Manager/Director of Finance, Planning and Analysis

Organization OverviewExcel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.  At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.  About our Team Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve. 

 

About the RoleThe Manager/Director of Finance, Planning and Analysis plays a critical leadership role in advancing strategic financial initiatives across the organization. Working closely with the Managing Director of Finance, the finance and accounting team, and school-based leaders, this individual will lead cross-functional projects that strengthen financial planning, ensure fiscal accountability, and enhance the long-term sustainability of Excel. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented systems-thinker who thrives in a mission-driven environment and can translate strategy into execution by working closely with school-based teams. While this is a finance role, we are open to a candidate that does not have specific finance experience, but is motivated to learn about financial management.  Excel Academy is growing rapidly, and outstanding performance in the Director of Finance Projects role could lead to additional opportunities over time.  Excel’s Finance Team is a collaborative, friendly, engaged team that values personal connection, learning, and mentorship.  This role is expected to operate in a hybrid manner, roughly 2 or 3 days/week in person in our Chelsea, MA, office and 2 or 3 days/week remotely. Our team has found that this mix of deliberate in-person and remote work reinforces a strong and collaborative team culture as well as time for focused work offsite.The ideal candidate would start in Spring/Summer 2025.

Starting Salary:  $85,000 - $120,000, commensurate with experience; Title will also be commensurate with experience.

 

Essential Functions & ResponsibilitiesFinancial Planning and Analysis

• Improve and manage our internal financial reporting to schools, ensuring accuracy in actuals and projections
• Systematize our financial projections and reporting processes

School-based program team collaboration

• Analyze and present complex financial data in clear, actionable formats for program team decision-making
• Collaborate with program teams to identify areas of inefficiency and support in implementing changes to drive cost savings while maintaining or improving program quality
• Manage school requests and build systems to support school planning and financial operations
• Support the annual budget planning cycle

Systems, Process Improvement  and Projects

• Identify opportunities to streamline finance-related systems and processes, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance workflows, and implement solutions, ensuring milestones and outcomes are met

Staff Compensation

• Identify and recommend staff compensation changes in response to market data
• Generate returning staff salaries, offer letters, and salary charts
• Review staff compensation to ensure equity

Vendor management and accounts payable

• Design and implement a system to track contracts and renewals
• Negotiate contracts as needed
• Serve as an approver for invoices, credit cards charges, and reimbursements

Collaboration and Leadership

• Serve as a thought partner to the Managing Director of Finance on matters of financial strategy and operations
• Train, support and mentor staff on finance-related topics

Perform other tasks as necessary as part of Excel’s culture of collaboration and ownership.

 

QualificationsRequired:

• 4+ years of progressive experience in finance, consulting, operations and/or program management in education or the nonprofit sector 
• Strong data analysis skills; ability to synthesize