Job Description

Position Overview

The KIPP NYC Chief Financial Officer is an essential leadership role on the KIPP NYC executive team, overseeing a nearly $200M annual operating budget, growing to nearly $300M by 2030. The CFO will execute KIPP NYC’s financial strategy, with the primary goal of ensuring long-term financial health while prioritizing resources to support student outcomes. The CFO will continue to strengthen the finance function, ensuring timely and accurate financial operations, robust internal controls, and effective strategic planning. They will also lead and develop the Accounting and FP&A teams (13 team members). The Chief Financial Officer will report to the President.

Building on significant progress made under interim leadership—including improved close processes, clearer team structure, and strengthened audit readiness—the CFO will complete the hiring of several key roles and lead further operational improvements across accounting, FP&A, reporting, and treasury.

This role is based in our office in Midtown Manhattan, with the option for a hybrid schedule. Currently, KIPP NYC regional teammates are required to be present in the office or at a school three days a week. There is flexibility to work from home two days a week.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Strategic Finance

• Oversee KIPP NYC’s long-term financial strategy and ensure financial health while maximizing resources available to students
• Oversee efficient and effective budget, forecast, and monthly variance analysis processes; ensure maintenance with all financial covenants
• Deliver concise and clear analyses and takeaways to stakeholders, including boards, finance committees, and internal teams; identify recommendations and action steps based on financial analyses
• Enhance reporting quality and consistency to support effective engagement by the finance committee.
• Lead a multi-year modernization of the budgeting process, including zero-based budgeting with the Senior Leadership Team and early steps toward school-based budgeting.

Accounting, Controls & Reporting

• Oversee timely delivery of annual audits, free of findings, and ongoing external reporting (e.g., authorizer reporting)
• Oversee all financial functions to ensure accurate and timely execution of operational finance (i.e., bookkeeping, banking, payroll, public grant compliance, compliance with all fiscal policies and procedures)
• Ensure completion of accounting improvements initiated during the transition period and reinforce strong financial discipline.
• Enhance the monthly close process to achieve a 25-day reporting cycle, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and high-quality analysis.
• Lead consolidation and rationalization of the organization’s complex cash management structure, including multiple bank accounts across entities.

Stakeholder and Team Management

• Complete team-building efforts, including onboarding several new hires in senior and staff roles, and strengthening a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Manage the finance team and provide team members with coaching, regular feedback, professional development, and training
• Create a positive work environment with high employee engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with teams across the organization and oversee the delivery of high-quality financial services to the organization and our schools ****

Systems, Processes, and Training

• Continue optimizing financial systems, including Intacct, Flowcast, Ramp, and Vena, to ensure full and effective use across the organization.
• Strengthen internal controls, coding structures, and financial processes across accounting and FP&A.
• Enhance and/or build systems and processes for all aspects of the finance team's work, including key accounting, reporting, and compliance workstreams
• Design and deliver training to school leaders and Shared Service Team members to support the strong implementation of Fiscal Policies and Procedures

*How to Apply: KIPP NYC has engaged DGW Group to lead the search for our CFO. To apply, please complete the application here.

Qualifications

• BA/BS required; master’s degree in business administration, finance, or accounting preferred
• 15+ years of relevant work experience, including 10+ years in senior finance and/or accounting roles
• Significant experience in organizations of $100M+ preferred, ideally in education nonprofits
• Experience with multi-entity nonprofit accounting and lease accounting standards preferred
• Track record of strengthening or transforming finance functions, including modernizing systems, improving processes, and building strong teams
• Humble leader seeking opportunities to improve
• Deep experience setting a strong vision and leading, developing, and managing a finance team to deliver on their annual and long-term goals
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships with multiple stakeholders across the organization
• Ability to exercise discretion and judgment with the handling of highly sensitive and confidential information
• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to produce high-quality work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated passion for and a commitment to the KIPP NYC mission for high-quality public education and social justice for all.

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits:

KIPP NYC offers a competitive salary ranging from $300,000 - $325,000. Salary ranges at KIPP NYC are standardized based on role level and role function. Individual salaries are determined through a lens of equity, accounting for years of experience relevant to the role and scope of responsibilities, and are benchmarked against others within the same salary band.

KIPP NYC offers a generous benefits package, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match after 6 months.
• Generous Time-Off aligned with the school calendar
• Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave.
• Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder care.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Short-term / Long-term disability.
• Employee incentives include 8-week paid Sabbatical after 10 years, annual professional development funds, and tuition reimbursement.

This role is based in our office in Midtown Manhattan, with the flexibility to work from home two days a week. Currently, KIPP NYC regional teammates are required to be present in the office or at a school three days a week.

This description is intended to describe the type of work being performed by a person assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the employee.

KIPP NYC LLC is an anti-racist organization that believes in the importance of being diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving students and families throughout New York City. BIPOC, women, gender expansive, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This role is based in NYC and will require travel to our NYC Office. If, during your employment, you relocate outside of a commutable distance or out of the state of NY, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. It is important that you notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate.

KIPP NYC LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.

*How to Apply: KIPP NYC has engaged DGW Group to lead the search for our CFO. To apply, please complete the application here.