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KIPP New Orleans Schools is a fast-growing network of open-enrollment, public, college-preparatory charter schools. The mission of KIPP New Orleans Schools is to create an influential network of public schools that gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in competitive high schools, colleges and the world beyond. KIPP New Orleans Schools currently operates five public charter schools in the Recovery School District serving ~1300 students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. Opening a middle and high school in 2010, KIPP New Orleans Schools will eventually serve more than 5,300 students.

KIPP New Orleans Schools is associated with the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Network, which recruits and trains school leaders to open KIPP schools across the country. The KIPP network is rapidly growing, with 80 schools currently operating throughout the US and plans to grow to more than 100 schools by the 2011-2012 academic year.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Financial Officer will collaborate with the ED, COO, School Leaders, Business Operations Managers and the Board. The CFO will be responsible for building and enhancing the financial processes and infrastructure that will allow KNOS to fulfill its vision. The CFO will have the following duties and responsibilities at both the organization and school levels:

Organization Level:

• Work with the School Support Center Leadership team and Board on strategic financial planning, analysis and business modeling
• Manage the development of an annual budget, budget projections for strategic planning, as well as separate budgets for each Legal Education Authority (LEA) and the school support center team
• Report and analyze all financial statements, including statement of activities, fund balance and sources/uses of funds to all stakeholders
• Deliver timely reports to the Executive Director, COO, School Leaders, Business Operations Managers, Board Finance Committee, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and other agencies
• Maintain and update fiscal calendar for all reporting deadlines including, but not limited to, audit schedule, tax reporting, initiation of annual budget process and monthly close dates
• Maintain comprehensive understanding of KNOS annual reports, including operating budget, capital expenditures and annual payroll
• Perform on-going analysis and develop replicable processes and systems that ensure KIPP New Orleans Schools’ financial health
• Develop KNOS Accounting Procedures Manual, standardizing procedures for employee check reimbursements, check requests and bill payment in the School Support Center
• Work with Executive Director and COO to hire additional finance staff as appropriate
• Strategize ways in which KNOS can improve fiscal efficiency and effectiveness, including researching and implementing technology upgrades to better support budget management
• Lead and manage the finance team (currently Accountant Manager and Staff Accountant) to create processes and procedures which empower schools and not encumber them
• Oversee the finance team and its management of financial transactions, including accounts payable and receivable, banking, investments and payroll functions

School Level:

• Work with the school leadership team (School Leader and Business Operations Manager) on strategic financial planning, analysis and business modeling
• Support school-based staff to ensure all financial and accounting functions are completed in a timely and accurate manner:
  • Month-end close (credit cards, bank statements, payroll)
  • Payroll, benefits administration
  • Cash management
  • Accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank reconciliations and other bookkeeping tasks
  • Monthly financial reports
• Review and analyze monthly income statement, balance sheet, cash flow and budget vs. actual variance report for all schools
• Lead and support Business Operations Managers (BOMs) and School Leaders through budgeting processes
• Manage and execute year-end audits for all schools, and work with external auditor to ensure clean financial audits
• Lead the training of BOMs, School Leaders and other staff on financial policies and procedures

• Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree, with strong preference for candidates with MBA
• At least five years of significant work experience with organizations (budgets exceeding $10MM) as a CFO, Director of Finance, Comptroller or equivalent with non-profit or education organizations strongly preferred
• CPA certification preferred
• Thorough understanding of GAAP standards
• Thorough understanding of how to develop financial models for growth and expansion
• Thorough understanding of non-profit/education industry standards
• Proficiency in QuickBooks and other accounting software with a preference for implementation ability
• Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high level of responsibility and multiple priorities
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
• Ability to manage the entrepreneurial challenges of creating a new organization including partnership creation and the development of systems and procedures
• Ability to work effectively in a fluid environment and with a wide range of constituents, including board members, school personnel and vendors
• Zest, grit, self-control, emotional and social intelligence, love, gratitude and a sense of humor :).
• Passion for the mission of KIPP New Orleans Schools

Salary commensurate with experience.