Managing Director of Finance Services and Development (Immediate Opening) - IDEA Public Schools

Managing Director of Finance Services and Development

Position overview:

The Finance team strives to support the leadership at IDEA as we work together to meet and exceed our ambitious financial and student achievement goals. The Managing Director of Finance Services and Development will partner with Finance, national, regional, and school teams to increase efficiency and provide a high level of support in meeting shared financial goals.  They design the organization-wide professional development programs that all campus and national financial managers participate in to become stronger in their role and increase capacity across the network and organization. They design professional learning experiences that reflect the most fundamental components of IDEA’s point of view on fiduciary responsibility, financial compliance, policy and procedures, annual planning, budget management, and customer service.  They engage frequently with national and regional leaders, lead trainings, coach managers, and finance functional area partners to execute trainings and ensure in-field impact.

Location: This is a full-time hybrid position based in Texas with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectation: Up to 50% of the time during the busiest parts of the year.

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities:

Essential Duties:

Achieve annual operating income goals to ensure long-term financial stability for IDEA Public Schools across all network entities.

• Ensure national, regional and campus leaders understand the importance of financial results and their responsibility as IDEA Public Schools fiduciaries, support them in making real connections to their functional work through development programming and resources highlighting key elements of monthly and annual financial results on an entity and regional basis
• Support in the development of the ability of members of the Finance Team across Financial Planning and Analysis, Treasury, Accounting and IPS Finance to educate leaders regarding financial results and key performance indicators through internal development and resources, observation and real-time coaching by members of the Finance Learning and Development Team
• Revise and build resources and professional development based on trends and organizational need especially as circumstances change and new policy focus, funding streams or investment areas develop.
• Attend, engage in, and sometimes lead Finance Lead Team operating mechanisms including weekly tactical, strategy meetings and monthly statement review meetings to ensure appropriate communication and support from the Finance Learning and Development Team

Direct management of IDEA Public Schools Business Clerks

• Training and Development: Responsible for the training and development of Business Clerks, Regional Finance Managers, and Assistant Director of Business Office Service Support ensuring a high level of proficiency and compliance.
• Scheduling and Planning: Scheduling and planning daily, weekly, and monthly priorities for the Business Clerks, ensuring that tasks are completed in a timely manner and goals are met effectively.
• Leadership and Facilitation: Lead and facilitate strategy and tactical meetings, fostering collaboration and alignment among team members. Inspire and guide others to contribute to the overall success of the Business Office operations.
• Goal Tracking and Monitoring: Track and monitor the goals set for Business Clerks, ensuring their progress is regularly assessed and providing necessary support and guidance to help them achieve their targets.
• Financials and Compliance: Monitoring financials and compliance on campuses. Responsible for tracking and monitoring the financial performance and compliance of our campuses, ensuring adherence to policies and regulations.
• Training Opportunities: Provide training opportunities for campus-level leaders and staff, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage successfully in business office functions. Training initiatives will contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of financial operations across the organization.
• Reporting: Reporting on campus budgets on a bi-weekly/monthly basis. Will support informed decision-making and contribute to the financial stability of our campuses.

Serve as a consultant to IDEA employees for guidance relating to SBAA accounting activities.             

• Keep current on new and upcoming accounting principles and state compliance requirements.
• Create a SBAA Procedures Manual, to be updated annually/as needed.
• Support the campuses (i.e Principals, Business Clerks, Team Leaders and Sponsors) in the application for and compliant use of SBAA funds.
• Actively participate in weekly Business Clerk meetings led by the Finance Services Team.
• Answer questions
  • Provide updates (i.e. procedure changes)
  • Make requests from audience (i.e. submission of pending cash receipts)
  • Provide Principals and the Finance Services Team with monthly balance report and inquire as to any potential issues and how these may be resolved.
• In partnership with the Finance Training and Development Manager, provide quarterly training ideas and materials for Business Clerks and Administrative assistants related to SBAA accounts.

In partnership with the Accounting Team, complete the month-end-close by the dates outlined in the month-end-close processing checklist.   

• Drive strategies to prepare and post recurring journal entries before the first business day.
• Drive strategies to prepare and post journal entries related to funds owed to the General Bank account.
• Submit all tax reports to external auditor for payment submission to the Texas Comptroller office by the 20th of each month.
• Collaborate with business partners to ensure account coding errors are identified, investigated and corrected.
• Collaborate with other departments (i.e. payroll, purchasing) to ensure all information/documentation regarding SBAA cash receipts has been received and posted by the 7th business day.
• Review related Statement of Activity accounts to determine reasonableness of amounts, detect potential errors and analyze significant variances.
• Review and approve month end reconciliations assigned by the dates outlined in month-end-close processing checklist.
• Complete bank transfers for intercompany billings such as: after school care and SBAA PCARD purchases.

Drive strategies to attest revenues recorded in SBAA are accounted for correctly and mitigate the risk of potential findings during the external audit.  

• Manage SBAA on-board training for all new Business Clerks and Sponsors.
  • Training must occur within the first 2 weeks of employment/transition to role.
• Develop and update training manuals to be used by Business Clerks to facilitate SBAA cash receipt posting.
• Identify Business Clerks struggling with cash receipt documentation/posting and evaluate their need for one on one training. 
• Manage SBAA Clerks ability to guide and train Business Clerks regarding proper cash receipt documentation and posting.
• Assist Business Clerks with questions posed by their respective Principals and respond to their concerns within 24 hrs.
  • NOTE: a solution is not necessary but communication regarding potential timeframe and acknowledgment of concern must be addressed with 24 hrs.

Develop the financial skillset of leaders and financial managers. Ensure members of the Finance Team embody the customer service mindset. 

• Design programming directed towards the Finance Team improving the end user experience, focusing on the Finance Team customer service philosophy and service level agreements
• Support professional development and plans for budget owners and financial managers 
• Create high quality reference materials for financial managers related to key finance functions 
• Manage the Business Clerk hiring, onboarding and support process for portfolio regions 
• Provide differentiated support to portfolio financial managers including field observation and coaching, regional tactical, and ad hoc training based on portfolio trends.  
• Ensure Finance Teams are meeting help desk ticket system goals related to timely responses and customer satisfaction by region through internally facing development opportunities grounded in customer service philosophy

Develop the Scope and sequence for the Headquarter Financial Manager and School Financial Manager Quarterly Trainings, On-Boarding and roadmap continuing education. 

• Identify and train evaluators from each BO team to review and approve training materials.
• Create and run training programs for new Business Clerks, APOS, Principals in Residence.
• Create and maintain shared data boards to track progress on development goals.
• Develop session content and facilitate Regional Quarterly Financial Management Trainings, Summer Institute, HQ managers, grant managers, APO, PIR and Principal trainings
• Create high quality reference materials for financial managers related to key finance functions

Develop and Manage the Content for Playbooks, Standard Operating Procedures Manuals.  Curate and oversee the Resource content library.

• Identify materials and resources needed for BC and APO Playbook, Manage the creation of it with the support of FP&A team
• Create the Template for the SOP for each BO Functional Team to populate and test and maintain
• Define data metrics around Organizational Knowledge and Budget and financial capacity in org leaders all entities.
• Maintain catalogue of training and manage the SOP project including but not limited to the intranet resource page.
• Partner with internal teams including but not limited to Information Systems, ERP to provide scaffolded instruction for impacts to Financial Managers work

What You Bring – Competencies:

Required experience: 

• Education:  Bachelor’s degree in management, business administration or education
• Experience: 1-2 years’ experience in adult education and Process Development 
  • High Achieving K-12 Education experience may be substitute for Adult Education
• Master’s degree in accounting, business administration, or education

Knowledge and Skills:

• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with the ability to use Microsoft products, including PowerPoint, experience with Employee Information Systems, Enrollment Platforms, and other benefits databases. 
• Ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders of varying degrees of analytical understanding 
• Excellent analytical skills 
• Constantly searching for and learning more regarding analysis methods and tools 
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines 
• Hold ethics and values to high standards

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $98,200 and $115,900, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values