Associate School Finance Manager

We're hiring an expert financial operator to become the indispensable partner our school clients need. As the Associate School Finance Manager, you will serve as the de facto CFO for a portfolio of 4-6 schools depending on complexity, taking complete ownership of their financial health by delivering flawless monthly financials, managing complex compliance, and presenting in their board meetings. Success in this role means moving beyond simple execution; it's about translating complex financial data into proactive guidance and clear stories that empower school leaders, freeing them to focus entirely on changing students' lives.

Responsibilities / Essential Functions:

1. Portfolio Financial Operations & Execution:

• Collaborate with school leaders to build comprehensive annual budgets and develop forward-looking financial forecasts that model key operational scenarios.

• Prepare and analyze budget-to-actual variance reports, providing clear, concise explanations for financial performance and emerging trends.

• Administer client financial systems (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Vena), ensuring data integrity and the efficient processing of all financial transactions.

2. Client Advisory & Financial Storytelling:

• Create and deliver clear, compelling financial presentations for client finance committees and governing boards, translating complex data into actionable insights.

• Serve as the primary financial point of contact, building a trusted advisory relationship by providing expert guidance on key operational and strategic decisions.

• Guide non-finance school leaders through complex topics by explaining the 'why' behind the numbers in a simple, direct, and empathetic manner.

• Nurture client partnerships to drive high satisfaction and contract renewal by consistently delivering exceptional value and proactive support.

3. Compliance & Proactive Risk Management:

• Oversee the timely and accurate completion of all state and federal compliance reporting required for each assigned client, managing a proactive calendar of deadlines.

• Act as the primary liaison for annual financial audits, coordinating all document requests and ensuring a smooth, efficient, and low-stress process for the client.

• Analyze financial trends and operational data to proactively identify and flag potential cash flow issues, budget shortfalls, or compliance risks before they materialize.

• Maintain expert-level, up-to-date knowledge of the specific school finance regulations and grant requirements for each state in your client portfolio.

4. VSS Practice & Team Development:

• Delegate appropriate tasks to and mentor junior finance staff, providing coaching and feedback to support their professional development on your client work.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of VSS financial tools and reporting templates by providing constructive feedback from frontline client interactions.

• Take ownership of at least one internal initiative, such as serving as a subject matter expert for a specific state or leading a project to enhance a team capability.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

• 4+ years of progressive experience in accounting or corporate finance roles.

• Proven ability to build comprehensive budgets and forward-looking financial forecasts.

• Experience preparing and presenting financial analysis and reports to leadership or external stakeholders.

• Track record of successfully managing relationships with clients or internal business partners.

• Experience navigating financial compliance requirements and supporting annual audits.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines for multiple entities or projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in K-12 school district, charter school, non-profit, or governmental accounting.

• Hands-on experience with modern ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct) and FP&A tools (e.g., Vena Solutions).

• Experience delegating tasks to and mentoring junior staff.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for financial modeling and presentation development.