Chief Financial Officer

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

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 3-4 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 the two 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.