Memphis Delta Preparatory Charter School

Memphis Delta Prep is a public, tuition-free, open-enrollment, K-5 school in Memphis, TN. The mission of Memphis Delta Preparatory (MDP) Charter School is to support and grow productive and well-rounded citizens who will succeed in college and beyond. We will work tirelessly to ensure that all our students are prepared to reach, attend, and graduate from highly selective colleges and universities. A completed course of study at a top-tier college will allow our students to build and support healthy and happy families, empower, and improve their Memphis neighborhoods, and enjoy a rich intellectual life.

MDP opened its doors in August of 2016 and currently serves 380 students in grades K-5. In at full capacity, MDP will serve 480 students in grades K-5. MDP is committed to closing racial and economic achievement gaps in a meaningful way – not only as measured through elementary and secondary standardized test scores, but more importantly, through post-secondary degree attainment.

At MDP, we believe that excellent teaching is by far the most significant in-school factor driving student learning. To achieve the results, we seek for all of our students, we have an intensive focus on highly effective teacher coaching, so that every teacher at MDP is providing a world-class education for our students. We know that when teachers are getting better, at an ever-accelerating rate, our students can consistently achieve at unprecedented levels.

Overview

The Director of Finance and Operations reports to the Executive Director. Operational quality is a determinant factor in the success of MDP and our students. The DFO is responsible for the following essential functions at MDP: human capital, financial resources and reporting, finance, information technology, and compliance. The DFO manages these functions directly and does not have direct reports. The DFO ensures that the school is using its limited resources in the most efficient ways possible, and that the school is in good standing with all local, district, state, and federal policies and requirements.

This job description outlines the areas that the DFO oversees, though not necessarily the specific daily tasks the DFO completes. The DFO’s success will depend on his/her ability to use deliberate practice to get better, faster. Ultimately, the DFO at MDP needs to know how to get this essential work done in the most efficient way possible.

In addition, the DFO works closely with the Executive Director to make high-level decisions based on local, district, state, and federal policy. The DFO works to ensure that all school decisions are made in the best interests of students, families, and other stakeholders as well as in compliance with all applicable policies and laws.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Compliance, Regulations, and Reporting
• Ensures school-wide compliance with health and safety laws, charter contracts, state education mandates, teacher certification, ESSA requirements, and all federal and state workplace regulations.
• Implements and manages record-keeping systems, documents, and document requests.
• Ensures the school replies to all requests from district charter office.
• Works with the Executive Director to prepare for charter school site visits, renewal visits, and monitoring visits.
• Works with the Executive Director to develop, refine, and/or codify school policies and procedures.
• Finance and Procurement
• Creates and oversees the school’s budget.
• Manages relationship with the school’s back-office provider.
• Is responsible for annual budget submission, financial report, audit, and tax filing.
• Is accountable for all financial metrics; constantly looks to expand revenue sources while managing expenses.
• Oversees all purchasing.
• Aligns financial activities and decision-making with the organization’s Financial Policies and Procedures.
• Partners with the Executive Director to present the financial update to the Board each month.
• Is responsible for ensuring school scores at least a 4 out of 5 on the district Financial Scorecard.

o Manages credit cards, line of credit, and other debt sources.

o Completes regular accounting tasks such as invoice submission, coding of transactions, and monthly forecast updating.

o Oversees all procurement including writing RFPs for large purchases.

• Grants Management
• Completes school-based sections of all government and authorizes grant proposals and reports.
• Manages all steps within the grant process, including applying, budgeting, submitting reimbursement requests, reporting, and ensuring compliance with requirements, regulations, rules, and guidance.
• Assesses grant requirements to ensure funds are used for allowable expenses in compliance with regulations; clearly communicates requirements to Executive Director and Board of Directors to align resource allocation plans with the school’s strategic vision.
• Communicates with school’s back-office provider to accurately update budget projections and cash flow.
• Maintains individual donation tracking system to provide timely acknowledgement of donations.
• Manages relationships with local funders and provides grant reporting.

o Identifies, assesses, and applies for additional federal, state, local, and/or private funding opportunities.

• Human Resources
• Manages the staff hiring process.
• Updates personnel policies and maintains Personnel Handbook.
• Maintains personnel records and tracks staff paid time off.
• Ensures employees receive payroll and benefits in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensures that all personnel policies are followed and addresses any issues with staff.
• Technology
• Manages inventory and maintenance of technology equipment to ensure all staff members and students have fully functioning technology.
• Works closely with technology consultant to address issues.
• Monitors instructional technology to ensure that technology issues do not interfere with instruction.
• Additional Responsibilities
• The DFO regularly takes on additional responsibilities and does whatever it takes to ensure Memphis Delta Prep students and staff have what they need to be successful.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required
• A minimum of two years of experience required.
• General knowledge of accounting procedures and practices strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a school that serves low-income students is preferred, but otherwise qualified candidates with relevant transferrable experience should not be discouraged from applying.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment in Finance and decision-making.
• Excellent data management and analysis skills; experience managing and manipulating complex data sets with Excel.

Mindset

• Demonstrated deep belief in the ability of low-income children to excel academically and the ability of schools to be the drivers of that success; extremely high expectations for student success and school performance.
• Alignment with Memphis Delta Prep’s belief that “all means all;” drive to work to remove barriers to students and families and uphold school policy of not suspending or expelling students.
• Openness to, and desire for, frequent feedback; intense desire to improve and grow professionally; willingness to practice, take risks, and lean into discomfort for the purpose of accelerating personal skill development.
• Results-focused, with a “no excuses” mentality; willing to do whatever is necessary to improve personal skill set and performance to drive organization to its goals; track record of exceeding goals.
• Leadership orientation and personal initiative; willing to take risks and make big decisions - with confidence in having done the necessary research, analysis, and preparation - and own the results, good or bad; deliberate about doing the homework, but willing to act – not paralyzed or discouraged by incomplete information.
• Willingness and excitement to actively participate in school community and school activities.
• Sense of ownership and personal pride in MDP, our work, and our mission.

Physical Demands

• Performs essential job functions in established office environment under normal lighting and climate control tolerance.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, touch, handle, feel, reach, see, hear, speak, and sit.
• Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Performs job functions in a non-smoking workplace/smoke-free environment.

Memphis Delta Prep is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Compensation and Benefits

The Director of Finance and Operations salary is competitive with similar charter school leadership roles.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 2 years

Physical setting:

• Office

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• What are your salary requirements?

Ability to Relocate:

• Memphis, TN 38106: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person