Senior Director, Finance

Aspire Public Schools • Oakland, CA

6d • $168,050 - $215,728

About The Position

The Senior Director, Finance partners directly with the Chief Financial Officer to drive financial strategy, management, and long-term sustainability across Aspire NorCal. The role provides strategic insights and actionable recommendations to support financial operational success and fiscal sustainability. It requires innovative leadership, experience designing and implementing best-practice processes, a commitment to continuous improvement, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The position leads financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and analysis for assigned schools and regional sites; manages 2–3 Finance-related direct reports; and works closely with Finance, Accounting, school, instructional, HR, and executive leaders. It also supports Aspire NorCal’s finance, accounting, and payroll services for Aspire LA under a multi-year service agreement. The work location and in-person expectations are still being finalized. Employment is at-will, and the position may be impacted if the service agreement is not finalized, renewed, or continues through its expected term.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• At least 7 years of experience in financial analysis.
• At least 5 years of management experience.
• Experience in not-for-profit accounting and public sector finance.
• Knowledge of the finance function within a large, geographically dispersed organization and in-depth experience overseeing daily financial operations.
• Knowledge of federal and state accounting regulations.
• Excellent financial, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Solid communication, influencing, and negotiating skills, with the ability to inspire others to achieve excellence.
• Experience continuously improving controls and procedures, with proven process improvement and redesign experience.
• High degree of initiative and independent judgment.
• Fluency with accounting software packages; proficiency with MS Office and advanced Excel.
• Ability to thrive in a hands-on, fast-paced, growth-oriented, entrepreneurial environment.

Nice To Haves

• MBA.
• At least 5 years of experience in school finance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual budgets and forecast updates for assigned Aspire school and regional sites, and facilitate regular budget and forecast update meetings.
• Work with School Leaders, Instructional Leaders, and Finance and Accounting team members on monthly and quarterly close and reporting, interim and year-end financial reports, and monthly forecasts covering profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow, including variance analysis and recommendations that support financial sustainability and school programming.
• Manage 2–3 Finance-related direct reports.
• Serve as a liaison between the Finance and Accounting teams, collaborating with the AR Manager and Controller on revenue and accounts receivable reconciliations, cash receipt coding, and expense coding.
• Collaborate with the CFO on strategic financial management, including preparing and presenting consolidated and regional financial reporting for internal and external stakeholders such as the Aspire Wide Leadership Team, bondholders, and financial ratings agencies.
• Collaborate with the CFO, HR, and Instructional leaders on annual total compensation benchmarking across roles and make employee value proposition recommendations.
• Develop timely and meaningful financial reporting tools with regional and consolidated information.
• Prepare budget projections and scenario analyses for new sites to guide organizational decision-making and maximize restricted funding for each school.
• Provide guidance and oversight on budgeting and forecasting systems.
• Work with the Accounting team to integrate data from the transactional level through the consolidated level.
• Identify and implement process improvements, using technology to eliminate inefficiencies while maintaining high accuracy.
• Build relationships with chartering districts, county offices of education, the California Department of Education, and other outside agencies, and meet local, state, and federal reporting deadlines.
• Prepare school sites for year-end audits and perform ad hoc financial analyses requested by the CFO, Instructional Leaders, and School Leaders.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and support Aspire Public Schools’ mission, vision, and values, including antiracism, and uphold confidentiality standards and the code of ethical behavior.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.
• Support the new Service Level Agreement under which Aspire NorCal will provide finance, accounting, and payroll services to Aspire LA.

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.
• Additional teammate benefits to be determined in accordance with an updated employee value proposition to be shared prior to offer.

What This Job Offers

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