About Us
Amani Public Charter School is a stand-alone public middle school serving grades 5-8 in Mount Vernon, NY. Since opening its doors in 2010, Amani has provided Mount Vernon families with a high-quality public school choice. Our mission is to equip students with the academic skills and character necessary to thrive in competitive high schools, colleges, and careers of their choice. With plans to expand to grades K-4, Amani is entering an exciting phase of growth and innovation, and we are seeking a visionary leader to guide our financial and administrative operations.

The Opportunity
We are seeking a Managing Director of Finance and Administration (MDFA) to join our leadership team starting July 2025. Reporting to and partnering closely with the Executive Director, this pivotal role will help drive Amani’s financial sustainability and operational excellence during an exciting time of expansion to a K-8 model. The MDFA will oversee a $7M budget (initially, which would increase substantially with the planned school expansion), lead financial and operational strategy, and manage a Bookkeeper and our outsourced HR Manager.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a growing organization's future and profoundly impact students, families, and the Mount Vernon community. As a key leader at Amani, you will have the chance to build scalable systems, create innovative solutions, and work alongside a passionate team dedicated to educational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director, advising on key financial and operational decisions to drive the school’s success and growth.

• Lead the development of Amani’s financial strategy, ensuring alignment with the school’s mission and goals.

• Oversee financial planning and reporting, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term capital planning.

• Provide regular financial updates and actionable insights to the Board of Trustees and other key stakeholders.

• Work closely with the Finance Committee of the Board and its chair and provide regular reports and updates to the committee.

• Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including auditors, authorizers, funders, and financial institutions.

• Build strong relationships and work cross-functionally with other key functional leaders at the school, including the principals, deans, and head of operations.

• Partner with the Executive Director in fundraising efforts, including grant opportunities, donor stewardship, and funder compliance.

• Provide coaching and professional development to build financial capacity across the organization.

Financial Management:

• Manage and track diverse revenue streams, including public funding (e.g., E-Rate, SPED) and philanthropic contributions.

• Build and implement tools to improve budget ownership and financial forecasting across the organization.

• Oversee procurement, vendor management, and financial record-keeping to ensure efficiency and transparency.

• Lead the preparation of clean audits, 990 filings, and required financial reports for external stakeholders.

• Establish and maintain robust financial and governance policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with GAAP, regulatory standards, and good governance practices.

• Transition outsourced finance functions in-house, creating systems that support scale and sustainability.

Human Resources:

• Manage relationships with HR partner and benefits provider (PEO), ensuring compliance with labor laws and best practices.

• Oversee employee benefits administration, including health insurance and retirement plans.

• Help provide thought leadership on organizational development as the school grows, expands, and becomes more complex.

Team Leadership:

• Manage and develop a Bookkeeper; supervise the HR Consultant

• Ensure alignment between the team’s work and Amani’s student-first mission.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• Mission Alignment: Passion for education and commitment to the mission of Amani Public Charter School.

• Leadership Experience: 8+ years of progressive finance experience, ideally in a nonprofit, education, or public sector organization. Charter School experience is preferred.

• Financial Expertise: Advanced knowledge of budgeting, financial reporting, cash flow management, grant compliance, and GAAP.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. CPA or MBA preferred.

• Strategic Thinking: A proven ability to think strategically and execute financial plans that align with organizational goals.

• Operational Skills: Experience leading HR, payroll, and procurement functions, focusing on efficiency and compliance.

• Collaborative Leadership: Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence and engage diverse stakeholders.

Amani Public Charter School has engaged DGW Group to lead the search for our Managing Director of Finance and Administration. Interested candidates should apply by March 21, 2025.

Posted On: Friday, December 27, 2024
Compensation: $140,000-$165,000