School Finance and Accounting Specialist

Overview

This role is for a School Finance Specialist who will apply accounting, finance, business, and analytical skills to support schools in their day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making through data-driven insights. The position reports to a Finance Team Manager and offers flexible location options.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the outsourced accountant for a portfolio of schools.
• Manage full-cycle accounting and compliance tasks including accounts payable, payroll, grants administration, and regulatory compliance.
• Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close and prepare financial statements.
• Project manage schools’ annual fiscal audits, prepare necessary year-end statements and schedules, act as primary contact during audit fieldwork, and assist with 990 tax form preparation.
• Address and resolve accounting, compliance, and related process issues.
• Collaborate with schools to identify and implement best practices in accounting and compliance.
• Liaise with state education authorities and charter authorizers as applicable.
• Partner with the School Finance Manager to deliver high-quality customer service.
• Support and contribute to the growth and development of the internal team.

Qualifications

• Experience in finance and accounting is required, with strong preference for candidates familiar with full-cycle monthly close, reconciliations, audits, and fundamental GAAP knowledge.
• Degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is valued.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in Excel, including formulas such as VLOOKUP and SUMIF.
• Strong quantitative analysis, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across organizational levels and a strong desire to help others succeed.
• Excellent client communication and interpersonal skills, capable of explaining financial information to individuals with varying levels of financial literacy.
• Experience with accounting software such as QuickBooks, Intacct, or Blackbaud; Blackbaud experience is especially valued.
• Openness to leveraging new technology, including AI tools, to improve work quality and efficiency.
• Comfortable using technology systems such as Google Suite and financial platforms.
• Typically 5-8 years of relevant work or post-secondary educational experience.

Preferred Attributes

• Passion for solving accounting and financial problems specific to schools.
• Commitment to education and student outcomes alongside well-designed accounting processes.
• Ability to balance high-level strategic perspectives with detailed daily accounting work.
• Independent problem-solving skills within a collaborative environment.
• Customer service orientation focused on serving school clients.
• Knowledge of how schools operate.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with a willingness to learn and contribute to an equitable culture.

Compensation & Benefits

• Purpose-driven work focused on improving student achievement through operational excellence.
• Opportunity to work with colleagues committed to education and mutual support.
• Additional benefits and perks are provided, details available upon inquiry.

Location

Flexible location.

Hiring Process

• Application review
• First interview
• Performance task
• Final interviews (technical, behavioral, values)
• Reference check
• Offer