Educators for Quality Alternatives

EQA serves students who have dropped out, been expelled from, or have struggled academically or behaviorally in traditional settings and are looking for an accelerated path to graduation. There are three high school campuses, The NET: Central City which opened in 2011, The NET: Gentilly which opened in 2017, and a third high school campus, New Orleans Accelerated High School (NOAH), which opened in 2020 as a merger with ReNEW Accelerated High School. Students at the high schools earn a high school diploma and participate in internships, career counseling, and career training in various fields including construction, medical, and digital media.  EQA also serves middle school students through The Bridge Middle School, a therapeutic program for 7th and 8th grade struggling students. For all settings, our goal is that our students leave school with the skills, confidence and experience necessary to succeed in the career and education path of their choice. 

About the Role

The Chief Financial Officer works closely with the CEO, COO, Accountant, and School Leaders to promote and protect the financial health of Educators for Quality Alternatives and each of our programs. 

The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for leading several critical workstreams as identified below and accountable for EQA achieving exceptional results for financial performance and compliance. This is a critical role within Educators for Quality Alternatives - it is an opportunity to support the health and growth of our organization in service of our unique and valuable students.

Key Responsibilities
Finance, Budgeting, and Reporting:

• Support the CEO in developing the organization’s annual budgets including creating and maintaining the budget template using Google Sheets
• Issue timely and complete financial statements and presentation to the EQA Board Finance Committee and Board of Directors monthly
• Update EOY expense and revenue forecasts monthly
• Prepare and submit quarterly and annual financial reports to the Orleans Parish School Board and the Louisiana Department of Education
• Prepare monthly budget-to-actuals reports for school principals using Excel and Tableau
• Develop and produce ad hoc reports as requested by leaders
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to the CEO/COO

Grants Management:

• Work closely with CEO, COO, and school leaders to prepare initial budgets and budget amendments as necessary
• Ensure that grant reimbursements are prepared accurately and submitted quarterly throughout the fiscal year
• Prepare quarterly periodic expense reports for submission to the Louisiana Department of Education for all grants
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and private grant regulations and reporting
• Monitor all expenditures of revenue to ensure compliance with award & budget terms
• Maintain a documented system of accounting for federal, state, local, and private grants

Policy and Revenue Development

• Develop & maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures
• Develop separate Procedure Manual
• Develop Quarterly review process for Policy Manual & policy amendments

Accounting:

• Maintain chart of accounts that accurately reflects the LAUGH accounts and most easily translates to the Annual Financial Report and quarterly reports submitted to NOLA Public Schools and the Louisiana Department of Education
• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures which meet state, local, and auditor specifications
• Ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely and accurate manner
• Oversee the month end close process in conjunction with the Accountant, including reviewing credit card and bank reconciliations, reviewing accounting schedules, preparing the payroll journal entry, and Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and SOA review
• Work with the Director of HR to review payroll bi-monthly to ensure earnings and deductions are processed correctly
• Maintain an orderly electronic and paper accounting filing system
• Maintain an appropriate system of internal controls over accounting transactions

Audit:

• Oversee the year end close process in preparation for the audit
• Ensure all documentation and necessary materials are prepared and available for the annual audit
• Prepare financial statements and accounting schedules as required for the Financial Statement Audit and Single Audit
• Comply with all policies and laws and be prepared to prove compliance at all times
• Interface with auditors and provide all needed information to ensure on time completion

Staff Management: 

• Directly oversee the Staff Accountant, including holding weekly meetings with staff member 
• Train and support school-based staff and others in implementation of financial management policies and procedures
• Collaborate with EdOps and/or other consultants

Leadership: 

• Collaborate closely with the CEO, COO, and school leaders on the implementation of the vision of EQA Schools  
• Represent EQA Schools to external vendors and partners, such as EdOps or Youth Empowerment Project 
• Take responsibility for our systems running in the best interest of students 
• Actively listen to staff and teammates 

Qualifications

• 7+ years Financial Management experience, preferably in schools or non-profits
• Experience managing a team 
• MBA, CPA and/or Certified Louisiana Charter School Business Administrator required
• Passion for improving educational opportunities for urban students and for being a part of a strong, mission-driven team
• Excellent communication, and interpersonal skills
• Flexible and learning mindset dedicated to effectively & innovatively problem solving
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and solutions-oriented mindset
• Highly organized and meticulous about records, documentation, and accuracy
• A strong sense of ethics and integrity regarding financial matters

Hiring Logistics

• Start Date: Summer of 2022 (flexible)
• Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits and generous 403(b) retirement plan
• Reports to: CEO