Manager of Finance & Business Affairs

START DATE:

January 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

The priority deadline for applications is November 1st. Anything received after that date will be kept on file and considered if the position is not filled.

REPORTS TO:

Controller

SUPERVISES:

F&BA Clerk

LOCATION:

The Partnership team works in a hybrid capacity. This position will be based in Los Angeles and a combination of working remotely, in our Downtown LA office, and at Partnership schools.

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS

Launched in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ mission is to transform schools to revolutionize school systems, empowering all students with a high-quality education. The Partnership is a non-profit, in-district partner to LA Unified, not a charter network. As an independent nonprofit organization, the Partnership serves 13,550 students across 20 LA Unified schools in Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. The Partnership works within the LA Unified School District context, which includes honoring all collective bargaining agreements for its teachers and school staff. To learn more about the Partnership, our mission, and how we approach our goals, please visit our website.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Partnership for Los Angeles School is seeking a service-oriented, organized, and adaptive Manager of Finance & Business Affairs. The Manager of Finance & Business Affairs ensures Partnership schools and home office have the resources to achieve our mission by fulfilling financial transactions with integrity and accuracy. The Manager of Finance & Business Affairs will engage with and support multiple stakeholders including school site staff, Partnership staff members, partners, and vendors. The ideal candidate is collaborative, detail-oriented, efficient, and has strong critical thinking skills. This is a full-time, year-round position.

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and our home office. The Manager of Finance & Business Affairs will be someone who is committed to implementing these values in creative ways when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Finance & Accounting (75%)

• Support the management of the Partnership’s finances, including aggregating and disaggregating financial documents, providing transaction backup and research, and analyzing spreadsheet formula
• Prepare schedules for the annual audit and tax return
• Support the organization to maximize efficiency and minimize cost, escalating issues to the Controller as needed
• Coordinate with stakeholders, including Partnership staff, school site staff, partners, and vendors, to execute processes and procedures and accommodate shifts in accounting and payroll
• Assist in providing continual training and support to Partnership and and school site staff on updated processes and procedures
• Enable the smooth running of accounts payable and receivable by depositing donations, providing technical guidance, and troubleshooting issues with stakeholders

Supervision & Support (20%)

• Provide management, coaching, and leadership development for the F&BA Clerk, and oversee their areas of responsibilities
• Model Partnership competencies for direct report
• Build strong relationships and coordinate with internal staff and external stakeholder groups to ensure systems and policies best support the organization’s work and mission

Business Affairs (5%)

• Gather, research, provide, and validate backup documentation as needed
• Work closely with the external accounting firm, brokers, and vendors to ensure regulatory agency compliance
• Support document submission processes and field process-related questions
• Provide process implementation training to school site staff and contractors
• Communicate and confirm appropriate changes to federal and state requirements (e.g. FLSA) to school site staff and contractors

POSITION FIRST-YEAR PRIORITIES

A successful first year in this role will look like:

• Understanding the organization and the communities we serve as well as a working knowledge of our network, schools, and key stakeholders at each site.
• Familiarity with and ability to generate internal and external financial reports.
• Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve within current Partnership systems.
• Establish strong relationships with internal stakeholders at the Partnership.
• Successfully supporting the Controller to continuously improve and streamline systems.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• 3 years of relevant experience with accounts payable/receivable, preferably for an organization with a $5 million/year budget or more
• Experience providing customer service and working collaboratively across differences in work styles and skill sets
• Experience in team leadership (formal or informal) and guiding others
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible way
• Adaptable to shifting priorities and competing demands
• Experience with Microsoft Office (required), Bill.com, Xero, Google suite, Paycom, Calxa, and Ramp preferred
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to communicate solutions to others
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field is preferred
• At least 2 years of experience managing others is preferred
• Ability to travel between school sites and Partnership Home Office
• Spanish language fluency (spoken and written), preferred
• Working understanding of K-12 public education sector, preferred
• A deep belief in the power of our communities, the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting salary range for external candidates is $76,606-$82,079. The Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our compensation practices. Our goal is to ensure that salaries are fair for all staff members who hold many intersectional identities, and we set salaries based on a robust compensation model grounded in consistency and transparency. The exact salary for this position is dependent on the relevant skills and experiences that the candidate brings to the role.

The Partnership also offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off. Details can be found here.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Please prepare your resume and a cover letter tailored to this position. You will submit your documents and application via this link.

Research shows that women and individuals from systemically marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications. While this job description outlines the major responsibilities and requirements to be successful in this role, the Partnership is committed to considering all applicants who are passionate about our mission and can see themselves excelling in this role – including those with diverse and non-traditional work experience.

For technical assistance or support for applying with a disability, please contact the Home Office Talent Team.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Partnership for LA Schools is a contractor with the Los Angeles Unified School District and has implemented a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy. All new employees are required to be fully vaccinated a week before their start date unless they are approved for an accommodation due to a medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to – and actively pursues – diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race such as hairstyle), creed, color, religion, registered domestic partner status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, age, military and veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy or childbirth, physical disability or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. The Partnership also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer, wages, benefits, termination, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.