Company Description

KIPP is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in educationally underserved communities. Over 120,000 students attend one of the 280 KIPP schools that operate in 31 regions across the United States. KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is part of the KIPP national network. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond – so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. In the 2023-24 school year, the KIPP Jacksonville (KIPP Jax) region will be comprised of four schools educating almost 3,000 students, kindergarten through eleventh grade in the North and West sides of Jacksonville.

Job Description

Location: Jacksonville, FL or Remote

We are looking for a dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our leadership team. Reporting to the Executive Director, the CFO will be responsible for overseeing the finance and accounting functions and executing on the strategic financial vision for KIPP Jax, a $40M organization. This critical new role will ensure we are well-positioned for long-term success and sustainability. The CFO will directly manage a team of 1-2, oversee an outsourced accounting firm, and will coach and lead the team to provide excellent customer service and support.

This role has been created in response to the growth KIPP Jax has experienced and the need to achieve financial excellence and continuous improvement across the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Organizational Leadership

• With the senior leadership team, drive an organizational culture that ensures an equitable, collaborative, transparent and inclusive work environment.

• Serve as a valued thought partner to the ED and the senior leadership team; support them in understanding how decisions impact the financial performance and sustainability of the organization.

• Maintain the multi-year financial model and set financial targets to ensure strong financial health and financial sustainability.

• Interface with Boards of Directors and its relevant Committees; communicate timely and accurate financial information.

• Provide support to school leaders, school operations leaders and other budget managers, emphasizing a culture of excellent customer service.

Financial Management

• Maintain the annual and multi-year financial models; conduct contingency and scenario planning to inform decision-making, particularly regarding state funding and growth.

• Collaborate with the leadership team on compensation strategies.

• Lead the annual budgeting process; leverage our financial systems, to ensure the budgeting process is efficient and effective and aligns to the needs of the schools and regional team.

• Meet regularly with school and regional leaders to review financial information, serve as a thought partner and build their business acumen.

• Provide school-based operations leaders with the training, tools, and supervision needed to effectively manage school-level financial operations.

• Oversee cash flow management and develop strategies to ensure the organization's cash position is strong.

• Develop and communicate timely, accurate and insightful financial management reports for internal and external stakeholders.

• Collaborate with the COO/Development Team to ensure grant management and compliance meets federal, state, and local agency's requirements.

• Manage region’s real estate portfolio, ensuring facility, financial solutions, and plans are in place to achieve growth.

• Manage facilities financing, capital improvement budgets, capital reserves and debt compliance.

• Work closely with the COO and the outside IT service provider to ensure that technology is properly reflected in the budget as the network continues to grow.

• Ensure that policies safeguard the network’s assets including but not limited to devices used by the students and staff.

Accounting

• Provide oversight of all accounting activities managed internally and by our external partners; ensure accuracy and full compliance with appropriate FASB standards and regulatory requirements.

• Manage the audit process and ensure clean and timely annual financial audits.

• Establish strong financial controls and ensure accounting policies and procedures are well documented.

Procurement & Risk Management

• Strengthen centralized procurement policies and processes; ensure compliance with procurement laws; negotiate and approve contracts and manage vendor relationships.

• Manage and maintain insurance; advise on risk management and crisis planning.

Human Resources

• Partner with Director of HR to set vision and direction for human resources at KIPP Jacksonville and ensure consistent, equitable policies and practices are in place that foster long-term success for all employees.

• Maintain a nuanced understanding of laws and regulations pertaining to human resources in Jacksonville.

Team Leadership

• Build the Finance department as KIPP Jacksonville grows; oversee vision-setting, hiring, on-boarding, management, development and evaluation of finance and accounting staff.

• Build a strong team culture that incorporates a strong customer service and equity orientation into all aspects of the finance and accounting team's work.

Compensation

• Leader salaries at KIPP Jacksonville are competitive and equitable. The salary range for this position starts at $150,000 and is commensurate with experience.

• All full-time team members at KIPP Jacksonville enjoy a comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families as well as a 403B matching program for retirement savings.

Qualifications

All successful candidates must be a steadfast believer that all students can achieve academic excellence, regardless of background. In addition, strong candidates will have:

• Passion for KIPP Jacksonville's mission and values; demonstrated leadership in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion.

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA and/or CPA preferred

• Over ten years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including a minimum of 5+ years of experience as a trusted member of an organization's executive leadership team. Charter school finance/accounting or nonprofit finance experience is a plus

• Expertise in financial planning, financial modeling, cash flow and budget management is required; familiarity with GASB and not-for-profit accounting is a plus.

• Strong customer service, communication, and problem/conflict resolution skills, balanced by a sense of humor; high EQ with the ability to build strong relationships across functional areas.

• Strategic thinker and systems builder with demonstrated success leading change management initiatives.

• Strong team manager with exceptional hiring and coaching skills; able to assess, motivate and develop staff in a remote environment.

• Ability to learn quickly; able to flex and/or pivot when needed and operate effectively in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Additional Information

APPLY
Please complete an application and upload a resume via our job board. No applicants will be considered who submit resumes through other job postings. Link here: https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/jacksonville

NOTE: If you're a current KIPP Jacksonville team member and are interested in applying, you should 1) let your current manager know that you're interested and 2) complete the application in its entirety online.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions about this position at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, please email Emma at ekosanda@kippjax.org. Please understand that resumes and/or cover letters are not accepted via email and you will be redirected to apply via the website.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment at our schools. KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin.