Jobs

Finance Manager

Role Overview:  The Finance Manager is a pivotal part-time, on-site role (up to 50%) that assumes the financial and budgetary responsibilities for the school. Collaborating closely with the administrative team, educational cooperative, finance committee, and Board of Trustees, this position plays a key role in the school’s financial governance and strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy and Management:

  • Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and budget management strategies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
  • Assume overall responsibility for financial management, working closely with the administrative team including the business manager, co-op, finance committee, and Board of Trustees
  • Present insightful financial reports, forecasts, analyses, and recommendations pertaining to budgets and expenditures
  • Undertake financial and cost analysis projects as requested by the admin team, co-op, and Board of Trustees

Budgeting and Financial Planning:

  • Lead the creation, analysis, and forecasting of the annual budget, encompassing the main budget and various program budgets
  • Collaborate with the admin team, co-op, and Finance Committee in budget development
  • Partner with the Director of Development to establish the annual auction budget and monitor donation reports
  • Coordinate budgeting for the Director of After School and Director of Synergy Summer
  • Serve as the primary liaison with the Finance and Audit committees

Endowment Oversight:

  • Regularly update the finance committee and Board of Trustees on endowment status and performance
  • Provide informed recommendations to the finance committee regarding endowment utilization and associated implications

Collections and Accounts Management:

  • Track delinquent accounts and engage with families regarding payment options, working alongside designated members of the admin team and financial aid committee

Financial Aid:

  • Serve on the Financial Aid Committee, reviewing applications and making award decisions. 
  • Partner with the Administrative Coordinator in meeting with applicant families as needed.

Benefits, Vendor, and Compliance Oversight

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for recommending and negotiating employee benefits programs, including healthcare, retirement plans, and others
  • Foster relationships with external vendors to ensure favorable terms and high-quality services
  • Ensure Synergy remains compliant and aware of financial implications of any changes to labor or tax laws in San Francisco or California 

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance preferred
  • Exceptional communication and influence skills, enabling effective collaboration with financial professionals, staff, and teachers alike
  • Multi-level critical thinking.  The candidate must have the ability to engage at a Board of Trustees level of synthesis and clarity as well as capacity to engage at budget line item detail
  • Commitment to progressive educational philosophy and values
  • Willingness to participate as a member of the Synergy Board of Trustees and Educational Cooperative (attend required meetings, active and intentional participation)
  • Interest in being a part of K-8 community of educators, families and learners
  • Collaborative mindset
  • Proficiency in financial analysis and Excel, crucial for budget development and decision support
  • Strong understanding of non-profit accounting principles (GAAP)
  • Familiarity with accounting software, preferably QuickBooks Desktop, is advantageous
  • Previous experience in a school or non-profit environment a plus

Benefit Highlights:

  • Part-time role (up to 50%)
  • Annual salary range: $39,709 – $42,245
  • Tuition Remission:
    • 50% remission for the 1st child
    • 25% remission for the 2nd child

Join us in shaping the financial landscape of Synergy School and fostering an environment where academic excellence thrives in tandem with financial prudence.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to trustees@synergyschool.org.  Applications will be accepted until December 15th, 2023.

Synergy School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values workplace diversity. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, age, religion, creed, national origin, disability, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, parental status, domestic partner status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer-related), or the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS-related conditions or other non-merit factors or any category provided by ordinance.

Employee Code of Conduct

The Synergy School Agreement System stands as our guide for interactions with students. Employees are expected to follow the agreements with regards to respect and safe space, which includes tone of voice, language, and physical interactions that are deemed aggressive or sexual. If an interaction between a staff member and student is inappropriate, another member of the cooperative will be brought in to facilitate a conversation to process the incident.