Senior School Finance Manager

Vertex Education; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading pay

6% 401(k) employer match

Unlimited flexible paid time off

Job summary

Vertex Education in Chandler, AZ is seeking a Senior School Finance Manager to lead multi-state client portfolios, drive strategic financial planning, and coordinate audits. You will mentor junior staff, prepare presentations, and ensure timely close and reporting for charter school clients.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, stakeholder management, and delivering high-quality financial services to schools. Exciting growth opportunities and a collaborative team await.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in financial management, accounting, or auditing roles within education finance.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, grant, and audit requirements for charter schools.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and drive strategic financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead on 6-8 clients with support, handling multi-state portfolios.
• Initiate strategic support to increase school business and operations success.
• Build tools for client management teams to support strategic efforts.
• Mentor 1-3 junior staff and review monthly close processes.
• Develop client presentations and coach others for meetings.
• Manage complex client requests with junior staff support.
• Oversee reports and compliance documents and review auditors' work.
• Serve as primary client contact for audit documentation and requests.

Skills

Financial leadership

Educational finance

Client management

Team leadership

Audit & compliance

Regulatory knowledge

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Be the one who makes a difference!

At Vertex Education we are a team of high achievers, courageous leaders, and passionate believers in changing lives through education. As a purpose-led education services provider, our mission is destined to benefit many and yet it starts with just one person inspired to work together with us to make a memorable and meaningful difference for our clients, schools, students, and communities. Be the one who makes a difference-with us.

Responsibilities

This section describes the essential functions of this role but is not intended to be all-inclusive. Other duties may be assigned, as necessary. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Lead on 6-8 clients, with support (or fewer, more complex clients/multi-state portfolio).
• Initiate strategic support for clients, proactively identifying ways to increase success of school business/operations.
• Build tools for client management team to use in supporting strategic efforts at school level.
• Manage or mentor 1-3 junior staff.
• Lead full monthly close process independently or via review of junior staff initial work (coaching for accuracy, quality, and efficiency).
• Lead development of all presentations to client or review and guide development by junior staff. Present at all meetings or coach junior staff to present.
• Manage complex client requests with the support of junior staff.
• Lead completion of all reports and compliance documents or review reporting by Compliance Analyst/School Finance Analyst/Associate School Finance Analyst.
• Serve as primary client management contact for all audit documents and requests or provide oversight for CA/BA/ASFA on audit work.
• Present EdTec content at external event (e.g., client training, conference).
• Support Sales Team with new client prospects.
• Work with a client on a petition budget.
• Lead work with a prelaunch client.
• Initiate and lead local, regional, and/or national team programs.

Qualifications

Experience/Skills

• Extensive experience in financial management, accounting, or auditing roles, with a focus on educational finance or serving clients in the education sector.
• In-depth understanding of educational finance regulations, funding mechanisms, compliance requirements, and industry best practices applicable to charter schools at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Strong financial leadership skills to develop and implement strategic financial plans, policies, and procedures aligned with the mission, goals, and objectives of charter schools.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, including charter school administrators, board members, funding agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams of finance professionals, including hiring, training, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements governing educational finance, including accounting standards, tax regulations, grant compliance, and auditing standards.
• Advanced degree preferred or equivalent public/private sector business or school operations experience.
• 2-3 years’ experience as a School Finance Manager.

Competencies

• Advanced financial analysis skills to interpret complex financial data, conduct variance analysis, assess financial performance, and provide strategic insights and recommendations to clients and stakeholders.
• Oversight of budget development, monitoring, and analysis processes, including reviewing budget proposals, tracking budget vs. actual performance, and providing strategic guidance for budget adjustments.
• Leadership in managing grant programs, optimizing funding sources, and maximizing grant revenue for charter schools through effective grant proposal development, budgeting, compliance monitoring, and reporting.
• Ability to make strategic financial decisions, assess risk-reward trade-offs, and prioritize investments, initiatives, and resource allocations to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
• Leadership in driving organizational change initiatives, process improvements, and technology implementations to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability of financial operations.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional client service, exceeding client expectations, and building long-term partnerships based on trust, integrity, and mutual respect.
• Upholding ethical standards, integrity, and professionalism in all financial activities, fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and compliance within the client management group and charter school clients.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate complex financial concepts, strategies, and recommendations to clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Commitment to ongoing learning, staying informed about changes in educational finance regulations, accounting standards, industry trends, and best practices, and pursuing continuous professional development opportunities.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred

Physical Requirements

• Overall, while the physical demands of the role are generally light, maintaining good posture, taking regular breaks, and practicing ergonomic principles can help mitigate the risk of discomfort or strain associated with prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
• While the role of the Senior School Finance Manager is predominantly sedentary and office-based, there are still some physical requirements associated with the job:
• Extended periods of sitting: The Senior School Finance Manager typically spends much of their workday seated at a desk, working on a computer or reviewing documents.
• Screen time: The role involves extensive use of computers and other electronic devices, which may require good eyesight and the ability to focus for extended periods.
• Keyboard and mouse use: Proficiency in typing and using a computer mouse is essential for entering data, generating reports, and navigating payroll and benefits systems.
• Manual dexterity: The ability to handle paperwork, files, and office equipment such as printers, scanners, and copiers may be necessary.
• Communication: While not strictly a physical requirement, clear verbal and written communication skills are important for interacting with colleagues, employees, and external contacts.
• Occasional standing and walking: Although most tasks are performed while seated, there may be occasions when the Senior School Finance Manager needs to attend meetings, walk to other departments, or participate in training sessions.

Be excited to be a part of our team and grow your career with us!

Be the one who enables us to positively impact over 258,000 students across multiple states while driving our growth forward so we can enrich even more lives. Be the one who helps us achieve excellence for over 226 schools that we support with academics, finance, technology, human resources, communications, marketing, facilities, construction, and food services. Be the one who is a diverse thinker, a team player, a smart risk taker, an innovator, and a difference maker by encouraging others to climb higher and reach farther to further education.

• Be yourself surrounded by wonderful people who care about you, value your unique skills, and lift you up.
• Be supported in your work by caring leaders and team members who want you to succeed.
• Be empowered to make a difference and climb higher and reach farther to change lives through education.
• Be well in all aspects of your life from your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing to your finances.
• Enjoy industry-leading pay, rewards, referral bonuses, with unlimited flexible paid time-off for performance.
• Be able to care for your health and your family with comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits and invest in your future with 401(k) plans with a 6% employer match on your contributions.
• Enhance your growth and development with mentoring and money to take training classes.
• Thrive in a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment where we treat others with fairness and respect, celebrate diversity, and elevate equality and inclusion as an equal opportunity employer.

Be the one who makes a difference!