Chief Finance Officer

Russell Westbrook; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

LA Promise Fund seeks a strategic Chief Financial Officer to oversee all fiscal management and reporting for the nonprofit and its charter schools. You will lead budgeting, cash flow, and financial controls, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and strong financial transparency.

The role requires managing audits, 990 filings, and external financial relationships with banks and funders, while guiding finance strategy in collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in accounting and finance in public education.
• Experience with state and federal grants preferred.
• Excellent statistical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Must clear a LiveScan criminal background check.
• Must clear a TB Risk Assessment.
• Must complete Mandated Reporter training.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage financial goals, budgets, and cash flow for sound operations and transparency.
• Oversee financial reporting, audits, and 990 tax return for the organization and charter schools.
• Coordinate external financial relationships with banks and funders.
• Lead annual independent financial audits and reporting for compliance.
• Support program teams in managing private, state, and federal funds.
• Provide fiscal and analytical input to Board meetings and committee processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Detail-oriented

Project coordination

Education

Four-year Degree in education, business, finance, or public policy/administration

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Finance Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is responsible for managing the financial activities and reporting across LA Promise Fund. This includes all fiscal management and reporting related to the nonprofit as well as oversight of its charter schools to ensure that high-quality services are delivered to students and families and the organization is compliant with all statutory financial requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Finance Duties

• Develop and manage short and long term financial and operational goals and cash flow to ensure sound organizational operations, growth and financial transparency
• Implement the financial pillar of the organization’s three-year Strategic Plan
• Develop budgets and financial reports for funders in collaboration with Program Directors, Advancement Team Members and the Chief Program Officer
• Manage financial consultants and monthly closing processes to ensure the timely development of financial statements and reports
• Develop monthly financial reports and information for the organization and each department and charter schools
• Establish and maintain a solid financial model for the organization’s operation
• Manage treasury operations to ensure highest rates of return on invested resources while maintaining operational liquidity
• Interact with Charter School leaders and Charter back office support to establish a balanced budget annually and monitor activity monthly
• Engage in and lead organization-wide special projects or initiatives particularly as they relate to finance, strategy and development
• Manage the annual independent financial audit and 990 tax return for the organization and charter schools
• Maintain external financial relationships with banks and other financial institutions
• Manage financial reporting and compliance related to the organization’s bond borrowing and related financial covenants
• Interact with external fiscal contacts (e.g., charter oversight, funders, governmental authorities) to provide required reporting and analysis, both periodic and ad-hoc
• Support program teams to manage private, state and federal funds
• Ensure dutiful compliance and fulfillment of LA Promise Fund’s fiscal policies

Organization Duties

• Serve as a member of the LAPF Executive Committee and work collaboratively to support the work of other Executive positions
• Contribute strategic thinking and fiscal expertise to organizational and school thought process, strategy and program implementation
• Support Executive Team in coordinating LA Promise Fund’s Board of Directors Meetings and Schools Committee meetings, providing fiscal and analytical expertise
• Work with CEO to coordinate LAPF’s Finance & Audit Committee meetings and develop financial materials for all Committee and Board of Directors meetings

• Other duties as assigned

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Excellent statistical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Four-year Degree in education, business, finance, or public policy/administration.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in accounting and finance in public education
• Strong presentation and communication experience
• Previous experience with state and federal grants preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to closing the achievement gap
• Experience in the education and non-profit field highly desirable
• Detail-oriented and able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• A strong collaborator, good listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan;
• Entrepreneurial - a hard worker with a high energy level, an action-oriented individual who excels in an unstructured environment; and
• Commitment to LA Promise Fund mission and Core Values of Integrity, Accountability, Collaboration, Professionalism, Excellence, and Fairness
• Must clear a LiveScan criminal background check
• Must clear a TB Risk Assessment
• Must complete Mandated Reporter training