Description
ABOUT ASPIRE
Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998-in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through-Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.
Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.
JOB SUMMARY
The Sr. Financial Analyst provides financial analysis, tracking, and projections for assigned Aspire school sites. S/he prepares and tracks multiple budgets for restricted and unrestricted funds, understands program and project spending fluctuations, guides school sites on areas of fiscal management, and prepares financial and compliance reporting documents. S/he provides team leadership and oversight for budgeting and reporting systems (currently Adaptive Planning), including administration, training, and further development.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepare annual budgets for assigned Aspire school sites; have budget responsibility for 4-6 school sites.
• Work closely with Principals, Regional School Leaders, and other Finance & Accounting team members to perform monthly and quarterly financial reporting activities , including but not limited to, support with monthly/quarterly re-classes, support with P-1, P-2, and P-Annual Attendance reporting, and support with 1st interim, 2nd interim, budget adoption, and unaudited actuals financial reporting.
• Create and update monthly forecasts (including P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow), and provide variance analysis.
• Prepare budget projections for sites within the region, including scenario analysis planning to guide organizational decision making.
• Ensure maximization of use of restricted funding for each school.
• Perform ad hoc financial analyses as requested by the Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance(s), Regional School Leaders, and Principals.
• Provide support to the Chief Financial Officer on special projects as assigned.
• Provide guidance and oversight related to the use of Finance and Accounting systems, including but not limited to Budgeting and Forecasting systems.
• Prepare school sites for year-end or other audits with support of the other Finance team members.
• Work with charter authorizers and the California Department of Education to comply with local, state, and federal reporting deadlines on a quarterly and/or annual basis.

Additional:

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
• Actively seeks to improve and simplify Aspire's approach to particular job functions
• Comfortable with utilization of technology in a remote environment
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
Competencies:

• Proven ability to provide timely and meaningful financial analysis in a dynamic, high-growth work environment
• Proven ability to clearly communicate complex financial concepts to a non-financial leader within the organization
• Substantial knowledge of accounting, ideally K-12 and/or Non-Profit
• Knowledge of unrestricted and restricted charter school revenue sources
• Ability to gather and analyze data in order to produce reports and make improvement recommendations
• Strong skills pertaining to MS Excel, financial modeling, and familiarity with accounting software
• Experience with and/or ability to learn Adaptive Planning budgeting & forecasting software, Tableau data software, MIP accounting software, and other software packages
• Excellent organizational, time management and follow-up skills; demonstrated ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines under pressure
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of accuracy
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent financial and analytical skills; strong attention to detail
• Proficiency with multiple accounting software packages and/or flexibility to learn new packages

Minimum educational level:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Experience required:

• A minimum of 4 years accounting and/or financial analysis experience
• Experience in K-12 Public Education, Non-Profit, or Government sector preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; fluency in Microsoft Excel
• Proficiency with budgeting & reporting systems

Physical requirements:

• Stand, walk or bend over, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, grasp, push, and pull. Move, lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds to shoulder height
• Repetitive use of hands (i.e. fine manipulation, simple grasping, and power grasping)
• Demonstrate normal depth perception
• Sitting, walking or standing for extended periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, operate standard office equipment, and use a telephone
• See and read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone with or without auditory aides

Work authorization requirements:

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening
• Authorized to work in the United States
• Provide health (TB) clearance (most update every four years)

Compensation: Aspire offers its employees a competitive salary and benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA or TN state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program.
Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Aspire promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.