Finance Manager, Grants

Summary:

This Team Lead role oversees the core financial and accounting aspects of the grants and government funding lifecycle. This individual will have primary day-to-day responsibility for the production of financial reports related to both private foundations and government funding, maintaining an adequate system of accounting records and a comprehensive set of controls. A critical aspect of this role is to help re-engineer and develop a best-in-practice grants accounting process.

Key Responsibilities:

Process Improvement & Financial Controls

• Oversee the core financial and accounting aspects of the private grants and government funding lifecycle.

• Maintain an adequate system of accounting records and a comprehensive set of controls.

• Identify opportunities for process simplification and automation, driving a continuous flow of new ideas and process improvements.

• Help re-engineer and develop a best-in-practice grants accounting process, ensuring proper process documentation for all revenue streams.

• Ensure all key financial controls for the grants function are operating effectively as designed.

Financial Reporting & Budgeting:

• Manage the upfront financial budget development process.

• Implement and train employees on improved tagging processes, specifically the expense coding process.

• Ensure appropriate tagging and optimal utilization of all grant funding (private and government).

• Prepare regular financial reports on funds tagged and utilization.

• Identify additional opportunities to seek funding for untagged expenses/programs.

• Conduct due diligence on untagged expenditures to determine eligibility under restricted grants.

• Monitor receipt of all grant payments.

• Assess the adequacy of revenue recognition and the ability to interpret complex US GAAP accounting topics such as the new revenue accounting standard (ASC 606).

• Provide the Accounting team with the necessary documentation to support the month-end closing process.

Audit & Funding Support

• Serve as the financial Subject Matter Expert for existing and potential government grants regarding budgetary oversight and financial reporting.

• Develop documentation related to budget narratives, explanation of programs, and spend.

• Work closely with year-end auditors on financial statement reviews, responding timely to any audit requests related to grant financials.

Required Qualifications:

Experience & Education

• You have 6+ years of experience, with a minimum of 3 years in accounting/finance for grants and government funds.

• You possess a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, or Finance.

• Experience with charter schools is a bonus.

Skills & Traits

• Possesses strong financial acumen and a grasp of the nuances that exist within non-profit accounting.

• A collaborative, hands-on, results-oriented, and innovative professional who operates with the utmost integrity at all times.

• Brings transformation experience and is a change agent with the ability to drive financial process improvements.

• A clear communicator, able to craft and deliver messages to multiple constituencies at all levels (including the CFO).

• Proven partnership abilities and experience working with diverse groups on financial projects.

• Expertise in prioritizing projects, problem-solving, meeting deadlines, initiating follow-through, and displaying strict attention to detail.

• Analytically grounded, with the ability to actualize ideas through execution.

• Possesses a track record of success in complex, fast-paced, creative, and rapidly changing environments.