Finance Manager

Position: Manager, School Finance

Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: Range $80,000 - $95,000

Reporting to: Director of Finance

Direct Reports: None

Location: Remote, with occasional travel. Residence between North Thornton, CO and Cheyenne, WY

About Us:

Academica Mountain West is part of Academica, a nationally recognized Educational Service Provider (ESP) supporting high-performing charter schools in finance, operations, governance, compliance, and academics.

We serve charter schools across Colorado and Wyoming and are expanding throughout the Mountain West. Our mission is to empower school leaders to focus on student achievement by providing strong financial and operational infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities:

I. The School Finance Manager may include, but not limited to, the following job tasks:

A. Budgeting & Financial Planning

1. Lead the development, preparation, and ongoing management of school operating budgets in collaboration with school leadership, board treasurers, and the Director of Finance, including:

a) Initial annual budgets

b) Amended budgets

c) Supplemental budgets, as required

d) Multi-year budget projections, as applicable

2. Maintain current budget models throughout the fiscal year and update assumptions for changes in enrollment, staffing, compensation, benefits, funding, and other significant revenue or expenditure drivers.

3. Prepare budget-to-actual analysis and identify significant variances, emerging trends, and projected year-end impacts.

4. Develop financial projections and scenario analyses to support school leadership and board decision-making.

5. Coordinate with school leadership to obtain enrollment, staffing, compensation, grant, and other information necessary to develop accurate budgets and forecasts.

6. Prepare budget materials and supporting schedules for school leadership, Financial Advisory Committees (FAC), and Boards of Directors.

7. Upload and maintain approved budgets and amendments in Sage and ensure consistency between approved budget documents and the accounting system.

8. Maintain documentation supporting budget assumptions, revisions, and Board-approved changes.

B. Financial Reporting & Compliance

1. Prepare and present budget-to-actual reports, financial forecasts, and variance analysis for assigned schools.

2. Provide school leadership and Boards with clear explanations of significant budget variances and projected financial impacts.

3. Ensure timely and accurate budget and financial reporting for:

a) Boards of Directors

b) Financial Advisory Committees (FAC)

c) Authorizers, including budgets, quarterly reports, audits, and contract-required reporting

d) State reporting requirements (e.g., WDE601, WDE680, WDE109, CDE Data Pipeline, PERA, audits)

4. Assist with quarterly and annual financial reporting as it relates to budgets, projections, and financial planning.

5. Monitor financial activity throughout the year and proactively identify potential budget shortfalls, funding concerns, or areas requiring amendment.

C. Accounting & Financial Operations

1. Perform limited accounting functions necessary to support budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

2. Import payroll general ledger data from Paycom into Sage, as assigned.

3. Calculate lease/rent obligations and other recurring financial commitments for inclusion in budgets and forecasts.

4. Review coding or accounting activity as needed to ensure accurate budget-to-actual reporting.

D. Audit, Tax & External Relations

1. Serve as liaison with external auditors for:

a) Annual audit/Form 990

b) Budget and financial information requested in support of audits and other financial reviews

E. Board & Stakeholder Engagement

1. Attend assigned public Board and Financial Advisory Committee meetings.

2. Serve as a financial resource to assigned schools, school leaders, and Boards.

3. Present budgets, forecasts, budget-to-actual results, and related financial analysis.

4. Participate in monthly/quarterly meetings with school administrators, office managers, and/or FAC.

F. Training & Internal Collaboration

1. Provide training and ongoing support to school office managers and school leadership regarding budgeting and financial processes.

2. Attend internal Academica accounting and finance meetings.

G. Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and/or equivalent relevant experience
• Minimum three years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial analysis, school finance, governmental finance, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing operating budgets
• Strong Excel or spreadsheet modeling skills
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret financial results, identify variances, and develop projections
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Alignment with organization’s mission and values

Preferred Qualifications:

• K-12, charter school, governmental, or fund accounting experience
• Experience developing budgets based on enrollment and staffing assumptions
• Familiarity with Colorado and/or Wyoming Department of Education chart of accounts and education funding requirements
• Direct experience in charter school finance/budgeting
• Experience with education service providers
• Experience in Sage accounting software
• Experience presenting financial information to Boards or committees

Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person