Chief Financial Officer
hace 2 días
Atlanta
Job Description Wesley International Academy is seeking a visionary, strategic, and highly skilled Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the school’s financial operations during an exciting period of growth, sustainability planning, and organizational advancement. This senior-level leader will play a critical role in ensuring the fiscal health, operational efficiency, and long-term financial strategy of the Academy in alignment with its mission, values, and global educational focus. The CFO will serve as a trusted thought partner to the Executive Leadership Team and Board, providing sound financial guidance, oversight, and accountability across budgeting, forecasting, compliance, grants management, and internal controls. This role requires a collaborative leader who understands the complexities of public charter school finance, demonstrates strong executive presence, and brings a solutions-oriented mindset to financial stewardship. This position is anticipated to begin October 2026, allowing for thoughtful transition planning and continuity of financial leadership. Candidates who are forward-thinking, detail-driven, and committed to advancing educational excellence through responsible financial leadership are encouraged to apply. CFO Goals • Ensure long-term financial stability through careful cash flow management, multi-year forecasting, and strategic reserves., • Balance budgets in the face of enrollment-driven funding shifts and rising costs., • Diversify revenue streams (public funding, grants, fundraising, partnerships) to reduce reliance on a single source., • Maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including Department of Education reporting, Title/IDEA funding, and audit requirements., • Strengthen internal controls to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of public funds., • Provide clear, timely financial reporting to the Board, authorizers, and stakeholders., • Serve as a trusted advisor to the ED/Head of School and Board, helping to align financial planning with academic goals., • Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders., • Anticipate financial risks and opportunities, guiding the school through both challenges and growth., • Optimize financial systems and processes for efficiency, accuracy, and scalability., • Oversee annual budgeting that reflects both short-term priorities and long-term sustainability., • Implement tools and dashboards to provide real-time visibility into financial performance., • Build and mentor a strong finance team capable of supporting the school’s growth., • Model executive presence and integrity, representing the school with credibility to the school stakeholders., • Foster a culture of fiscal responsibility across staff, helping all departments see their role Ensure that financial decisions support the school’s mission of equity, excellence, and access for all students., • Collaborate with school leaders to protect instructional priorities when making tough budget decisions., • Partner with development, academic, and operations teams to maximize student-facing resources., • Comply with state and local financial requirements by studying existing and new legislation and taking appropriate action RESPONSIBILITIES DELIVERABLES Controller and Financial Management • Monthly Accounting, • Budget, • Coordinate Annual Audit/Tax, • Cash Management, • Finance Committee Membership (Vice Chair), • Liaison for State and District Reporting, • Maintain Financial Policies & Procedures, • Manage Financial Policy Compliance, • Board Initiatives as needed (Charter Petition, Strategic Plan), • Federal program liaison, • Erate program management, • Business compliance, • Financial sustainability, • Annual & Revised Budgets, • Monthly & Quarterly Financials, • Accurate revenue estimates (QBE/Local/Fed), • Monthly Bank Reconciliations, • Annual Audit Report/Form 990, • Updated policies/procedures (every charter term), • State Registration, Solicitors License, Dept of Rev and DOL compliance, • Follow-up for all state and district financial requests, • Fed Program reimbursements, • Erate technology discounts/Contracts, • Facility & Security Grant application, management and reimbursements, • Charter Petition and Strategic Plan (Finance Section) Financial Analysis • Risk Management (Commercial Insurance), • Review/Negotiate of Most Vendor Contracts, • Create and manage all RFQ/RFP Initiatives, • Board/Leadership Initiatives (salary analysis), • Healthcare insurance analysis, • New project analysis (ASP, CSP), • CAPEX analysis (cash management), • Employee contract analysis, • Personnel Modeling, • Cash management analysis (long-term), • Recommendations for contractual terms: copiers, catering, janitorial, payroll, facility rental, etc., • Board settlement parameters (legal), • Contract hire/payouts calculations for personnel change, FMLA, proration), • Salary Model Development, • Health Insurance recommendations, • Benefit program recommendations (employer vs employee contributions) Strategic Planning and Articulation • Long-term total compensation analysis, • Long-term special project analysis, • Long-term personnel modeling analysis, • Long-term technology planning analysis, • Long-term cash management analysis for academic goals and initiatives., • Long-term rainy-day fund management, • Dynamic salary tables, • Competitive annual healthcare provider recommendations, • CAPEX drawdown schedule, • Special project drawdown schedule, • Technology refresh schedule, • Financial sustainability forecast Procurement • Manages Procurement of large equipment and technology through RFQs, • Chromebooks, Laptops, Desktops, Lockers, Chairs, Lunch Tables, toner etc. monitor textbooks/supply orders Business Administration • Support Business Manager as needed, • Support Office Manager as needed, • Support HR Manager as needed, • Support Extracurricular Programs, • Board Compliance, • Review contracts, run sensitivities, create dynamic worksheets or tables, data mining, program budget updates, etc., • Assist Business Manager during peak operations, • Sec of State registrations, Solicitor’s registrations CFO Responsibilities/Duties: • As Controller, close the monthly and year-end books and complete all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and governmental agency DE46 reports, • Work with the executive leadership team to efficiently develop budget proposals, provide access to project finance information, and ensure contract/grant compliance and reporting, • Research revenue opportunities and economic trends, analyze internal operations, and identify areas for cost reduction and process enhancement, • Perform risk management through analysis of company liabilities and evaluate and manage capital outlays, • Partner closely with ED on HR operations and external service providers (e.g., payroll, benefits, recruitment), • Monitor business performance , establish corrective measures as needed, and prepare detailed reports for the school leadership team and board of directors, • Manage finance personnel and oversee financial IT systems, ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory entities (e.g., Financial Accounting Standards Board, Internal Revenue Service, Atlanta Public Schools), • Review the planning process and suggest improvements to current financial procedures, • Analyzes operations to identify areas for optimization (service contracts, procurement, technology, etc.), • Forecast ability for organization decision-making CFO Professional Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (required)., • CPA, MBA, or Master’s in Finance/Accounting strongly preferred., • Knowledge of nonprofit or governmental accounting standards (GASB/FASB) required., • General accounting required, • Must be software proficient with platforms such as QuickBooks, Excel and PowerPoint., • Must have audit prep and audit management experience in small to medium-scale organizations., • 5+ years of experience in financial management of non-for-profit, charter and/or education sectors., • Prior experience in K–12 education, charter schools, nonprofits, or government-funded organizations strongly preferred., • Experience with creating, analyzing, and managing budget frameworks across multiple business units and funding streams, • Demonstrated experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets with diverse revenue streams (public funding, grants, fundraising, etc.)., • Experience with audits, compliance reporting, and financial regulations at the state and federal level., • Strong communication skills, including but not limited to negotiation, influence, and consensus building, to interface with employees/customers at all levels of the organization and external customers, vendors, and agencies, • Must be able to exercise independent judgment and decision-making skills and inspire decision-making by others, • Strong conceptual thinker with a pragmatic approach to driving day-to-day operations. Collaborative style and approach, • Proven track record of leading finance teams and collaborating effectively with boards, EDs, and senior leaders.