Chief Financial Officer

Position Overview

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) spearheads KIPP St. Louis’s financial strategy to ensure our team has the resources needed to help our students climb the mountain to and through college. The CFO develops our financial strategy and is responsible for all aspects of financial management, including but not limited to strategic planning, real estate acquisition, financing, development, budgeting, accounting, financial controls and reporting, cash management, treasury management, payroll and compliance. The CFO sets the financial direction for our growing organization with a budget in excess of $50 million. The person in this role must be a strategic thinker and financial leader who can set vision and direction for internal and external stakeholders in support of the organization's strategic priorities and growth. 

Who we are:

KIPP St. Louis is a part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, public charter schools offering a choice to families and children in St. Louis city. As the largest charter school system in the city, we are driven and committed to our mission and vision.

Mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

KIPP St. Louis currently educates over 2,000 students and boasts hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.

Position Type: Full time, Exempt, 12 Month Position  

Departments of Oversight: Food Service Finances, Facilities Finances, Security Finances, Accounting, Payroll, and Accounts Payable/Receivables 

Key Responsibilities include: 

Strategic Leadership

• Serve on KIPP St. Louis’s Leadership Team and help set strategic direction for the organization.

• Set direction for the Board’s Finance Committee, a strong and committed team of financial and business leaders.

• Develop and maintain KIPP St. Louis’s annual budget and multi-year financial plans to ensure long-term financial health.

• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to senior leadership for informed decision-making.

• Lead and effectively communicate on long-term financial planning, forecasting and modeling.

• Assess financial implications of potential strategic and growth options.

• Secure funding to fuel KIPP St. Louis’s expansion, including negotiating facilities projects & directing construction / design teams.

• Report to the Chief Executive Officer on financial performance, forecasts and financial opportunities, with regular updates to the Board of Directors.

• Build systems to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the network to support student success.

• Implement strategies to optimize asset utilization and investment returns.

• Works closely with COO to develop budgets for food service, facilities, security, technology, and transportation.  

• Works with COO to bid major projects and budgets.  

Financial Management and Team Leadership

• Serve as an ambassador of KIPP St. Louis internally and externally – from school leaders to legislators.

• Build relationships with Board and Finance Committee members, charter authorizers, auditors, lenders, bondholders, & insurers.

• Facilitate the preparation and presentation of monthly budget reporting and annual budget projections.

• Ensure compliance with the Missouri Department of Education and Secondary Education (DESE), and all government agencies.

• Build and lead a strong finance team, by developing people and strengthening processes to deliver excellent service to schools.

• Ensure KIPP St. Louis has an appropriate risk management plan, including proper insurance coverage.

• Ensure compliance with New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) guidelines and reporting requirements.

• Develop and implement financial policies and procedures to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.

• Lead the development of financial aspects of bids and proposals for educational programs and projects.

• Collaborate with relevant departments to secure necessary approvals for bids.

Systems, Support and Execution

• Provide project leadership for short- and long-term initiatives; develop tools to track progress and monitor performance.

• Monitor and maintain compliance with all federal programs and grants, ensuring accurate financial reporting and adherence to guidelines.

• Prepare for and oversee state and federal audits, responding to audit inquiries and ensuring all financial records are accurate and accessible.

• Implement internal controls to ensure accurate accounting records.

• Build department leaders’ capacity as budget owners.

• Create feedback systems to inform budgeting, build budget transparency for support teams, budget managers and school leaders.

• Ensure resources are allocated equitably and effectively to meet the needs of all KIPP students, families, and schools.

Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate financial risks through effective risk management strategies and insurance programs.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk assessment framework.

• Understand macro and micro trends that meaningfully impact KIPP from emerging opportunities to mitigating risks. .

• Track legislation that could impact state, federal, and local funding. 

• Receives and recommends proposals for property, liability, and worker’s compensation insurance.  

• Receives, analyzes, and recommends, in conjunction with HR, health benefits proposals.  

Extraordinary Influence and Effective Communication

• Communicate effectively, tailoring messages for the audience, context, and mode of communication.

• Navigate complex structures, relationships, and dynamics to enable thoughtful decisions and positive outcomes for students.

• Maintain visibility in schools and work collaboratively with school leaders and school support teams.

• Prepare the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Director’s Finance Committee and board members for effective decision-making conversations.

• Build coalitions and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Be courageous and comfortable engaging leaders across lines of racial difference.

Strategic Planning and Effective Execution

• Exhibit outstanding critical thinking skills including the ability to analyze data, ask questions, & develop innovative solutions.

• Demonstrate excellent execution and leadership skills to lead employees in balancing multiple projects with clear deadlines.

• Collaborate with community and political leaders to advance KIPP St. Louis’s mission.

Team Leadership and Management

• Manage a team including, but not limited to, Director of Accounting, payroll manager, accounts payable associate, and finance & accounting specialist 

• Gain the trust and respect of all staff, cultivating personal accountability among staff for excellent service, and problem solving.

• Build, lead and develop a diverse finance team; delegate and leverage the team effectively to achieve ambitious goals.

• Provide on-the-job training and feedback to help team members improve practice and build capacity.

• Work across teams to assure that human resource and student data align with available funding. 

Minimum Training & Experience

• Direct experience leading the budget process, financial planning & analysis, and success managing a multi-million dollar budget.

• Successful senior level financial leadership experience in a dynamic, growing organization; thorough career progression to C-suite level.

• Thorough knowledge of various types of public budgeting practices, policies, procedures, and challenges.

• Experience with GAAP reporting is required; familiarity with non-profit accounting and public sector finance is preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably in the educational sector.

• Strong knowledge of federal and state regulations related to educational institutions and non-profit organizations.

• Proficiency in financial management software, Excel, and Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite.  

• Understanding/ability to use proprietary financial software. 

Minimum Education/ Certification:

• Masters Degree in Finance, Accounting, MBA or a related field. 

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification is highly desirable.

What we bring to the table: Salary range starts at $180,000; final salary will be commensurate with experience and education. 

We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate their best working environment we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental. 

• Employer Paid Short Term Disability. 

• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee. 

• Retirement plan through PSRSSTL with an employer match and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program. 

• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, holiday party, and more!

• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer. 

• Generous time off:

  • Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave

  • Paid parental leave for new families

  • Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break

  • Wellness days and Fabulous Fridays (leave at 1:30 on Friday once a month)

• On-going professional  development opportunities:

  • Weekly coaching sessions

  • Weekly school-based professional development

  • Five in-person PD days during the year for all KIPP St. Louis teachers

If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply! 

www.kippstl.org/apply

Check out our KIPP St. Louis video to learn more about KIPP St. Louis Public Schools!

KIPP St. Louis is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our students, families, teachers, staff and community members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.