Chief Financial Office (Hybrid, Southern California)

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks in the nation, operating 25 high-performing middle and high schools that educate over 12,000 scholars who comprise the heart of Los Angeles’ Latinx, Black, and recent immigrant communities. Alliance schools have been recognized as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Department of Education. Since opening our first school in 2004, 95% of Alliance scholars have graduated from high school. We strive to uplift our scholars and their communities by fostering unparalleled educational opportunities that encourage scholarly thought, resilient learning, powerful communication, mind-body wellness, and community advocacy. To learn more, visit www.LAalliance.org.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides strategic direction and leadership for Alliance’s financial functions and its business enterprise work. In Alliance’s next chapter, the CFO holds a dual mandate: protect the integrity of a proven finance, accounting, payroll, and compliance foundation, and build durable leadership for the enterprise-level work that sustains and grows the network—real estate, capital markets, large-scale facilities and capital projects, enterprise transactions, and new revenue and growth opportunities.

The CFO will serve as a key strategic partner in evaluating and financing Alliance’s expansion and innovation priorities, including financially sustainable school models, geographic expansion, technology-enabled learning, strategic partnerships, and new revenue opportunities. The CFO will help ensure these investments advance both school outcomes and Alliance’s long-term financial health.

The CFO is accountable for financial management, systems, and controls across the Alliance Home Office, Alliance schools, Alliance Facilities Corporation, and the Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) that hold title to Alliance’s school properties, including a current annual budget of approximately $275 million and approximately $220 million in facilities financing. The CFO oversees the Accounting, Finance, Payroll, and Fiscal Compliance teams, as well as Facilities Development. The CFO works closely with the Alliance Governing Board, external auditors, legal counsel, lenders, funders, the Alliance Foundation, and district authorizers. The CFO reports directly to the CEO and serves on the Executive Cabinet and the Home Office Leadership Team.

As Alliance enters its next chapter, we are building on more than two decades of experience to strengthen our existing schools, explore innovative educational models, and expand opportunities for scholars and families. Our North Star is to get at least 75% of Alliance scholars to graduate from a four-year college (Alliance is currently 3x the national average). Achieving this aspiration requires both educational excellence and long-term financial sustainability to serve our community for generations.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Accounting, Finance, Payroll, Fiscal Compliance, and Capital Projects

• Serve as the chief fiscal steward of Alliance, accountable for the integrity, sustainability, and responsible use of public, private, and restricted funds across all Alliance entities. Ensure every financial decision sustainably serves Alliance’s mission and long-term viability, while ensuring Alliance remains in strong standing with the Governing Board, authorizers, auditors, lenders, and the communities it serves.

• Oversee the development and implementation of operating budgets for schools and Home Office, capital expense planning, timely and effective use of restricted funding, and long-term financial modeling and cash strategy in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.

• Oversee the Division teams to prepare monthly financial variance reports, meet with budget owners regularly to review individual budgets and assist with the achievement of goals and midyear corrections when necessary.

• Oversee the Payroll team to process employee payroll, retirement, and taxes. Work closely with the Talent team on cross-functional payroll issues.

• Manage all banking and corporate insurance relationships with selected financial institutions and insurance firms.

• Protect assets by overseeing administration of strong internal accounting policies, controls and procedures for fiscal operations, including the maintenance, review, and accountability of Alliance’s Fiscal Policies and Procedures. Monitor audits, including Alliance’s annual financial audit and Fiscal Oversight conducted by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

• Oversee the primary fiscal liaison between Alliance and LAUSD, including responsiveness to LAUSD inquiries, receiving and coordinating resolution of LAUSD Notices, and supporting the team in drafting and submitting data and information requirements of LAUSD.

• Ensure an effective competitive selection process exists for applicable contracts and vendor services as required by internal policy and state and federal regulations.

• Review and approve contractual documents, including major vendor and professional service agreements.

Business Enterprise

• Serve as steward of Alliance’s real estate portfolio, including owned and leased school properties held through Alliance Facilities Corporation and affiliated LLCs. Develop and maintain a long-term portfolio and facilities strategy aligned with enrollment, academic program, and financial plans; lead acquisitions, dispositions, leases, and district facilities agreements; and oversee the business administration, governance, and compliance of affiliated entities.

• Lead Alliance’s capital markets strategy, including structuring and executing new financings and refinancings (e.g., tax-exempt bonds, bank debt, and public and philanthropic facilities programs), managing the debt portfolio and covenant compliance, and maintaining strong relationships with lenders, investors, rating agencies, bond counsel, and financial advisors.

• Provide executive oversight of the financial, contractual, and business dimensions of major capital projects, including new construction, acquisition, and modernization. Establish capital plans and project budgets, secure funding sources, ensure sound procurement and contract management, and partner closely with School Operations to deliver projects on time and on budget.

• Lead the financial and business evaluation, due diligence, structuring, and execution of strategic transactions, including potential mergers, school acquisitions, transfers, and combinations or partnerships with other school operators. Coordinate legal counsel, authorizers, lenders, and the Governing Board from early assessment through decision, close, and integration.

• Evaluate alternate revenue sources and growth opportunities, including potential geographic expansion, fee-for-service models, and commercial facilities rental opportunities. Develop the business cases, financial models, and risk assessments that enable the CEO and Governing Board to make well-informed decisions that advance Alliance’s mission and long-term sustainability.

• Partner with academic, school operations, and innovation leaders to assess the financial viability and scalability of new school and operating models, including smaller-school configurations, shared services, and technology-enabled approaches.

• Establish investment criteria and review processes for major strategic initiatives, assessing financial feasibility, risk, funding needs, and performance milestones to inform decisions to launch, scale, modify, or discontinue investments.

• Develop funding strategies for strategic initiatives that diversify resources while protecting core school operations.

Strategy and Organizational Leadership

• Promote a culture of high performance, customer service, and continuous improvement as reflected in outstanding staff recruitment, retention, and development.

• Develop and coach direct reports – including the Vice President Accounting, Vice President Finance, Vice President Business Strategy, Director Capital Project Management, and Manager Strategic Initiatives -- and team members by setting clear goals and providing regular constructive feedback and supporting growth and learning opportunities.

• Foster and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and communication with Innovation & Impact, Academics, School Operations, Talent, Legal, and the Alliance Foundation to evaluate, finance, implement, and scale strategic initiatives, ensuring clear accountability, organizational readiness, and alignment with Alliance’s long-term organizational strategy.

• Provide enterprise risk management analyses to make sure Alliance schools proactively review, anticipate, and address potential risks of all kinds affecting the network.

• Develop internal calendar timeline and processes for all financial, accounting, payroll, lending, and other associated compliance reporting activities, and provide school site support to ensure established timelines are met.

• Represent the organization externally, as necessary, particularly in banking, capital markets, real estate, and transaction settings.

• Serve as strategic advisor to the President/CEO, the Governing Board, the Executive Cabinet, the Senior Leadership Team, Principals, and other key stakeholders on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities, capital and real estate strategy, enterprise growth opportunities, and policy matters.

• Serve as a member of the Executive Cabinet as a partner in developing, executing, and achieving Alliance’s vision, mission, strategies, priorities, and goals.

• Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the Accounting & Finance Team.

• Develop and implement change management strategies for large-scale organizational initiatives, including the integration of schools, teams, and systems resulting from enterprise transactions.

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

• A passion for leading and implementing large, complex initiatives, a proven track record of sound data-driven decision-making, and ability to drive strong performance results.

• An enterprise mindset: the ability to see Alliance’s finances, real estate, and partnerships as a connected set of assets, and to identify and rigorously evaluate opportunities that strengthen long-term sustainability while protecting fiscal integrity and mission.

• A track record of leading complex transactions from evaluation through execution, along with the credibility to earn the confidence of boards, lenders, and investors.

• Demonstrate ability to evaluate and finance innovative business and operating models, balance near-term financial pressures with long-term strategic investments, and partner across functions to turn promising ideas into sustainable organizational practices.

• Exceptional people management and relationship-building skills; a high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness; and exceptional team culture-building skills. Ability to identify, cultivate, and coach leadership potential in others and experience designing systems to support the development of staff members at all levels of an organization.

• Demonstrated ability to bring together multiple stakeholders, including a board of directors, to resolve complex organizational issues collaboratively and achieve shared goals.

• Multicultural competence and ability to lead and manage others through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as a deep commitment to equity and anti-racism.

• Strong project management and data analysis skills with the ability to efficiently manage multiple projects and deadlines, work across departments and functions, and translate strategies from plans to action.

• Systems-level strategic thinker who can craft a strategic vision with clear and nuanced understanding of the impact that different approaches have on organizational culture and performance.

• Superior communication skills with an ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision, both verbally and in writing.

• Strong customer service orientation, with demonstrated ability to establish and sustain systems to provide great service experiences to customers (schools and Home Office teams).

• Flexibility to adapt to constantly changing environments and continually look for ways to work proactively to improve systems, structures and processes.

• Demonstrated commitment to continually enhancing one’s own capabilities.

• Commitment to ensuring educational equity and excellence in Los Angeles.

• Experience and expertise in school finance, fund accounting, GAAP, budget preparation, and fiscal management, school operations and procurement, internal controls, fiscal monitoring, compliance, and school laws/regulations.

• Demonstrated experience in facilities financing and capital markets, real estate, and/or large-scale capital projects at significant scale.

• Experience leading or materially supporting mergers, acquisitions, school restarts, or other organizational combinations; MBA, CPA, or CFA.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university

• 10+ years of professional work experience in a related field

BENEFITS

In alignment with our commitment to equity for our scholars, Alliance is dedicated to promoting equity and transparency within our team, offering competitive salaries commensurate with experience, as well as generous retirement and health benefits. This position is Exempt.

• We strive to be the best employer possible by offering excellent benefits for our employees and their families. Please click HERE for more information about our health benefits, retirement options, as well as our paid holidays and leave.

• Relocation: Individuals residing outside of the Greater Los Angeles area are eligible for a relocation bonus of $5,000 for individuals and $7,500 for new staff with families/partners.

• Bonus: This position is eligible for a $15,000 signing bonus

• Professional Development: At Alliance, we believe in supporting staff growth by providing substantial professional development support. Home Office staff are allocated $500 per year for professional development expenses.

WORK LOCATION

This position is a hybrid role which will include a combination of working from home, our network office, and travel to school sites. The successful candidate will be given a $400 work-from-home set-up allowance and receive a monthly stipend of $100.

COMPENSATION

$205,000 - $260,000

APPLICATION PROCESS

Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor or support applicants on visas at this time or in the foreseeable future.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, pro-Black community that celebrates diversity, equity, and the unique identities of all scholars and staff. Nearly two-thirds of our teachers and administrators identify as people of color, reinforcing our commitment to representation and the power of diverse role models. We recognize the richness of the cultures and communities we serve, and we believe that embracing and empowering these identities is essential to the success and pride of our scholars. Working at Alliance means joining a movement to drive transformative change, nurture resilience, and build lifelong, meaningful connections with scholars and their communities.

Champion Alliance’s Anti-Racist, Pro-Black Mission: The strongest candidates will bring a commitment to Alliance’s mission of building an anti-racist, pro-Black community that prioritizes the success and well-being of Black and Brown scholars. Candidates should have a passion for promoting equity through anti-racist, student-centered teaching practices that celebrate racial and cultural identities. This role is rooted in service to systemically underserved communities in Los Angeles, helping scholars graduate “college-ready” with pride in who they are.

This job description is subject to change at any time based on the evolving needs of the organization.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools requires that all team members complete a LiveScan background check and TB clearance.

• Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they match every criterion. If you think you meet some of the qualifications, but don't necessarily check every box in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. If you have questions, contact the Talent Acquisition Team at [email protected].

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.