Job Description

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools serving elementary, middle, and high school students. Our schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students in Baltimore City. KIPP Baltimore was founded in 2002 with the opening of KIPP Ujima Village Academy Middle School. In 2009, KIPP Harmony Academy was launched, and they now collectively serve more than 1,500 kindergarten through eighth-grade students each day. Both schools are operated by KIPP Baltimore, whose mission is together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

In addition to the high-quality academic opportunities that students receive while attending KIPP Harmony Academy and KIPP Ujima Village Academy, KIPP Baltimore also makes a long-term investment in our students both while they are at KIPP schools and beyond through the KIPP Forward program. KIPP Forward supports and guides students to gain admission to college-preparatory high schools and helps them succeed and stay on the path to and through college and careers. Today, our KIPP Forward program serves more than 1,100 KIPP alumni. More than 90 percent of our alumni have graduated from high school within four years and 70 percent have matriculated to college.

KIPP Baltimore is part of the national Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), a network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in educationally underserved communities throughout the United States. KIPP is a non-profit network of 280 college-preparatory, public charter schools serving nearly 175,000 elementary, middle and high school students.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

KIPP Baltimore seeks a strategic and dynamic Director of Finance. The Director of Finance will be a key member of KIPP Baltimore’s leadership team, reporting to the Chief Operating Office, providing senior leadership for all financial functions and business operations within KIPP Baltimore. In doing so, the Director of Finance will be charged with executing on the strategic financial vision for KIPP Baltimore.

The Director of Finance must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to rapidly and creatively adjust plans based on the changing needs of KIPP Baltimore, including plans for sustainability and eventual growth. As such, the Director of Finance must have an eye for innovative financing and a drive to relentlessly navigate the restrictions placed on various streams of revenue in order to best serve KIPP Baltimore. The Director of Finance will play a critical role in ensuring KIPP Baltimore is equipped with the financial resources necessary for all students to learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes.

Job Description

KIPP Baltimore seeks a strategic and dynamic Director of Finance. The Director of Finance will be a key member of KIPP Baltimore’s leadership team, reporting to the Chief Operating Office, providing senior leadership for all financial functions and business operations within KIPP Baltimore. In doing so, the Director of Finance will be charged with executing on the strategic financial vision for KIPP Baltimore.

The Director of Finance must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to rapidly and creatively adjust plans based on the changing needs of KIPP Baltimore, including plans for sustainability and eventual growth. As such, the Director of Finance must have an eye for innovative financing and a drive to relentlessly navigate the restrictions placed on various streams of revenue in order to best serve KIPP Baltimore. The Director of Finance will play a critical role in ensuring KIPP Baltimore is equipped with the financial resources necessary for all students to learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes.

Director of Finance responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Execute on the strategic financial vision for KIPP Baltimore:
  • Serve as a thought-partner to school and regional leaders in all aspects of financial decision making through strong financial reporting and analysis
  • Refine and develop as needed, document, and implement organization-wide processes, reports and dashboards to support effective communication on all finance matters across the organization
  • Maintain a nuanced understanding of laws and regulations pertaining to school finance and business operations in Maryland
  • Develop and maintain pro-forma financial models that will inform decision making by school and regional leaders
  • Develop a strategic financial plan reflecting educational priorities and sustainability

• Manage finance function to sustained efficacy in all accounting practices:
  • Direct the preparation of reports to meet the compliance needs of government agencies, grants, and bank covenants
  • Manage payroll, accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, and petty cash processes, including management of outsourced accounting functions
  • Supervise organizational-wide accounting practices to ensure continuous compliance in all aspects of financial reporting
  • Support Campus Director of Operations and Directors of School Operations with the training, tools, and supervision needed to effectively manage school-level financial operations
  • Manage accounting firm to successfully prepare for organizational audits performed by independent financial auditors
  • Partner with Baltimore City Public School System and internal Development team to support strong grant management
  • Partner with the Talent & Equity Team to support human resource functions (benefits administration, onboarding, employee relations, compliance, outplacement counseling, exit interviews, etc.) 

Serve as a full-time and engaged member of KIPP Baltimore’s staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, accounting or a related field; advanced degree in finance, business administration, or accounting related field preferred.
• Ideally 7+ years serving in a management role such as CFO, Director of Finance, Comptroller or equivalent
• Excellent financial modeling skills, which includes an aptitude for advanced functions with MS Excel and Google Sheets
• Proficiency in using accounting software - KIPP currently uses Quickbooks and Concur
• Experience working in charter schools and/or other education, non-profit or public sector organizations preferred.
• A passion for the mission of KIPP Baltimore. 
• Strong organization and project management skills. 
• Superb written and oral communication skills; comfort explaining complex financial matters in a simple way and an ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders
• Strong work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility to accommodate a high level of responsibility, multiple priorities and changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high energy environment with a proven ability to juggle multiple deadlines and tasks. Detail orientation is a must. 
• A healthy measure of the character traits we value: zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude and a sense of humor. 
• Lives the KIPP Baltimore values of: 
  • Affirmation
  • Optimism
  • Joyful Excellence
  • Collective Power
  • Community 

Additional Information

KIPP Baltimore Compensation & Benefits

At KIPP Baltimore, we are committed to providing competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that supports the well-being and growth of our employees.

Salary Range: $115K - $130K (based on experience and

qualifications

Our benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options

• Employer-paid life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability coverage

• Access to mental health resources and employee assistance programs (EAP)

Time Off & Leave

• Paid Time Off (PTO), plus scheduled school breaks

• Paid parental leave

Retirement & Financial Benefits

• 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match that requires no vesting period

Additional Perks

• Bonusly employee recognition program

• Access to discounts and wellness perks through our benefits providers

• A strong, mission-driven culture 

For more information about this position, please contact Hilarie Yoffe, Recruitment Manager, at hyoffe@kippbaltimore.org or 410-564-9241

Statement of Non-Discrimination: KIPP Baltimore is committed to the ideal of diversity in its student body and in its faculty and staff. KIPP Baltimore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnicity. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

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