About KIPP TEAM & Family

KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,135 students in grades K-12. By 2025, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across fifteen schools in Newark and five in Camden. 

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,000 students in four schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2025. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives.  

Here's what you need to know:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) sets the financial vision and strategy for KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s ~$250 million annual operating budget, while also designing and delivering effective financial systems across the organization. Additionally, the CFO is responsible for financing KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s real estate portfolio, which currently stands at ~$400 million. The CFO serves as a strategic partner to organizational leaders, provides strong and accurate financial guidance to support decision making, and leads long-term financial forecasting, budgeting and strategy-setting. The CFO leads and manages a team of approximately 20 people across the accounting, financial planning and analysis, financial operations, grants management, purchasing and accounts payable functional areas.  This is an ideal opportunity for a proven financial leader accustomed to managing a complex portfolio to apply their expertise towards KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s mission of providing an excellent education for all students. A strong candidate will also be passionate about improving K-12 education, an influential team and culture leader, and skilled at building effective relationships across diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders.

The Chief Financial Officer is a hybrid role with both in person and remote work with travel expected between regions.

Here's what you'll be doing:

Strategic Finance

• Set financial strategy and lead long-term financial forecasting and budgeting for KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s ~$250 million annual operating budget across 4 operating entities and 5 special purpose entities 
• Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process; review and administer all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes and keep senior leadership team apprised of the organization’s financial status
• Recognize and anticipate opportunities and challenges as they relate to financial systems and operations; generate ideas, strategies, and solutions to drive impact
• Drive debt management strategy across a large, multi-faceted structure of financing instruments 

Systems and Process Design

• Review financial systems and processes and recommend enhancements that will enable instruction, operations, development, and talent teams to more easily understand the benefits and costs of potential strategic and operational decisions
• Maintain and continuously improve systems to guarantee accuracy and compliance of accounting and reporting, and lead the financial affairs of KIPP New Jersey & Miami in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as well as City, State and Federal government regulations

Financial Management and Oversight

• Oversee all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organization, in conjunction with the Boards of Trustees and the Finance and Audit Committee
• Manage teams responsible for all operational finance activities, including: accounting, forecasting, treasury, grants management, insurance, lender relationships, securing, structuring and managing borrowing activities, financial-related strategic planning and legal work
• Partner with the Real Estate and Facilities Team to plan for capital needs across the organization and structure financing for real estate acquisition and development as needed
• Oversee the annual audit process; liaise with external auditors and the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees
• Provide leadership and direction to a federal grants compliance team, currently managing tens of millions of dollars across multiple distinct federal and state grants
• Manage and mitigate financial and compliance risk across KIPP New Jersey & Miami entities, ensuring appropriate controls, training, and resources are in place regarding safety and risk

Organizational and Team  Leadership

• Drive organizational strategy and accomplishment of goals as part of the leadership team, including leading organization-wide and cross-functional change initiatives 
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with leaders throughout the organization to identify and support their needs and ensure collaboration and coordination
• Effectively communicate and present critical financial matters to the co-Presidents and CEO as well as to the leadership team, the Finance and Audit Committee, the Boards of Trustees, and key external stakeholders (e.g. donors, lenders, ratings agencies, authorizers)
• Manage and develop 3 - 5 senior leader direct reports across accounting, finance, purchasing and accounts payable, and a total team of approximately 20 people – ensuring a collaborative team environment in which all teammates are coached, developed, and well-positioned to achieve their goals
• Serve as an organizational ambassador internally and externally; model KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s values as outlined in our Heartbeat 
• Embrace KIPP New Jersey & Miami’s commitment to race, equity, and inclusion (REI)

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience successfully developing, presenting, implementing, and managing large and complex budgets, preferably in excess of $200 million
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Change leadership experience, ideally at a systems level, managing significant change toward successful outcomes while maintaining a strong focus on team culture
• Personal qualities of honesty, integrity, credibility, humility, commitment to quality, and dedication to the mission of KIPP New Jersey & Miami
• Influential team and culture leader, skilled at building effective relationships across diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders
• Track record of building and leading effective teams; evidence of building an outcomes/data-driven team culture and coaching and developing others to maximize their potential 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, lead projects, meet multiple concurrent deadlines and organize time and priorities
• Knowledge of Intacct and/or Edstruments, federal grant funding regulations, structured finance or tax-credit finance a plus but not required
• Robust knowledge of and passion for improving K - 12 public education
• Sense of humor and strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial working environment

Must Haves:

• BA or BS required
• MBA, CPA, MS in Accounting or Finance preferred, but not required
• Minimum 10+ years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience
• Significant experience in organizations with $100 million+ annual budget preferred, ideally in education nonprofits

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Weekend and evening work will often be necessary to carry out the requirements of this job
• Travel to other KTAF regions or for work-related conferences and professional development will be required from time to time

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP TEAM & FAMILY offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area.