Business Manager

About DC Scholars: 

DC Scholars Public Charter School was founded in 2012 and serves approximately 500 students in Preschool - 8th grade. DC Scholars develops life-long scholars who have the academic knowledge and skills, individual passions, and community-mindedness necessary to succeed in and contribute to an ever-changing world. We have cultivated a mission-oriented and collaborative team. Our staff is enthusiastic about constantly setting and reaching a high bar for students. 

The Position: 

The Business Manager ensures that our school community has the strongest possible policies and processes in place to support strong student outcomes. As the Business Manager, you will lead the work on contracts, accounts payable, grants, and procurement with superior organizational, project management, and communication skills. You will be in a unique position to ensure that our school is provided with high-quality service and goods delivery and payments systems.  

This position reports to the Chief of Finance and Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management - execute all DC Scholars contracts timely and in compliance with DC Scholars and PCSB financial policies

• Manage timelines and negotiate contracts for each school year, including all contract renewals, Request For Proposals (RFPs), and amendments
• Review contract spending and compliance with all contracts on a monthly basis
• Lead vendor onboarding after execution of the contract

Accounts Payable - ensure that all payments due from DC Scholars comply with DC Scholars financial policies and procedures and are paid in a timely manner

• Ensure that all invoices received are accurate, properly documented, and approved for payment by the appropriate staff member.
• Merge invoices and purchase orders (POs) and for submission.
• Review and accurately code invoices for payment processing in Anybill.
• Track and ensure that all contracted invoices are submitted into Anybill monthly.
• Retrieve invoices from vendor portals (e.g., Amazon, Office Depot) and request final invoices from vendors as needed.
• Document and code credit card expenses in Expensify by the 21st of each month
• Manage and report on internal auditing of PayPal and petty cash holdings and oversee all family and scholar payments (i.e. field trips, technology fees, etc.)
• Monitoring Finance emails for action items or questions

Procurement/Purchasing - manage the process of purchasing and delivery of all orders needed to support DC Scholars instruction, culture and operations

• Place orders with vendors on a weekly basis
• Research options and costs with multiple vendors
• Request quotes
• Generate purchase orders
• Confirm order placement and delivery timeline
• Troubleshoot with vendors when issues arise
• Track delivery receipt
• Coordinate with on-site operations staff to confirm delivery receipt of orders
• Track and record staff incentives purchased for the HR team to record on payroll

Federal Grants Management

• Coordinate with School Leaders to update narrative portions of grant applications; upload narratives into EGMS; Submit all grant applications in a timely manner (in advance of deadlines), including amendments.
• Manage and maintain all Federal Grant Procurement Compliance Documentation, including Time & Effort reports, Purchase Orders, and PD (Professional Development) Sign-In Sheets.
• Participate in all required OSSE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education) Federal Grant trainings to stay current with regulatory requirements.
• Review and propose recommendations for all federal grant policies and documentation of meetings to ensure compliance with ESEA (Title Grants) & NSLP (i.e. Schoolwide Plan, Local Wellness Policy, Family Engagement Policy, Early Childhood Policy, Title I Meeting). 
• Coordinate the collection of data and narratives for grant reports, ensuring accurate and timely submission of reports to relevant agencies and stakeholders.
• Support OSSE’s on-site and remote monitoring visits (audits) related to federal grants, as needed, ensuring full cooperation and compliance during audits.

Background and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Finance or Accounting preferred)
• At least five years of work experience in a similar, school-based role. 
• One year of experience in a manager role is required.
• Experience writing and submitting strong grant applications preferred
• Experience developing strong project plans with acute attention to the smallest details to ensure smooth, predictable, and effective outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to plan and monitor school budgets and to manage school expenses and financial transactions to ensure that the school stays within budget and adheres to all financial policies and procedures.
• Fiercely organized and execution-oriented; comfortable managing many moving parts and consistently delivering on time
• Exemplary communication skills (written and oral) and the ability to communicate with a wide range of clients and constituents, including scholars, parents, vendors, staff, board members, and donors
• Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and discretion on a variety of sensitive topics
• Must be highly collaborative and believe strongly in the important role of synergistic relationships in solving complex problems
• Ability to relentlessly pursue goals, and work through obstacles. A high degree of initiative in resolving problems and implementing solutions in a fast-paced environment

Mindset

• Passion for educational equity and a commitment to the mission and vision of DC Scholars
• Strong alignment with DC Scholars’ Core Values: High Bar, Passion & Persistence, Hope, Humility & Growth, and Trust
• Collaborative leadership style
• High standards of excellence for self and for others
• Evidence of well-developed emotional intelligence and empathy

The Rewards

• Opportunity to work in an exciting and enjoyable environment that fosters strong family relationships and community partnerships
• Targeted professional development focused on bolstering leadership capabilities
•  Supportive and Caring Community
• Competitive salaries
• Highly Competitive Benefits Packages including:

• 403B Retirement Plan with matching contributions
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• EAP 

• Employee Discount through Life Mart

DC Scholars encourages individuals of all identities and backgrounds to apply for this position. We are an equal opportunity employer fully committed to hiring a talented and diverse group of individuals. DC Scholars does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable law.