Senior Director of Finance

THE ORGANIZATION

Social justice movements come in all shapes and sizes. Here at Lighthouse Community Public Schools, we are engaged in an educational movement that goes beyond our classrooms, working to disrupt educational inequities by providing our students and families exceptional educational opportunities every day. Grounded in our core values of community, integrity, agency, love, and social justice rooted in EL Education Model, LCPS is a leader in fostering innovative schools achieving exceptional student outcomes where each child is at the center of their own learning. Our mission is to prepare diverse students for college, a career of their choice, and to be lifelong changemakers.

Founded in 2002, LCPS operates two K-12 campuses serving over 1,600 students in East Oakland, California. . Lighthouse is a beacon for public education and our graduates fulfill the promise of a better, brighter Oakland. ~90% of our graduates, almost all of whom are first-generation college students, are accepted into four-year colleges. If the work we do here at LCPS appeals to your values regarding quality education for all then please join our movement! Learn more at www.lighthousecharter.org

THE OPPORTUNITY

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is seeking a strategic and equity-focused leader who is rooted in the LCPS core values of community, love, social justice, integrity, and agency, to join a mission-aligned team and work closely with our CEO and Senior Leadership Team as we continue to dramatically increase student outcomes across our family of schools in alignment with recent strategic planning work. Our Senior Director of Finance will play a leading and pivotal role in supporting our teams and leaders as the realization of our mission to prepare students for college and career can only be actualized when our financial oversight and accounting systems run like a well-oiled machine and optimized to achieve our strategic priorities.

The Senior Director of Finance will have financial oversight of our successful charter management organization’s approximately $38MM annual budget. Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of LCPS’s Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Director of Finance is responsible for all aspects of the schools’ and organization’s finances. All of this is in service of LCPS’ mission and vision. The role requires strong knowledge of fiscal management, multiyear forecasting and budget analysis, project management, strategic planning and execution, compliance and risk management orientation, and progress monitoring of key initiatives. In addition, the Senior Director of Finance leads critical local, state, and federal compliance and grant efforts and will support the CEO in fiscal oversight and board governance.

Core Competencies

• Strong multi-year modeling and forecasting, budget management and reporting, finance and accounting skills, coupled with strong project and team management skills

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal reporting and compliance requirements for a variety of school-based programs and restricted and unrestricted funding streams

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and groups/task forces on a variety of strategic initiatives

• Flexibility and comfort with change, local and state politics, growth, adversity, and possibility

• Skilled collaborator, communicator, and relationship-builder across a variety of stakeholders

The Role and Responsibilities:

Fiscal Oversight & Operations

• Administrative control and supervision of all business and financial operations of the organization and schools

• Engage the LCPS board and its audit and finance committees around issues and trends in financial operations to ensure LCPS’ long-term financial health and sustainability

• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to create and monitor financial policies

• Assess and refine financial reporting capabilities and operating systems to facilitate strong, compliant audit reports

• Evaluate, document and implement fiscal policies, controls, and practices for the network

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Partner with the CEO, Cabinet members, Principals and other key stakeholders to develop the annual operating budget, and structure and maintain a long-range financial model for the schools and organization in line with LCPS’ strategic plan

• Day-to-day management of the operating budget and working with all school and functional departments to ensure expenses are managed efficiently with monthly updates, and the budget is achieved

• Strategic financial forecasting: identify opportunities to strengthen the school's programs, and prepare financial models, scenarios, and reports to inform and support leadership and organizational decision-making

• Manage Cash Flow across LCPS and ensure we meet cash reserve/days on hand requirements as set by our Board and any loan and bond covenants

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely financial information to all stakeholders including External Agencies, Board, school leaders, department heads, funders and lenders

Facilities Financing & Strategy

• Partner with CEO, Operations and facility development partners to structure and maintain facility financing and modeling both for long-term and short-term goals, including the formation of the Lighthouse Support Foundation, a 509a3 designation, and the management of our two facility LLCs

• Understand and execute bond financing processes and prepare reports per facilities’ bond covenant agreements

Payroll, Contracts, and Vendors

• Serve a key role in employee and vendor contract processes as well as in legal matters

• Oversee and approve Payroll and A/P processes and functions

• Consult and guide intersectional work with HR contracts and agreements, as necessary

• Conduct Insurance reviews and make recommendations to CEO and board as necessary

External Compliance and Reporting

• Prepare for and successfully lead the team to execute the annual audit of the school’s finances

• Prepare and monitor compliance and reporting processes to external stakeholders, such as California Department of Education, Oakland Unified School District, SELPA, and other granting agencies

• Oversee all grant reporting to ensure compliance with grant requirements and successfully meeting all grant terms and conditions to ensure grant funds are secured and used correctly to avoid loss of restricted funds and non-compliance

Team Management & Collaboration

• Serve as a manager for direct reports and indirect reports, ensuring their growth and development as members of the finance team including coaching and supporting anyone you oversee who manages people.

• Serve as a leader on LCPS Cabinet and a senior director supporting the development and execution of LCPS’ multi-year strategic plan and planning processes

• Serve as a consultant to site-based teams and budget owners, including Principals, Operations teams, and Shared Services directors and coordinators on budget, finance, strategy, and grants

• Partner with other Shared Service leaders for financial management and health, investment in academic and student programming, grants and external reporting, operations and facilities, and reconciliations processes.

• Collaborate with HR to ensure accurate management of position control and funding

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications:

Skills and Attributes

• In-depth knowledge of accounting software and financial analysis, strategy, budgeting, forecasting, scenario-planning, accounting, and oversight skills;

• Knowledge of school-based finances, funding sources, and grant and Federal and State restricted and Title fund management, reporting and oversight;

• Excellent project management and execution skills;

• Ability to take initiative, prioritize tasks, and work independently;

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

• Detailed-oriented, with strong follow-through skills;

• Excellent computer skills, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite; finance and accounting applications

• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to juggle competing priorities;

• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship-building with students, parents, colleagues and community members;

• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands & external pressures;

• Ability to unpack the various aspects of one’s identity and implicit biases to manage and work across lines of difference

Requirements

• At least 5-7 years of successful leadership experience within a central office or large school-based setting in a relevant financial capacity

• Track record in leading high-performing teams

• Experience with project management and compliance related to federal and/or state reporting requirements

• Bachelors of Arts and equivalent management-level experience, required;

• Commitment to creating a work environment that values and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Commitment to the core belief that each child we serve deserves the opportunity to be college-ready in order to shape their future

• A list of all prior school-based employers: In accordance with Education Code section 44939.5, Lighthouse is required by law to request information from your former school-based employers about your employment history, including verification of credentialed and/or classified experience and whether you were ever the subject of a credible complaint, substantiated investigation, or discipline for egregious misconduct at your school.

Highly Preferred

• Masters in Business or Finance

• District or Charter School leadership experience in Finance, Accounting and/or Operations, or School Leadership

• California charter school experience

Time Commitment & Compensation

This is a 12-month, full-time salaried exempt position. LCPS offers a competitive compensation package with nearly 7 weeks of vacation and holidays, generous health and retirement benefits, and a salary commensurate with experience. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Salary range for this position is: $155,000-185,000

Supervision

This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Start Date

Immediate, but we have some flexibility to have the right candidate. Preferably, start by no later than July 1, 2025.

To Apply

People of color and bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Submit the following:

• Cover letter detailing your fit and qualifications for the position

• Resume or CV

• Minimum of 3-5 references including at least two recent supervisors

• A list of all prior school-based employers: In accordance with Education Code section 44939.5, Lighthouse is required by law to request information from your former school-based employers about your employment history, including verification of credentialed and/or classified experience and whether you were ever the subject of a credible complaint, substantiated investigation, or discipline for egregious misconduct at your school.

Application submission screening will be completed on a rolling basis.

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.

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