Director of Finance

The Brooklyn Kindergarten Society (BKS) is the original “born in Brooklyn”. We were founded in 1891, and for over 130 years, BKS has helped provide high-quality early childhood education to working families. BKS has grown up with the borough and continues to be a leader in equal access to high quality early childhood education. BKS sees its mission as providing an equal first educational step to some of our borough’s youngest learners.We provide full day, year-round academic experiences and care for children ages 2-5 years old. Our curriculum is play based and marries together reading, writing, movement and music, with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning.

JOB PURPOSE 

The Director of Finance will oversee all BKS financial operations and planning to ensure organizational spending is within budget and follows all financial policies and procedures. She/he/they serves as a key member of the leadership team and is responsible for setting and achieving long-term and short-term financial goals in coordination with BKS’s Executive Leadership and Board of Directors. She/he/they will develop strategies to assess manage and minimize any potential financial risks. She/He/they will initiate, manage, and cultivate relationships with existing and prospective financial stakeholders.

 SCOPE OF INFLUENCE

• Oversees all financial operations for BKS
• Build and deliver budget and forecasting models, develop financial policies and procedures and strategies that improve the organization’s financial position and operations.
• Research and review BKS statistics to inform forecasts and projections that help build comprehensive budgets
• Analyze the financial performance of the organization and build reports for the executive team to review and provide feedback.
• Develop strategies to assess, manage and minimize any potential financial risks
• Works with Senior Leadership, Education Services and Administration to further BKS’s vision and values through high level financial strategy and budget setting

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES 

Finance

• Direct and monitor all financial activities of the organization 
• Cash flow management including management of grants and philanthropic funding
• Prepare and implement budget plans
• Prepare BKS financial statements monthly and annually
• Oversee all bookkeeping and accounting work in conjunction with third party consultants
• Manage internal and external financial audits 
• Provide data-driven strategic financial planning advice to Executive Director for long-term growth
• Establish, implement and manage internal work processes for the organization’s financial operations team (including accounting and billing) 
• Analyze and interpret financial reporting and present the information via reports and presentations to the organization’s Board of Directors and Executive Director
• Collaborate with Development team to prepare budgets and amendments with consideration to incoming grant funding
• Stay abreast of current market trends and patterns and act accordingly
• Asses company spending and work to reduce costs
• Manage the finance department, training any new employees as necessary
• Have a clear understanding of and adhere to current laws and regulations

Data Management 

Other 

• Attend and participate in staff and Board meetings
• All other duties as assigned by Executive Director

 Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; CPA or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in financial management, preferably within an educational or nonprofit organization
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial forecasting, budgeting, and financial data analysis
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Outstanding integrity, solid moral judgment, and the ability to make important decisions under pressure
• Expert problem solver, high attention to detail, analytical thinker, and decision-maker
• Proficiency in financial management software, Salesforce knowledge is a plus
• Experience working with federal and state funding sources and agencies including NYC Department of Education
• Experience with fundraising, grant writing, and donor relations is a plus.
• Creative skills to develop new and innovative financial solutions
• Able to work collaboratively with a diverse team

BKS core values:

Collaboration- work well with other team members to ensure the well being of the organization and centers; graciously take in and implement feedback to better themselves and larger team, 

Commitment- come to work on time, consistently and work in service to our students and centers, 

Creativity- constantly problem solve through challenges, see themselves and their work as apart of a larger 

Community- who are willing to take on tasks to support team and organizational efforts and demonstrate 

Compassion- care and empathy for one another, our students, families and our larger organizational priorities, will receive a bonus payment for their contribution and efforts to ensure we continue to implement our shared mission and vision to the community of Central Brooklyn.

EEO Info

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The Brooklyn Kindergarten Society takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.