Operations / Administration Director of Finance
Job Description
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
The Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) is a statewide charter school authorizer whose mission is to foster high-quality public school choices offered through charter schools, particularly schools that are focused on closing the achievement gap for at-risk students. Governed by a board of nine members appointed by the Governor and Commissioner of Education, CSI currently serves a diverse portfolio of over 39 schools across the state of Colorado serving over 14,000 students. CSI is uniquely positioned to serve and promote charter school innovation in communities throughout Colorado and to be a leader in improvements in authorizer practices. CSI aspires to continue growing the quality and quantity of its portfolio of schools in Colorado in response to the need for high quality, innovative charter school options. Our organization is at an extraordinary point of opportunity and is poised to make additional systemic changes that will yield improvements within the portfolio’s overall student achievement.
POSITION SUMMARY
CSI is seeking energetic, client-oriented Director of Finance candidates to assist CSI in the next phase of its organizational growth and quality improvements. The Director of Finance will provide critical financial guidance, leadership, and strategic vision to CSI as the state’s model authorizer. In addition, this position will lead the provision of the financial oversight, guidance, and support that CSI provides its portfolio schools. Strong candidates will possess robust credentials in public school finance, a strong commitment to the principles of charter authorizing, excellent communication skills, and a desire to be part of a collaborate leadership team. Please see below for a complete position description.
DEPARTMENT: Department of Finance
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
OVERSEES: Controller, Human Resources and Accounts Payable Manager, Grants Fiscal Coordinator
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND ROLE-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential duties of this position include the following. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned.
- Maintains internal CSI financial controls and ensures that all internal financial operations, accounting activity, and human resource functions are completely timely and in accordance with GAAP, state rule, and federal regulations.
- Completes or supervises the submission of required financial reports to the Colorado Department of Education, the Office of the State Controller, the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee.
- Oversees the collection, review, and actions in response to school level budgets and annual financial audits including accountability recommendations.
- Coordinates responses to CDE annual financial corrective action notices for CSI and CSI schools.
- Coordinates reviews and responses to Assistance Fund applications.
- Completes annual reconciliation of amounts collected from and due to schools pursuant to statutory requirements.
- Provides technical support on CSI’s legislative priorities.
- Annually review and update financial reporting metrics and facilitate regular conversations with key stakeholders about financial frameworks and monitoring.
- In collaboration with the Director of Policy and Legal Initiatives, monitor and oversee compliance with transportation, food services, and facilities laws, rules and policies, including revising CSI policies as necessary.
- Defines and provides differentiated financial support and monitoring to portfolio schools depending on financial risk.
- Oversees and supports the development of resources for CSI portfolio schools including online training modules, a database of funding opportunities, recommended vendor pools, and more.
DIRECTOR-LEVEL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Advises the Executive Director in decision making related to finances.
- Prepares and provides monthly budget to actual financial reports to the Executive Director and the CSI Board of Directors.
- Under guidance from the Executive Director and direction from the Board of Directors, completes and presents the annual operating budget to the Finance Committee and CSI Board of Directors.
- Oversees individual CSI charter school financial performance, evaluation, and reporting of same to the Executive Director, the CSI Board of Directors, and the Department of Education.
- Provides guidance and support on financial metrics and measurement reporting processes for the CSI Annual Review of Schools (CARS).
- Participates in annual authorization cycle processes, including new school, renewal, expansion, transfer, and replication cycles, and provides analysis and overall recommendations to senior staff and the CSI Board of Directors.
- Represents CSI at industry meetings as directed by the Executive Director.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrated experience with, and commitment to, the application of the principles of charter school autonomy and accountability in an authorization environment.
- Knowledge of budget and accounting principles and practices as applied to public school finance and budgeting as well as knowledge of state laws, rules and regulations governing budgetary and accounting aspects of Colorado school administration.
- Proven ability to work in a team environment that values collaboration, deliberation, healthy conflict, flexibility, high expectations, accountability and a high level of trust among the entire leadership team.
- Driven, energetic, and creative.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of CSI.
- Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within an ambiguous environment while also driving toward clarity about possible solutions.
- Resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding decisions involving both human capital and system structures.
- Orientation toward achieving measurable result High level of initiative.
- Ability to work on complicated projects within a fast moving environment with multiple depenencies.
- Willingness to work collaboratively with school leaders to achieve measurable results.
EXPERIENCE
- Strong operational and finance experience in a senior leadership role for 5+ years in a Charter or District school with at least three years’ experience in operational management.
- Experience in supervising multiple staff members.
- Experience in government auditing, accounting, or budgeting desirable.
- Experience in Colorado state financial processes and procedures desirable.
- Ability to monitor and maintain compliance in accordance with state and federal regulations.
EDUCATION
- Minimum of a BS or BA in accounting or related field, MBA and/or CPA preferred
BENEFITS
- As an employee of the Colorado Charter School Institute (State of Colorado), you will have access to a variety of benefits to include medical, dental, paid holidays, paid vacation and sick time, no-cost life and disability insurance (with additional paid options), Flex Spending and Health Savings Account options, and membership in Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA).
