Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School

Brooklyn, New York

 

What is the Role?

The Finance Team at Coney Island Prep (CIP) is the backbone that supports our entire community from scholars and their families to teachers and operational school leaders. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is someone who has strong attention to detail, a deep commitment to building and maintaining effective systems, and a track record of implementing innovative and efficient financial practices. They have a relentless drive for learning and continuous improvement and will ensure that  CIP stays at the forefront of best financial practices. Above all, they will align every financial decision with our mission in order to strengthen our impact.

The CFO will serve on the school’s network leadership team and be a collaborative partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as well as a strategist across departments who mitigates risk, ensures compliance, and develops and implements policies and procedures to meet CIP’s financial objectives. They engage with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including regularly presenting to the Board of Trustees, annually training operations staff on updated fiscal policies, and overseeing an annual operating budget of over $35M. Their primary goal is ensuring long-term financial health while facilitating the prioritization of resources to support student outcomes.

This position is based in our network office in Coney Island, Brooklyn, with the flexibility to work from home two days a week after onboarding is complete. The CFO will be hired by and report directly to the CEO.

What You’ll Be Asked To Do

Operate with Effectiveness by leading with a systems orientation to drive long term, sustainable results that meet our school’s vision and mission.

• 60% tactical and 40% strategic work; provide strategic recommendations to the CEO based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis
• Be the point of contact for audits and coordinate all audit activities
• Oversee long-term budgetary planning and cost management in alignment with CIPs strategic plan  
• Manage budgeting, the implementation of budgets as well as updates, so as to monitor progress and present operational metrics both internally and externally, with an eye for risk management; manage accounting, finances, and audits for the “friends of” organization 
• Review all formal finance-related procedures, processes, and administration, recommending improvements and updates to the systems in place and managing the systems going forward; pilot new, additional systems to create efficiency across the organization
• Identify opportunities where technology and AI can streamline processes
• Oversee the preparation and approval of all financial reporting materials and metrics for funding organizations and CIP’s board of directors; prepare, communicate, and present monthly and annual financial statements

Collaborate and co-lead with the CEO on all operational and strategic issues and with departmental leaders to provide insight on all financial aspects of the school. 

• Partner with the CEO to manage CIP’s leases and contracts on school buildings and our network office
• Closely collaborate with CTEO and work with the People Team to run payroll, evaluate and oversee all benefits negotiations, and ensure the thus providing the most competitive packages for CIP employees
• Closely partner with our COO and Operations Team to manage campus budgets, ensuring that financial decision making is centered on scholars    
• Partner closely with CSO and CAO around curriculum purchasing each year, professional development opportunities for staff, and summer and after school programming for scholars
• Work closely with CXO support development and fundraising goals across the organization, and maintain compliance with fiscal policies and procedures 
• Consistently partner with the Director of Compliance and Student Services to meet compliance deadlines, which range from facilities funding to child nutrition cash analysis
• Build relationships with stakeholders and lead with a people orientation 
• Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the senior leadership team
• Engage the board finance committee around issues, trends, and changes in the operating model and operational delivery

Deliver exceptional results by ensuring our schools have the resources to continue to deliver on our organizational mission.

• Manage cash flow and forecasting; maximize interest on our cash reserves, and consistently reevaluate and improve cash management strategy 
• Direct all financial, project-based, and departmental accounting
• Collaborate with our commercial insurance broker to ensure compliance with policies and regulations; manage insurance claims for all incidents on campus or at the network office, and oversee the annual insurance renewal process to ensure optimal coverage and cost efficiency.
• Review contracts for field trips and events to ensure they align with risk and insurance coverage
• Oversee administration of CIP’s 403(b) plan 
• Research potential improvements/efficiency in fiscal policies and present to the CEO; manage changes if updates are implemented 

Develop talent by actively creating opportunities for staff to grow, taking opportunities to coach CIP staff across departments, and seeking feedback from network office staff as well as direct reports.   

• Develop and manage one Director of Finance and two Finance Managers; guide larger multi-disciplinary teams across departmental lines in accordance with financial policies and procedures
• Ensure that finance staff maintains financial record systems in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and monitor the use of all funds
• Lead professional development presentations for stakeholders across departments including Operations Teams
• Engage other members of the senior leadership team to facilitate cross-department collaboration that ensures that all solutions positively support CIP’s evolving strategy, operational delivery, and data collection needs

What You’ll Need

• Passion for education and a dedication to Coney Island Prep’s mission; steadfast belief that all scholars can achieve at the highest academic levels and deserve an opportunity to succeed in the college and career of their choice 
• Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of broad financial experience, ideally in accounting, gathering and evaluating financial information, and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership 
• Non-profit and / or K-12 organizational leadership experience preferred
• Self-reflective and open to frequent feedback, with the ambition and desire to grow, develop, and strive for excellence
• Ability to manage and protect time in a deadline-driven work environment; excellent calendar and time management skills; robust short and long-term project management skills and a high level of detail orientation   
• Strong data collection, analysis, and presentation skills that allow others to contextualize a problem and act responsively
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and the ability to coach others to do the same
• Strong change management skills, and the ability to influence and facilitate decision-making among multiple, diverse parties
• Highly developed people skills and the desire to work collaboratively as part of a team; background in coaching and managing at least one direct report
• Team-first collaborator and communicator
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Quickbooks, Concur (or similar procurement software), Excel, Google Workspace; familiarity and comfort with technology and learning new systems 

Who are we?

Coney Island Prep is a college preparatory public charter school in Brooklyn, New York. Merging growth, performance, and commitment, the Coney Island Prep community takes its responsibility to prepare scholars for the college and career of their choice very seriously, but not ourselves. We balance our sense of ownership and responsibility with humility and levity and support each other every step of the way. Coney Island Prep currently serves over 1,300 scholars across its four schools, including:

• 312 scholars in kindergarten – second grade at the lower elementary school
• 336 scholars in third – fifth grade at the upper elementary school
• 320 scholars in sixth – eighth grades at the middle school
• 350 scholars in ninth-twelfth grade at the high school

Commitment to Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

Coney Island Prep is committed to building a team that collectively reflects the various backgrounds, experiences, and identities of our scholars. We recognize and respond to different points of access, so that everyone maximizes their highest potential. We also recognize that because of institutionalized racism and systemic oppression, historically marginalized groups are at a disadvantage when it comes to most application and hiring processes. We want to ensure that all candidates, regardless of their identity, are able to demonstrate their qualifications and are not limited by a lack of opportunity or access. We are committed to creating a space where everyone’s identity is acknowledged, respected, and welcomed. We are intentional about creating an environment where people feel comfortable being their authentic selves at work by constantly examining our organization culture and challenging our traditions.

Benefits and Compensation

• Employees at Coney Island Prep are provided with salaries that are highly competitive, set through a lens of equity, and based on an individual’s skills and experiences relevant to the role. The starting salary for this role is $190,000.
• As a regular full time employee of Coney Island Prep, you will be eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match and Paid Family Leave.
• Staff are provided with a MacBook Air and access to all the necessary technology and resources needed to succeed in their role.

 

Are you “All In?” This position starts July 14, 2025. To apply, head to our Careers Page!

Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, national origin, citizenship or disability. We want Coney Island Prep to be a place where scholars and staff of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities are valued and can excel.