ASPIRA – Dir. of Finance

Position Summary

ASPIRA of Illinois seeks to achieve academic excellence for every scholar in a culturally relevant learning environment that empowers scholars through high-quality education, youth development, and civic engagement. ASPIRA strives to ensure all scholars are prepared for post-secondary education and meaningful careers.

ASPIRA School Dir. of Finance :

• Essential Job Functions
• ● Direct and coordinate agency financial affairs according to generally accepted accounting principles, and government and funding source regulations
• Experience working in Non-for Profit organization.
• Establish annual budget goals, major economic objectives, guidelines, policies, and budgeting and new operational procedures to obtain optimum efficiency and reduced costs and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors
• Estimate, analyze, update financial projections and prepare financial analysis and cash flows for the guidance of management and the Board of Directors to meet agency goals
• Evaluate compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws, administrative codes, board policies and regulations including reporting to regulatory agencies
• Knowledge of Federal /State Tax compliance.
• Direct the activities concerned with safekeeping, control, and accounting for assets and securities and evaluate the operation of the accounting system
• Analyze department budget requests to identify areas in which reductions can be made, and allocate operating budget and provide budgeting direction to departments
• Directs the preparation of reports that outline the agency’s financial position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present and future operations
• Direct administrators outlining policy, program, or operating changes to be implemented and recommend improvements of budget versus actual accounting control systems
• Assume responsibility for proper accounting of securities, building, operating expenses, payroll, and other major financial operations
• Supervise the preparation and distribution of budget guidelines, accounts, reports, instructions and forms and reports on the status of the budget process and other reports including balance sheets and income statements
• Prepare, analyze, update and submit financial reports, statements and statistics
• Supervise and evaluate accounting staff
• Maintain positive, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationships with administration and representatives of resource agencies
• Display the highest ethical and professional judgment, behavior and standards
• Creates and refines internal processes: Constantly looks to improve internal documentation and processes to ensure consistent financial practices are adhered to.
• The Director of Finance will also ensure that the network’s financials are closed accurately on a monthly basis. In addition, the Director of Finance will ensure that the transfer of revenue and expenses between the network and the campuses is accounted for and reconciled regularly.
• Ensure effective accounting policies, procedures, systems and internal controls for the organization.
• Deliver timely monthly income statements, balance sheet, cash flow projections and budget to actual reports for the CEO to review and analyze in preparation for internal/external reporting to various stakeholders.
• Supervise and lead the year-end audits and work with an external auditor to ensure clean financial audits with an unqualified opinion. Work with the Accounting Department to prepare detailed and accurate audit schedules, trial balances, and provide responses to auditors in a timely manner.
• Monitor and supervise the month-end close and fiscal year-end close processes to ensure all transactions are recorded accurately and timely.
• Coordinate the reconciliation of inter-company transfers throughout the fiscal year, ensuring that balances match between the network and the individual campuses.
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Supervise and train staff in all areas of organizational accounting including but not limited to accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants management, cash management, bank reconciliations, payroll accounting and allocations, chart of accounts management, and internal audit.
• Interacts with the ASPIRA network team, school operators, and financial partners (e.g., auditors, bankers) to build high performing schools, we need leaders to commit themselves to the most urgent and exciting work of our time! Running high performing schools requires leaders who can inspire students, teachers, and families. We need leaders who put excellence above easy and work with urgency about providing students with opportunities that put them on a path to success and fulfillment in college, career, and life.
• Our leaders inspire their staff, make difficult but necessary decisions, drive difficult conversations and build and manage highly collaborative teams, all while shaping vibrant school culture. Our leaders nurture learning communities that are academically rigorous, joyful, and culturally relevant and affirming.
• Our leaders KNOW their job is the most important job in the world. Self-reflective and humble, our leaders are open to feedback and committed to continuous learning and improvement.
• The Finance Director reports to ASPIRA’s CEO.
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Qualifications
•  Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration or related field is required. Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration is preferred
• A minimum of five years of financial experience and management experience with the day to day financial operations of an organization, working with non-profit organizations and government funding
• Four years of supervisory experience including managing and supervising other staff
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, public speaking and organizational skills, both verbal and written
• Excellent computer skills. Experience working in school finance environment highly desirable.
• Non-discrimination Statement
• ASPIRA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Statement of other duties: This document describes the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.