Posted on December 12, 2012

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Controller

About OSF

The Oakland Schools Foundation is a dynamic, growing non-profit organization that develops resources and provides financial and operational services for Oakland’s public schools. OSF currently has ten fulltime staff and revenues of more than $2 million for the fiscal year ended June 2012. The culture of OSF is mission-driven, outcomes-based, collaborative, and focused on continuous improvement for our schools. The staff decides on the organization’s projects, objectives, and strategies together to derive the highest standard of service and outcomes for our schools. Working with more than 45 mostly low-income public schools, OSF has developed a portfolio of fund development, administrative, operational, marketing, and data management services designed to help school staff access and manage resources to meet many needs that are typically unfunded in our public schools.

Our Mission

The Oakland Schools Foundation is dedicated to promoting excellence in Oakland's public schools so that all of our students have the opportunity to achieve. OSF is the only organization focused on securing and managing resources and providing expert operational and fundraising services for those Oakland public schools that serve primarily low-income students.

Position

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as an integral member of the management team, the Controller will be responsible for the development of OSF’s financial and accounting strategies and will contribute to the development of the organization’s strategic goals. In addition to the strategic components, the Controller will be charged with the continued development, enhancement and adherence to policies, procedures and controls across the finance, accounting and general operational realms. This is an outstanding opportunity for someone who is very comfortable with both finance and accounting and a proven track record of designing and ensuring compliance with airtight internal controls and successfully automating departments to the greatest extent possible.

The Controller position is a newly-created position and will replace the Interim Vice President of Finance and Operations whose engagement is winding down.

Specific responsibilities

Strategy, Vision and Leadership

• Advise the Executive Director and other key members of management on financial planning, internal controls, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities, and policy matters.
• Serve as the management liaison to the board and audit committee; effectively communicate and present critical financial matters at selected board of directors and committee meetings.
• Contribute to the development of OSF’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
• Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the Executive Director informed of all critical issues.
• Represent the organization externally as necessary, particularly in banking and lease negotiations.

Team Development/Leadership

• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of the finance and operations teams.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for outside agencies that provide services to OSF in the areas of Information Technology, Human Resources, Legal and Insurance.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Ensure staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development.
• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments.
• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.

Operations

• Oversee the monthly close process for the organization.
• Ensure adherence to an appropriate system of policies, internal controls, accounting standards, and procedures.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the annual budget process.
• Ensure that OSF is adhering to the strategic plan, delivering status reports to the board.
• Provide analytical support to OSF’s management team including development of reporting capabilities for both internal management and external client and donor purposes.
• Continuously improve administrative and operational accounting services including monthly close, accounts payable, grants payment processing, payroll, purchasing and treasury management.

Perform other tasks as directed.

Qualifications

• Business, Finance, or Accounting degree is mandatory.
• CPA preferred.
• At least five years of professional experience, including managing the finance and administration of a high-growth nonprofit organization.
• Deep familiarity with current nonprofit finance and accounting regulations.
• Proven track record of success facilitating progressive organizational change and development within a growing organization.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong mentoring, coaching experience to a team with diverse levels of expertise
• Entrepreneurial team player who can multitask.
• Superior management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers.
• Self reliant, good problem solver, results oriented.
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance and administration initiatives.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, OSF’s board of directors, and staff.
• Ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker.
• Passion for OSF’s mission.
• Experience creating and driving the analytic framework for planning and managing organizational change in a highly entrepreneurial organization.
• Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting, ideally in the nonprofit sector.
• Experience should include legal, audit, compliance, budget, and resource development.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems.
• Proven effectiveness leading professionals in finance and accounting.
• Technologically savvy, with an ability to point to examples of having worked with IT staff to develop and implement new processes and systems that increased efficiency in a fast-moving environment.
• Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task while also being highly detail-oriented.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to OSF’s mission.
• Demonstrate the ability to meet and maintain federal, state, local and Oakland School Foundation guidelines including, but not limited to, fingerprint clearance and negative TB test.
• Must have valid driver’s license, proof of car insurance and use of an automobile.

Compensation

• Full-time exempt position with medical, dental and vision benefits
• Salary for this position dependent on prior experience.

The Oakland Schools Foundation engages employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic covered by law. All who believe they meet the stated qualifications are invited to apply. The Oakland Small Schools Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

Application Instructions

Submit cover letter and resume to jobs@oaklandschoolsfoundation.org