Senior Director of Client Services - School Finance

Vertex Education•Albuquerque, NM

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Vertex Education is seeking a strategic school finance services leader dedicated to changing lives through education by becoming an indispensable partner to our client schools. As the Sr. Director of Client Services for School Finance, you will operate as the primary strategic advisor and expert problem-solver for our most critical school partnerships. Your focus will be on securing and expanding these key accounts, prioritizing deep client satisfaction and customized, expert solutions over rigid process standardization. Based in Albuquerque, you will leverage your deep expertise in New Mexico school finance to build trusted advisory relationships, lead a team of dedicated finance professionals, and ensure our partner schools have the financial foundation they need to thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field.
12+ years of progressive experience in K-12 school finance, with deep expertise in New Mexico's public-school funding, compliance, and reporting systems.
5+ years of experience managing and coaching client-facing teams responsible for delivering financial services.
Demonstrated success serving as a strategic financial advisor to school leaders and boards, building trusted-partner relationships.
Proven track record of retaining and expanding a portfolio of client accounts through high-quality service and strategic counsel.
Experience personally managing and resolving complex, high-stakes financial issues for key clients.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to establish credibility with executive-level stakeholders.
Must hold, or be eligible to obtain, a New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) School Business Official (SBO) license.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or related advanced certification.
Experience in a professional services, consulting, or other multi-client service delivery environment.
Experience successfully inheriting and cultivating strategic client relationships previously managed by executive leadership.
Background in developing team capabilities and improving service delivery processes in a growing organization.
Familiarity with school finance systems in other states within the region, such as Colorado, Texas, or Nevada.

Responsibilities

Act as the lead Business Manager for a portfolio of key school partners, translating complex financial data into strategic insights for school boards and leaders.
Cultivate deep, long-term relationships with school leaders and board members to drive high satisfaction and ensure client retention.
Lead recurring strategic financial reviews with clients, presenting budget-to-actual analysis, long-range forecasts, and compliance updates.
Proactively identify and resolve complex financial challenges for clients, serving as their primary expert on New Mexico-specific funding and regulations.
Support business development efforts by participating in discovery meetings and strategic conversations with prospective school partners.
Identify and pursue opportunities for expanded services within the existing client base, leading renewal and upsell / cross-sell conversations.
Oversee the onboarding process for new school partners, ensuring a smooth and effective transition to VSS financial services.
Serve as the primary point of escalation for high-stakes client issues, personally intervening to manage crises and ensure satisfactory resolutions for key accounts.
Manage and coach a team of client-facing business managers and staff, providing regular, direct feedback to build their capabilities.
Establish and maintain team service delivery standards, reinforcing operational discipline and ensuring consistent, high-quality financial work.
Foster a client-centric culture of accountability and continuous improvement, celebrating successes and coaching through challenges.
Delegate client work strategically, balancing direct personal involvement in critical issues with the need to develop team members' skills.
Oversee the delivery of core business management services, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and audit preparation for all regional clients.
Partner with Regional Heads to inform resource planning and goal-setting, providing insights on team capacity and client portfolio health.
Prioritize critical client requests and urgent needs, adjusting team assignments and timelines to ensure key partner satisfaction.