Job Description

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 255 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating at 3x the national average for low-income students.

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves nearly 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. The mission of KIPP Columbus is to create a system of schools where students develop the intellectual, academic, and social skills needed to understand and take action on issues they encounter in everyday life.

KIPP Columbus continues to rank as one of the top five schools for academic growth of any school in the state of Ohio, and is a top performing urban school in the state for academic growth. In our second class of graduating high school seniors in the spring of 2021, 100% of students were accepted to college with over $20 million in merit scholarships from colleges and universities awarded.

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with more than 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. KIPP is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, offering more than 10 varsity sports.

The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy.

Interested in learning more about our school? Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Director of Finance serves as KIPP Columbus's senior finance leader and is responsible for ensuring the organization's long-term financial health, sustainability, and operational excellence.

The Director of Finance oversees budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, compliance, grants management, and long-range financial planning while partnering closely with organizational leaders to provide the financial insight necessary to support strategic decision-making. This role serves as a trusted advisor to school and departmental leaders, helping translate complex financial information into practical recommendations that strengthen organizational performance.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a collaborative, systems-oriented finance leader who enjoys building high-performing teams, improving organizational effectiveness, and creating financial systems that enable schools and students to thrive.

Responsibilities of KIPP Columbus Director of Finance include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Lead the financial stewardship of KIPP Columbus's approximately $35 million operating budget.

• Develop and maintain multi-year financial forecasts, enrollment and staffing models, and long-range financial plans that support organizational sustainability.

• Partner with the Chief Strategy Officer and organizational leaders to evaluate strategic initiatives, organizational investments, and financial risks.

• Provide financial analysis and recommendations that support organizational planning and informed decision-making.

• Partner with the Chief People Officer to develop long-term compensation models that support organizational sustainability and talent strategy.

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Oversee all accounting, budgeting, payroll, cash management, financial reporting, and annual audit activities.

• Ensure timely, accurate financial reporting for organizational leadership, the Board of Directors, authorizers, and external stakeholders.

• Maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and accounting procedures that support operational excellence and compliance.

• Develop financial models, dashboards, and reporting tools that improve forecasting, scenario planning, and organizational decision-making.

• Continuously evaluate financial allocation methodologies and resource planning practices to ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

Compliance, Grants & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, charter, grant, and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee grant budgeting, reporting, reimbursement, monitoring, and compliance processes.

• Lead organizational risk management efforts, including insurance administration, legal coordination, and financial compliance.

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve organizational financial policies and administrative procedures.

Strategic & Annual Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process in partnership with school leaders and department leaders.

• Support the development of KIPP Columbus's multi-year strategic plans by ensuring financial alignment with organizational priorities.

• Establish systems to monitor organizational financial performance and progress toward strategic goals.

• Provide financial analysis and decision support to leaders across the organization.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop members of the Finance team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Build systems and processes that improve efficiency, service, and organizational effectiveness.

• Develop strong cross-functional partnerships with leaders across academics, operations, talent, development, and school leadership.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strategic thinking and sound financial judgment.

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.

• The ability to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholders.

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• A systems mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.

• A commitment to equity and educational opportunity.

• The ability to translate complex financial information into actionable recommendations for non-financial leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.

• CPA, MBA, or Master's degree in a related field preferred.

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible finance leadership experience, including budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, accounting operations, and team leadership.

• Experience leading finance functions within a complex, mission-driven organization; experience in K–12 education, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, or public sector organizations strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated success developing multi-year financial plans, forecasting models, and organizational budgets.

• Experience overseeing annual audits, grants management, financial compliance, and internal controls.

• Experience presenting financial information to senior leadership, governing boards, or other executive stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial systems, and financial reporting best practices.

• Demonstrated success building systems, improving processes, and leading organizational change.

• Ability to negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, and oversee external service providers.

• Passion for KIPP Columbus's mission and a deep commitment to educational equity and expanding opportunities for students and families.

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.