About REAL School Gardens
REAL School Gardens improves academic performance, student engagement, and teacher effectiveness through a unique, hands-on, community-based school garden model. Our program unites teachers, students, parents, and local businesses to build learning gardens in low-income schools, and our staff train teachers everywhere to use gardens for academic instruction. We have recently launched an aggressive, 5-year growth strategy and are expanding our impact in Texas, the Mid-Atlantic, the Carolinas Region, and additional new regions and markets.
Position Overview
The Director of Finance (Director) is a new position designed to lead our growing finance, accounting and key areas of operations functions. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the national leadership team, the Director will be a key member of our collaborative and mission-focused team, driving academic achievement for low-income youth.
The ideal candidate brings exceptional financial acumen, is entrepreneurial, inclusive, and passionate about education.
The Director of Finance works in close collaboration with the Board of Directors, VP of Regional Operations & Impact, regional offices, and departmental teams to develop a robust financial plan that drives business planning, fundraising, decision-making, cost management, and growth. She/he also works closely with internal stakeholders to shape and lead the organization’s facilities, operations, and technology functions.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director of Finance will have a variety of responsibilities in the areas of finance, business operations, and growth. Key responsibilities are highlighted below:
Finance:
- Manage team of outside vendors and consultants to effectively support the day-to-day financial systems, planning, & analysis for a growing organization;
- Lead annual budget planning and monthly forecast process with emphasis on consolidated analysis; works with each region to understand key variances, risks, and opportunities and drive analytical support;
- Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting packages for senior management, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors;
- Work with financial teams and operations to develop tools to improve reporting and analytics for revenue and key expense items, financial statements, and key metrics;
- Support creation of board and senior management presentations providing an overview of the company’s quarterly results and updates to the financial budget;
- Develop new budgets and provide financial support for revenue team;
- Provide financial analysis and modeling support for various ad hoc analyses;
- Coordinate timely payment of vendors and employees with adherence to government regulations and internal policies;
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local law requirements for all accounting and financial reports;
- Ensure internal controls and financial governance of the organization;
- Safeguard the assets of REAL School Gardens.
Operations (HR, IT, etc.):
- Work closely with the VP, Regional Operations and Impact to shape and implement sound, strategic operational plans;
- Negotiate and approve contracts, agreements, and leases; manage relationships and compliance for the organization; develop processes and systems across the organization;
- Oversee facilities across the organization;
- Ensure national, state, and local compliance for operations is met;
- Manage procurement of goods and services across the organization, identifying areas of cost savings and efficiencies;
- Work with administrative staff across the organization to ensure consistency of administrative processes and create greater efficiencies;
- Work with outside vendors to manage HR administration and insurance;
- Manage compensation, benefits, and HR compliance;
- Manage IT vendors and implements technology solutions and training that improves workflow and productivity, and drives efficiencies and growth;
- Track and pursue necessary business licenses, sales tax exemptions, fundraising and other registrations.
Growth:
- Maintain financial model and prepare financial analysis related to growth and business opportunities;
- Serve are a key member of the revenue team;
- Join pitches and donor discussions as needed;
- Provide timely, accurate financial reports to donors.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Proven record overseeing the financial management of an organization, department, or initiative;
- Strong analytical, problem solving, project management and financial skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate at all levels;
- Ability to learn quickly, multi-task, and work in an environment of growth;
- Exceptional attention to detail and highly organized;
- Strong computer/systems experience including planning and forecasting tools, financial software, databases, and spreadsheets;
- Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan;
- Ability to develop strong, simple, transparent systems and processes that ensure the organization runs smoothly;
- Balance use of analysis and input gathering with a bias to action; ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously, on time and on budget;
- Experience in contract review, negotiations, and compliance.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business or related field or equivalent experience;
- 8+ years of relevant and proven work experience managing the finances and accounting of an organization (nonprofit experience is a plus).
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