About College Track
College Track is a comprehensive college completion program that empowers students from underserved communities to graduate from college. From ninth grade through college graduation, our 10-year program removes the academic, financial, and social-emotional barriers that prevent low-income and first-generation students from earning their college degree. In 1997, we started with 25 students in East Palo Alto, and today, we have ten centers located in underserved communities across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. Metro Area with more than 3,000 students on the path to upward social mobility.
To learn more, please visit www.collegetrack.org
Our Impact
College Track students graduate from college at a rate that is more than double the national average for low-income and first-generation students. Five years out of college, our graduates are employed full-time, and over 85% report earnings greater than their parents. By helping our students maximize the value of their four-year college degree, which includes minimizing student loan debt, securing internships, and limiting the need to work while in college--we prepare them to succeed in the 21st century economy.
Our Values
At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged.
COMMITMENT: We have an unwavering belief in our students.
PASSION: We are dedicated to changing our nation’s college completion story.
JOY: We create environments rich with smiles and laughter.
AUTHENTICITY: We believe relationships matter.
EXCELLENCE: Our students deserve nothing but the best.
Position Overview
We are seeking a professional, dynamic, hands-on, collaborative and self-motivated leader to join us as our Vice President of Finance and to serve as our financial and operations expert within the organization.
As a key member of the national leadership team and reporting directly to the Chief Finance and Operating Officer, the Vice President of Finance will lead a team of five direct reports and oversee Finance, IT, and facilities functions.
The Vice President of Finance
provides strategic and values-driven leadership, oversight and guidance for College Track by establishing, implementing, and monitoring financial plans and budgets as outlined in the strategic plan.
works closely with colleagues across the organization (e.g. program, human resources, development, operations, etc.) and across geographies to assess and implement business process and system improvements that foster efficient, scalable business processes.
is responsible for the development of financial management strategy, oversight and management of all fiscal operations, assurance and regulatory compliance, corporate compliance
leads in the development of the information technology and facilities departments, and other departments assigned
leads in managing risk, including but not limited to operational, business, liability, legal, and regulatory risk, for the organization
contributes to the development and achievement of the organization’s strategic goals.
Our ideal candidate will be a strong people manager/developer and a true finance business partner in a mission-driven education nonprofit. The Vice-President of Finance will be as comfortable digging into numbers, spreadsheets, and formulas, as s/he is at interacting with team members across the organization to support the growth and development of the organization.
Primary Responsibilities:
Financial Planning and Budgeting
Lead College Track’s annual budgeting process, including collaborating with national departments, regions, and site leaders to understand and decide on financial trade-offs and (dis)/investment opportunities that produces a final, board approved budget with clear links to the annual goals and key strategies from the annual planning process.
Provide budget owners (some of whom may have limited financial experience) with key insights, actionable intelligence, operational and financial learnings such that they are able to make business decisions accordingly. Provide system and report training to help them independently access their budget and performance information.
Proactively anticipate and forecast variances to budget, thereby providing early indicators about potential issues, to engage the National Leadership Team and budget owners to create action plans to address negative variances and/or take advantage of investment opportunities.
Financial Modeling/Strategic Planning
Create and manage comprehensive financial models that support organization-wide strategic planning, including across multiple business units, product lines, and departments.
Ensure team members partner with budget owners to help understand and translate business opportunities into multivariate financial models, including for forecasting, sensitivity analysis, and scenario planning to drive business decision-making.
Serve as an effective thought partner to organizational leaders through interpretation of complex financial information to assist in decision-making.
Financial Reporting and Development Support
Oversee the coordination and monitoring of cash operations and capital planning, including forecasting needs and developing appropriate financial sources to ensure adequate cash flow and access to working and long-term capital.
Oversee the monthly and annual close process to produce timely, accurate financial statements, including budget to actuals, statement of activities, balance sheets, cash flow, and forecasts.
Ensure the team partners with the development team to accurately forecast, track, and plan for philanthropic activities.
Oversee nonprofit fund, government, and grant accounting in close collaboration with the Controller, Development staff and program staff.
Develop and produce key monthly internal financial performance reports and dashboards for the organization that drive organizational accountability and provide high-level results analysis.
Review and edit grant agreements to ensure alignment with budget and reporting deadlines.
Ensure the accurate and timely production of all financial performance and forecast reports, budgets, and reporting tools for internal execution and external relations with funders.
Accounting Operations
Oversee all accounts, ledgers and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards, regulatory requirements, and board policies.
Oversee the accurate and timely month and fiscal year end closing process, ensuring completion of all audit and compliance related activities.
Oversee the tracking and reporting of the organization’s temporarily and permanently restricted fund and administer timely releases.
Oversee annual audit process and maintain relationship with external auditors; liaise with the finance committee of the board of directors; assess any changes necessary.
Finance Systems, Processes and Procedures
Regularly review, monitor, recommend, and drive improvements to finance policies and procedures to ensure internal controls are in place that protect the organization against fraud and provide assurances that College Track’s accounting records are accurate and complete.
Provide financial operations expertise and institutional knowledge to help coordinate improvements to the overall organization, with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making and analysis.
IT and Facilities Oversight
Grow and manage an IT team and consultants to support all systems for a rapidly growing 150 employee national company.
Oversee IT vendor selection and relationships; negotiate and manage vendor contracts; support facility vendor selection and relationships.
Oversee the coordination of national real estate acquisition, buildout, space planning, and facilities maintenance consistent with the College Track brand.
Oversee facility issues, including major maintenance projects, builds, and lease negotiation and agreements.
Risk Management
Oversee business insurance, risk management, and legal activities including letters of agreement, contracts, leases and other legal documents and agreements.
In collaboration with other national departments, serve as primary liaison addressing operational risk management issues and policies.
Ensures full compliance with all codes, regulations (local, state, and federal), and safety standards to protect the well-being of all students, guests, and employees occupying the buildings.
Skills & Experience Required
First and foremost, the Vice-President of Finance must embrace the College Track vision of transforming low-income communities into places where college readiness and college graduation are the norms. S/he must embody and model College Track core values and model a deep commitment to improving equity.
Additionally, candidates must possess the following qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree required, MBA or Master’s degree with a concentration in finance or similar field preferred.
12+ years of management experience, with at least five years in a senior leadership role in finance and operations preferably in the education, non-profit or corporate sectors
Significant experience with non-profit accounting systems, fund accounting and government funding compliance.
A "doer" who eagerly rolls up the sleeves, tackles problems, and generates solutions in a timely manner. Operates with a high sense of urgency and responsiveness balanced by a need for providing accurate information based on strategic priorities.
Detail-oriented, well-organized, and structured in the creation and presentation of information. Ability to synthesize complex financial matters into clearly articulated financial and business summaries, with not only the "rolled up" numbers but also the explanation / narrative about the business implications.
Strong communicator in both writing and orally. Can distill complex financial matters into digestible elements.
Believes that technology enabled, data-driven, people-centric businesses are fun places to be.
Takes a balanced approach to people and issues: 1) unafraid to take a stand or recommend a hard choice -- such as making a budget change now to avoid a likely negative variance later, 2) while also able to understand others' perspectives and process new information to refresh one's thinking on a topic.
Ability to interact inclusively and productively with diverse individual team members, department leads, senior leaders, board members, and external parties.
Believes strongly in celebrating success while also always seeking to improve on the current state. Will therefore seek ways to maximize the current operational model, while pursuing targeted initiatives to improve upon it.
Is obsessively customer-driven -- believing that a good finance partner understands both the explicit and underlying business needs, is proactive, stays on point for strategic value-add, and is responsive without being unproductively reactive to team-member and external-party needs.
High degree of flexibility and adaptability; can work within an ambitious, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solution.
Above all, wants to make a positive difference in the world through education.
Compensation & Benefits
College Track offers a competitive salary based on the organization’s compensation philosophy, which is grounded in market data. We also offer comprehensive health & welfare benefits and top of the market paid time off.
To Apply Please send your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to: Laura Powell Principal Laura Powell LLC
[email protected] . No phone inquiries please. Candidates chosen for further consideration will be contacted.
College Track is an equal opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
