputs, including accruals, revenue adjustments, and operational data that impact financial results.
Identify and implement process improvements to streamline close activities, reduce cycle time, and enhance the reliability of financial reporting.
Assist in preparing internal and external financial reporting packages, ensuring consistency, clarity, and compliance with corporate and regulatory expectations.
Oversee the monthly invoicing processes, ensuring all billing is accurate, timely, compliant with contract terms, and supported by appropriate documentation.
Monitor and manage aged receivables, including proactive follow up with internal teams and external partners to resolve discrepancies, accelerate collections, and mitigate financial exposure.
Provide clear reporting on billing status and collection risks, highlighting trends, potential issues, and recommended actions to leadership and operational stakeholders.
Ensure billing practices align with federal program requirements, including allowable cost rules, contract structures, and documentation standards.
Collaborate with operations and program teams to validate billable activity, resolve billing disputes, and ensure alignment between operational performance and financial outcomes.
Maintain strong controls around billing and receivables processes, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and audit ready documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve billing accuracy and efficiency, such as automation, standardization, or enhanced data validation procedures.