The Opportunity
Atlas presents the unique opportunity for an experienced financial leader to define excellence, sustainability, and responsibility in aligning financial resources to the impact strategy of a thriving K-12 public charter school.  We are a financially sound and stable institution with healthy reserves looking for a leader to help us demonstrate what is possible when we harness all of our financial resources in service of our vision, mission, and the goals of our upcoming strategic plan.

Compensation
The Chief Financial Officer role starts between $115,000 and $137,000 with room for annual and milestone increases over time. This role requires a 3-year commitment and we will provide a $15,000 signing bonus for the role. The CFO role includes 230 days of work annually, minus 6 sick days and 10 flex days.  Our competitive benefits package includes increased flex days over time, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as a flexible spending account and employer-paid short and long-term disability, participation in Colorado PERA Pension program and life insurance. 

Major Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Align our Resources to our Vision, Mission, and Goals:  You see every resource as an opportunity to move Atlas into further alignment with our mission, vision, and goals. Whether it is building the 5-year financial plan, an annual budget, or in the daily decisions of budget management, it is your responsibility to ensure our resources back up our aspirations.
• Budget Development, Accounting and Business Management Responsibilities: You develop and manage all aspects of the day to day and month to month budget, either directly or through delegation.  This includes the areas of payroll, monthly reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable and  grants financial reporting.
• Reporting Responsibilities: You lead financial reporting and represent Atlas to our board of directors, charter authorizer, and the state of Colorado.  You take responsibility for compliance, financial policies and procedures, and our audits and all state reporting.
• Organizational Leadership: In addition to building and managing the budget and processes for the organization, you will also equip each budget manager with the training and support necessary to move decision-making closer to impact.  You will play a leadership role in our auxiliary foundation and capital campaigns.  You will hire, train, coach, and manage accounting and finance staff and contractors.  You will also serve on the organization’s leadership team.

Essential Functions

• Ability to sit and stand (conducive to an office environment) for extended periods of time
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
• Must be able to operate in person for at least the first 90 days of employment
• Must be able to abide by all policies and procedures of Atlas Preparatory School

Candidate Profile
You believe that a diligent and entrepreneurial approach to resources can and will result in better outcomes and experiences for students and families.  You have the financial experience and know-how to run the major financial functions (accounting, budgeting, audit compliance, grant administration, forecasting, business operations, payroll and financial reporting) and engage team members in decisions about resources in accessible ways.   You want to make Atlas your destination for impact while building a financial leadership model that other charter management organizations can replicate in the future.  You are ready to commit to an in-person role in Colorado Springs for at least three years.

Must-Have Skills and Talents

• Stewardship Mindset: You consider every resource an opportunity to further support the students and families of Atlas, either now or in the future.  Whether you are overseeing our philanthropic foundation, training department leaders to align resources to their goals, or auditing our expenses - you approach all of this work with the mindset that our students and families deserve extraordinary stewardship of all of our financial resources.
• School and Classroom Centered: You ground both decisions and processes in the realities of our classrooms and schools, centering the perspectives and experiences of educators in the process.  You understand how schools operate.  You recognize that schools operating smoothly is a precondition for learning and thriving, and build systems that enable sound operations.
• Collaborative: While you bring financial expertise, you recognize the importance of full participation and engagement in decisions about our resources.  You engage educators in financial decision-making in accessible ways, and build our systems to encourage decision-making to happen as close to classrooms as possible.  You operate with a teaching mindset when it comes to finance, avoiding jargon and making it easy for colleagues to engage.
• Extraordinary Project and People Manager: You manage projects and systems adeptly, quickly, with an uncanny attention to detail and impeccable follow-through.  You are ready to manage our systems today, and also to envision, suggest, and build the systems we need for tomorrow.  You are a strong coach of others, and ready to supervise, direct, and develop the finance/human resource specialist as it relates to delegated finance responsibilities.
• Financial Experience and Expertise: You have the financial background, knowledge, and experience to lead all aspects of our finance function.  We are looking specifically for either a Bachelor’s or advanced degree in finance or accounting and a minimum of two years of experience in government accounting or public school accounting.

Desired Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant or Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field
• K-12 Public Charter School experience
• 1-2 years of supervisory experience
• Experience utilizing financial management software (i.e., PayCom, AptaFund, etc)
• Familiarity with Colorado Department of Education financial reporting requirements and formats