Director of Finance

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Position Summary

The Director of Finance serves as the operational leader of the finance department and a strategic partner to the Chief Financial Officer. This role is responsible for leading the day-to-day finance function while strengthening financial oversight, reporting, accounting operations, audit readiness, financial planning, and department effectiveness across the organization.

The Director of Finance will help evolve the finance department from a reactive transactional function into a more proactive, analytical, and strategically aligned partner to organizational leadership. While this role maintains accountability for the integrity and effectiveness of finance operations, much of the day-to-day transactional execution is expected to occur through the broader finance team.

Success in this role requires strong people leadership, analytical capability, operational thinking, and the ability to build structure and accountability within a fast-moving and evolving environment. The ideal candidate is highly proficient in Excel and financial modeling, comfortable leading through others, and capable of balancing strategic thinking with strong execution.

This role offers meaningful exposure to executive leadership, organizational strategy, board reporting, and cross-functional leadership.

Role Balance

• 50% People Leadership

• 30% Accounting Oversight

• 20% Financial Modeling & Strategic Financial Planning

Key Responsibilities

Finance Leadership & Department Management

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the finance department across accounting, reporting, payroll oversight, financial planning, and finance administration

• Directly manage and develop finance team members

• Establish clear ownership structures, accountability systems, and department workflows across the finance team

• Build a culture of responsiveness, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement

• Coach team members toward stronger execution, critical thinking, and professional growth

• Increase departmental consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness

• Help create structure and clarity within evolving environments

Financial Planning, Analysis & Strategic Support

• Lead budget-to-actual variance reporting and ongoing financial analysis

• Build and maintain financial models, forecasting tools, and scenario analyses

• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning processes

• Support oversight of grant and public funding streams, including forecasting, financial planning, compliance coordination, and alignment between funding requirements and organizational priorities

• Support executive leadership and board-level financial reporting

• Translate financial information into clear, actionable insights for organizational leaders

• Support strategic decision-making through financial analysis and business insight

• Help leaders evaluate organizational and financial tradeoffs

• Partner with organizational leaders to evaluate financial impacts, operational priorities, resource allocation decisions, and strategic initiatives

• Identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities proactively

• Improve visibility into financial performance across departments and schools

• Support strategic initiatives and cross-functional problem-solving

Accounting Oversight & Financial Operations

• Provide leadership oversight of monthly close and financial reporting processes to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and reliability

• Ensure balance sheet integrity through strong reconciliation oversight and review processes

• Provide oversight and quality assurance across financial reporting, close processes, reconciliations, and key accounting deliverables to ensure accuracy, consistency, and reliability

• Strengthen accounting controls, financial procedures, and reporting consistency

• Ensure audit readiness throughout the year, not solely during audit season

• Oversee organizational audit readiness, external auditor coordination, audit planning, and audit follow-through efforts while ensuring the finance team maintains timely and accurate supporting documentation throughout the year

• Partner with the finance team to improve reporting accuracy, workflow efficiency, and department effectiveness

• Support compliance with applicable accounting standards, grant requirements, and organizational policies

Systems Improvement & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Improve finance systems, reporting tools, workflows, and financial visibility

• Support the development of finance processes that strengthen organizational effectiveness and long-term scalability

• Help establish a scalable finance infrastructure capable of supporting continued organizational growth, operational complexity, and evolving business needs

• Partner cross-functionally with school leaders and organizational departments to support planning, decision-making, and financial management

• Serve as a collaborative and solutions-oriented partner across the organization

• Identify inefficiencies and proactively implement process improvements

• Support a finance culture that balances strong controls with practicality, responsiveness, and service-minded partnership

Leadership Competencies

Managing Ambiguity
 Operates effectively in uncertain or evolving environments, makes sound decisions without complete information, remains calm under pressure, and navigates complex challenges with confidence and adaptability.

Business Insight
 Applies strong business and industry knowledge to advance organizational goals, understands how operational and financial decisions impact outcomes, and uses market and organizational trends to guide strategic action.

Talent Development & Team Leadership
 Builds high-performing teams by developing others through coaching, feedback, stretch opportunities, and accountability while aligning employee growth with organizational priorities.

Interpersonal Savvy & Relationship Building
 Builds trust and strong working relationships across diverse groups and leadership levels through diplomacy, collaboration, self-awareness, and effective communication.

Nimble Learning & Innovation
 Learns quickly in new or unfamiliar situations, embraces experimentation and change, encourages innovation, and uses both successes and setbacks as opportunities for growth and continuous improvement.

Strategic Mindset
 Anticipates future challenges and opportunities, connects long-term vision to actionable strategies, and develops forward-thinking solutions that support sustainable organizational success.

Directing Work & Driving Results
 Provides clear direction, establishes accountability, delegates effectively, monitors progress, removes obstacles, and maintains a strong focus on achieving measurable results and organizational priorities.

Who Thrives in This Role

People who are successful in this role typically:

• enjoy building structure within evolving environments

• move quickly while maintaining strong judgment and attention to detail

• balance strategic thinking with operational execution

• proactively solve problems without waiting for direction

• communicate directly, collaboratively, and professionally

• take ownership rather than escalating unnecessarily

• remain adaptable as priorities evolve

• are energized by improving operations, developing people, and strengthening systems

• are comfortable operating in organizations that are continuing to grow and evolve

This role is likely not the right fit for individuals who prefer highly predictable environments, require constant direction, avoid accountability conversations, or are seeking narrowly defined transactional accounting responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

• 5+ years of progressive experience leading finance operations, financial planning, accounting oversight, or operational finance functions, including experience managing people, workflows, and cross-functional financial processes

• Experience managing and developing professional staff

• Strong understanding of accounting operations, financial reporting, financial analysis, and internal controls

• Advanced Excel proficiency required, including:

  • Financial modeling

  • Forecasting

  • Scenario analysis

  • Reporting development

  • Complex formulas and data analysis

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities

• Experience leading or supporting annual audits

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments

Preferred Experience

• Experience within K–12 education, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, or other mission-driven organizations

• Experience supporting budgeting and long-range financial planning processes

• Experience improving finance systems, workflows, and department infrastructure

• Experience partnering with executive leadership teams and presenting financial information to leadership or boards

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant professional certification preferred but not required

• Experience working within organizations undergoing growth, operational change, or transformation

Work Environment & Pace Expectations

This is a collaborative, mission-driven, and fast-moving environment where priorities frequently shift and leaders are expected to balance strategic thinking with execution.

Success in this role requires adaptability, initiative, sound judgment, strong communication, and comfort operating within evolving environments where systems and processes continue to mature.

This role is best suited for someone who:

• builds structure rather than waiting for it

• operates with ownership and urgency

• remains calm and solutions-oriented during change

• can effectively prioritize competing demands

• thrives in collaborative, high-accountability environments

• is energized by improving operations, developing people, and strengthening systems

Hybrid/Remote Expectations

This role follows a hybrid work structure with the opportunity to work remotely up to two days per week. Regular in-person presence is important due to the collaborative and leadership-oriented nature of the role. 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform the essential responsibilities of the role in both office and school-based environments, including prolonged computer use and regular in-person communication and collaboration. 

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package available, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and other organizational benefits.

Equal Opportunity Statement

LEAD Public Schools is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and supported. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

LEAD Public Schools Non-Discrimination Policy

LEAD Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion,

ancestry, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical

condition, national origin, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information,

or veteran status in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs and activities.

LEAD Public Schools does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices and

complies with applicable federal and state regulations, including those implementing Title

IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Title VI, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990.