Budget Manager

  • Full-time
  • Hiring Start Time: Immediate Start (Home Office)
  • HO Team: Compliance

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing charter public schools that are closing the academic achievement gap and preparing students from historically underserved communities for success in college and beyond. Uncommon currently manages 55 schools serving more than 20,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at rates far higher than their peers. We believe that every child deserves an outstanding education, and we are committed to working beyond the walls of our schools to achieve that goal through our professional development workshops, books, and district partnerships. 

Job Description

Reports to the Financial Projects Manager

GENERAL SUMMARY: The Budget Manager serves as the point person for the financial management of all competitive and non-competitive federal, state, and local grants for Uncommon School totaling ~$35 million in annual revenue! They will maintain all the data systems vital to secure public funds and report on their use. They will be part of a team of three people responsible for this function at Uncommon. They work closely with the members of the team and in close collaboration with accounting, finance, development, regional operations teams and program administrators.

Essential duties & responsibilities:

Submits public grant applications, builds and maintains grant and supervises budgets against expenditures, and leads all reporting and compliance aspects of federal, state and local grants

  • Develops and leads grant budgets which align with guidelines.
  • Independently crafts and implements the upkeep of sophisticated spreadsheets for tracking expenditures related to grants.
  • Handles the application process from start to finish, including coordinating requests for supporting materials and for application writers.
  • Performs extensive quality control on each document.
  • Ensures grants are submitted on time and in the manner requested.
  • Understands statutory guidelines and permissible uses of funds for all public grants.
  • Ensures timely receipt of secured funds.
  • Clearly communicates grant guidelines to schools and ensures that all funds are appropriately used and accounted for.
  • Collaborates with the Accounting teams to ensure that grant funds and expenses are recorded accurately.
  • Completes and submits all reports, invoices and other documentation to grant authorizers.
  • Maintains calendar of grant timelines and a detailed work plan for timely submission.
  • Builds guidebook to grants, detailing application procedures and strategies, policies regarding use of funds, etc.
  • Updates guidebook with entitlements and changes to existing programs.
  • Provides direct support to schools through grant audits and annual reviews.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: Managed by the Director and works closely with the entire Accounting, Finance and Development team; Reports to the Financial Projects Manager.  This team is one of three teams that reports to the CFO. The CFO’s teams are in the areas of Budget, Accounting and Grants.    

Qualifications

1.) Required knowledge, skills & abilities:

  • Attention to detail and follow-through.
  • Strong budget development, management and finance skills.
  • Strong project management and time management skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work well in a team and with multiple partners.
  • Ability to build and maintain systems that improve efficiency.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed.
  • Strong digital literacy (MS Excel, Word, Outlook, internet research, etc.).
  • Federal financial grants management experience.

2) Educational background:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with major coursework in accounting, finance, public administration, federal grants management, or similar coursework.

3) Experience:

  • 3 to 5 years of proven experience required.
  • Experience in K-12 public education preferred.

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a very generous benefits and vacation package. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  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.