Associate School Finance Manager

Overview

The organization is seeking an expert financial operator to serve as the Associate School Finance Manager for a portfolio of 4–6 schools, depending on complexity. This role functions as a de facto CFO, owning financial health by delivering accurate monthly financials, managing complex compliance, and presenting financial results in board meetings. Success includes translating complex financial data into proactive guidance and clear narratives that help school leaders focus on student outcomes.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Financial Operations & Execution

• Collaborate with school leaders to build comprehensive annual budgets and develop forward-looking financial forecasts that model key operational scenarios.
• Prepare and analyze budget-to-actual variance reports, providing clear, concise explanations for financial performance and emerging trends.
• Administer client financial systems (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Vena), ensuring data integrity and efficient processing of financial transactions.

Client Advisory & Financial Storytelling

• Create and deliver clear, compelling financial presentations for client finance committees and governing boards, translating complex data into actionable insights.
• Serve as the primary financial point of contact, building trusted advisory relationships by providing expert guidance on operational and strategic decisions.
• Guide non-finance school leaders through complex topics by explaining the “why” behind the numbers in a simple, direct, and empathetic manner.
• Nurture client partnerships to drive high satisfaction and contract renewal through consistent delivery of proactive support.

Compliance & Proactive Risk Management

• Oversee timely and accurate completion of all state and federal compliance reporting required for each assigned client, managing a proactive calendar of deadlines.
• Act as the primary liaison for annual financial audits, coordinating document requests and ensuring a smooth, efficient client experience.
• Analyze financial trends and operational data to proactively identify and flag potential cash flow issues, budget shortfalls, or compliance risks.
• Maintain expert-level, up-to-date knowledge of specific school finance regulations and grant requirements for each state in the client portfolio.

VSS Practice & Team Development

• Delegate appropriate tasks to and mentor junior finance staff, providing coaching and feedback to support professional development.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial tools and reporting templates by providing constructive feedback from frontline client interactions.
• Take ownership of at least one internal initiative (e.g., serving as a subject matter expert for a specific state or leading a project to enhance team capability).

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 4+ years of progressive experience in accounting or corporate finance roles.
• Proven ability to build comprehensive budgets and forward-looking financial forecasts.
• Experience preparing and presenting financial analysis and reports to leadership or external stakeholders.
• Track record of successfully managing relationships with clients or internal business partners.
• Experience navigating financial compliance requirements and supporting annual audits.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines for multiple entities or projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in K-12 school district, charter school, non-profit, or governmental accounting.
• Hands-on experience with modern ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct) and FP&A tools (e.g., Vena Solutions).
• Experience delegating tasks and mentoring junior staff.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for financial modeling and presentation development.

Compensation & Benefits

• Industry-leading pay
• Rewards and referral bonuses
• Unlimited flexible paid time-off for performance
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) plans with a 6% employer match on contributions
• Mentoring and money for training classes

Location

Not specified in the provided job description.