Senior/Finance Manager

Senior/Finance Manager, Brooklyn, New York

Some in-person work required

This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.

WHO WE ARE

Explore Schools is a network of public charter schools providing 2,000 students in Brooklyn with the outstanding education they deserve. Our goal is to provide students with curriculum and instruction that is both standards-aligned curriculum and culturally responsive. Our approach is designed to provide the conditions to nurture students as critical thinkers and natural problem-solvers. As an organization, we are committed to engaging in work that disrupts and roots out systems and structures that perpetuate white supremacy. We intentionally seek to build and maintain a diverse and talented team that reflects the backgrounds and experiences of our students and creates an inclusive environment for all employees.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults. We believe equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—we can meet the needs of all students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results. We envision a pathway to equity that features outstanding curriculum and instruction as well as ample opportunities for students to achieve success in and out of the classroom. We believe it is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Brooklyn community.

WHO YOU ARE

Explore Schools seeks a professional with a minimum of 2 years of experience in finance or operations management to fill in the role of Senior/Finance Manager, School Support. The ideal candidate has superb organizing and prioritizing skills, meeting deadlines and staying on top of important details. You have a strong analytical mind and problem-solving skills that allow to find the right solutions in time-sensitive scenarios. Additionally, you are or possess the following:

• Willing to engage in identity work necessary to heighten your own awareness and improve your capacity to view talent work through an anti-white supremacy lens
• Dedicated to working in communities that have historically been underserved
• Strong knowledge of finance: ability to translate financial concepts and effectively collaborate with colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds
• Strong analytical skills as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Professional integrity: ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
• Flexible: ability to switch between priorities and meet all needs
• Strong communication skills: the ability to execute and communicate in a direct and sensitive manner
• Bachelor’s degree; required, Finance or Business areas of study; preferred
• 3-5 years of professional experience; preferred
• Charter school experience; preferred
• Experience with Intacct (accounting software); preferred

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Senior/Finance Manager, School Support provides Explore Schools’ finance support in the area of Financial Management to ensure prudent use of school funds. You will serve as the direct manager for the Finance Associate. You will support school teams maintain reconciliation, manage their budgets, proper filing for requests, and tracking of spending, making sure we meet compliance requirements. You will travel between our schools and network office to track our schools’ budget and collaborate with the network team.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Financial Management

• Providing oversight of Schools’ day-to-day financial management, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants management, and the general ledger.
• Bookkeeping duties for all school-based revenues and expenses, including bank deposits
• Creating and maintaining organizational systems for financial backup documentation
• Taking the lead and acting as primary point person for interim audit work at the school level
• Assisting with the financial audit and Form 1099 preparations
• Supporting and providing data for compliance reporting
• Managing the month-end reconciliation and close process
• Assisting in the management of annual budgets for school and related documents to forecast financial performance
• Administering payroll and managing 403(b) benefit and contributions

Development

• Assist with Form 990 preparation
• Creating budget documents for new and potential grants
• Monitoring grant spending in accordance with grantor’s policies and expectations
• Assisting with grant management as necessary

Other

• Collaborating with Human Resources team to ensure staff profiles in ADP are up-to-date and accurate
• Managing the collection and deposit of cash receipts related to field trips, uniforms, etc.

BENEFITS AND PERKS

Explore Schools staff members receive a competitive salary, paid time off including network shutdown days, considerable matching of retirement contributions, and more. Additionally, you can expect:

• Comprehensive benefits package including three health plans to choose from, two dental plans, and vision insurance. We also offer flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care and transit.
• Flexible and reflective leadership: dedicated to staff development, team cohesion, and shared responsibility for decision-making, development, and team-wide priorities
• Driven and passionate colleagues who contribute to a professional and collaborative work environment
• Opportunities to sit on various committees and participate in initiatives central to key organizational decisions and strategic planning
• Our school-based staff also receive:
  • Professional development: weekly PD, year-round retreats and trainings, and ongoing coaching by professionals
  • Continued education support: staff are eligible to receive scholarship funds towards qualifying certification costs or higher education tuition
• Our ESI Staff also have the opportunity to seek out and attend professional development, have a supervisor committed to their growth and development, and are eligible to apply to our staff scholarship program.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Explore Schools is a network of 8 charter schools located in Canarsie, Crown Heights, and Flatbush communities of Brooklyn, NY. Our network office is located in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Our schools are currently operating fully in-person. For this position:

• Some in-person work is required.
• This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime.
• The standard work week is 45 hours, though at times you may work more. For non-exempt roles, employees are eligible for overtime for any work over 40 hours.
• As this role requires being able to go into our school buildings, which are co-located in DOE buildings, all staff members are required to follow the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Please reach out to humanresources@explorenetwork.org if you'd like to see a copy of the mandate.
• Depending on the time of year, some roles would require traveling to different school sites or our central office for training, observations, and in-service days.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

As discussed in our Who We Are section, Explore Schools is an equal opportunity employer. It is important to us that all staff members have a place of employment that is free of discrimination of all kinds and where staff can bring their authentic selves to work. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran, or military status. If any employee or applicant believes they have been discriminated against, they should let Rachel Modica-Russell or Tiffany Williams know immediately.

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