Founding Controller

  • Full-time
  • Start Date: Immediate opening
  • Department: Regional Support and Leadership

Company Description

Organizational Overview

In 2020, KIPP Eastern North Carolina (KIPP ENC) and KIPP Charlotte took the first steps to begin to merge to form KIPP North Carolina Public Schools (KIPP NC). Starting in July of 2021, KIPP NC will be a network of eight high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools providing an academically rigorous and joyous school experience to more than 3,500 students in grades K-12 in Charlotte, Durham, Gaston, and Halifax. Additionally, KIPP NC will support several thousand alumni on their journey to and through high school, college, and career.   

KIPP NC will build on a rich tradition of academic excellence and relentless fight for social justice present from the founding of both KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte. KIPP ENC is the second oldest KIPP region in the nation. In its 20 years of operation, KIPP ENC has been a cornerstone for students and families in rural Gaston and Halifax, operating two primary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Over the past five years, it grew to serve even more students by opening up a middle school in Durham, an urban center in the center part of the state. KIPP Charlotte, which grew out of the strong traditions and academics of KIPP ENC, has supported students and families for the past 13 years, operating one primary school and one middle school in the largest city in North Carolina.

KIPP North Carolina will build upon the successes and experiences of KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte to provide inclusive school environments and an educational program that will enable our students to lead full lives and equip graduates to be future leaders and agents of change in North Carolina and beyond. KIPP NC also will continue to engage in direct, anti-racist work, and it will contribute meaningfully to the dismantling of structures of inequality within our organization, schools, and classrooms. KIPP NC will be committed to expanding our efforts to embed anti-racism in all of our activities and engagements within our classrooms and schools, across our organization, and throughout the State of North Carolina. All of this will be in a tireless effort to create classrooms that are homeplaces for our students, places where they feel safe, loved, validated, seen, and heard, places where all their beautiful identities will be affirmed and celebrated, and places where they will learn the academic knowledge and skills needed for college, career, and beyond.

Job Description

The Opportunity

The founding Controller will be responsible for the oversight of all accounting and reporting activities for KIPP NC’s Central Office and schools. The Controller will lead the day-to-day accounting operations of KIPP NC with a total operating budget of approximately $45 million. The Controller has functional responsibility over all accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and grants administration. 

This is an ideal opportunity for a dynamic and visionary organizational leader to play a critical role in building and shaping a premier K-12 charter management organization committed to supporting all our students to graduate college and succeed in school and life.

Key Responsibilities

Team Development

  • Helps to build a strong, cohesive Finance Team culture that reflects the core values of KIPP NC

  • Serves as a thought leader on cross-team projects, and support KIPP NC’s innovation efforts

  • Completes annual performance evaluations of all direct reports

Financial Leadership and Oversight

  • Consistent with the organizational priorities, develops, analyzes, and makes recommendations relating to accounting and financial systems to ensure effective and efficient financial operations

  • Oversees all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP and/or GASB standards and regulatory requirements

  • Oversees KIPP NC’s accounting functions to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions to ensure fidelity of data and timely monthly and year-end reporting

  • Participates in an organization-wide initiative to update all systems supporting all aspects of KIPP NC’s operations

  • Analyzes financial data and presents financial reports in an accurate and timely manner, clearly communicates monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; monitors progress and changes and keeps the Chief Financial Officer abreast of the organization’s financial status

  • Oversees all program and grants accounting; ensures that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period

  • Oversees the payroll function and related systems

  • Oversees the full coordination of all the audits and the gathering of required audit information, IRS Form 990 preparations, and filing activity

  • Maintains continuous lines of communication and keeps the Chief Financial Officer informed of all accounting issues

  • Together with the Finance Team, strives to obtain clean audits for all entities for each fiscal year

KIPP North Carolina Leadership

  • Participates in KIPP NC Finance leadership team that oversees the strategy for all KIPP North Carolina financial programming

  • Recommends to the KIPP NC Chief Financial Officer system-wide goals; monitors and reports back to the Chief Financial Officer on the progress toward achieving those goals

Qualifications

KIPP NC’s Controller candidates will have the following:

  • A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students

  • An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion

  • A strong desire to collaborate with school leaders and Central Office teammates in service to a new KIPP region growing out of two exceptionally strong ones

  • BA/BS degree in Accounting; public accounting experience required; CPA preferred

  • Minimum of 10 years of experience, with at least 5 years in a management role; non-profit sector experience preferred; experience in K-12 education preferred

  • Solid knowledge of accounting principles and practices as demonstrated by holding active CPA license.

  • Thorough understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), as well as Governmental Accounting Standards (GAS) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) pronouncements

  • Up-to-date on nonprofit expertise regarding audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations

  • Knowledge of financial compliance and risk management including but not limited to statutory and regulatory requirements for nonprofit organizations

  • Outstanding leadership and management skills, particularly as it relates to building teams, working through others, promoting collaboration, managing conflict, goal setting, and holding people accountable

  • A strong writing ability

  • An entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated success in building a program, department or organization

  • Ability to interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs

  • Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within predominantly Black, Brown, and/or low-income communities

  • Understanding and willingness to work in both rural and urban communities, including exhibiting resourcefulness and willingness to travel up to five hours within North Carolina multiple days per week based on need

  • Must live in North Carolina

Additional Information

Compensation

  • Compensation is commensurate with experience and the salary ranges from $70k - $80k annualized. 
  • KIPP NC employees receive health, vision, and dental at no cost to employees and discounts for spouses, children, and families with an annual $1200 (or $1700 for families) added to an HRA account for copays, deductibles, and other health expenditures.
  • All employees have the option to enroll in a 403b with an employer match.
  • KIPP NC Regional Support Team members receive 17 days of PTO their first 2 years of service and 20 days of PTO after 2 years with the ability to carryover up to 3 days each year.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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