Senior Associate, Financial Planning and Analysis

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

We are looking for a strategic and dynamic Senior Associate of Financial Planning and Analysis to join our Finance  team.

Your Impact

The Senior Associate of Financial Planning & Analysis supports Achievement First’s three regions by guiding schools through the annual budgeting cycle and ensuring financial accuracy across teams. This role reviews forecasts, flags potential issues, and prepares clear analyses and reports for both internal leaders and the Boards of Directors. In addition, the Senior Associate trains school and regional operations leaders on Workday Adaptive Planning and serves as a key partner in answering budget-related questions. By combining financial rigor with strong collaboration, this role ensures schools have the insights needed to make sound financial decisions.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of FP&A your responsibilities will be to:

Prepare and Monitor Budget Targets

• Meet with Network teams and Executives to determine enrollment and school-specific budgets for the next fiscal year
• Prepare budget model for all schools and summarize regional needs
• Provide inputs to maintain long-term budget model

Review Forecasts / Prepare Board Reports

• Meet with DSOs and Principals at intervals determined by RDOs to review forecasts and answer any questions from the schools
• Review each school for any items that are trending off from budget and communicate with owners as needed
• Prepare initial analyses and draft materials for Board reporting, in partnership with the Senior Director

Forecast Reporting

• Conduct variance analyses to identify key drivers of budget vs. forecast changes and prepare supporting narratives for management review
• Develop visuals, trend analyses, and data summaries to aid in decision making

Load Targets into Adaptive

• Take data that is approved regionally to load into Adaptive Planning in preparation for releasing budgets to schools and NS teams

Train Budget Owners

• Before each budget release and prior to the first forecast of the year, offer 1:1 office hour training with DSOs to learn about the process and how to use Adaptive Planning

Finalizing Budgets

• Lead budget meetings with each school individually to review process, answer questions, and ensure team is on track to balance budget for Board approvals

Special Projects

• Other special projects as assigned including but not limited to analytics to support various initiatives, process improvements, or system enhancements

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field required.

Experience

• At least three years of professional experience in financial planning, analysis, or a related role with responsibility for budget preparation and forecasting across multiple functions or teams.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and g