Controller

Join a dedicated team that fosters autonomy and creativity, while receiving a competitive salary, opportunities for career and personal growth, and the gratification that comes from creating positive multi-generational change.

Ednovate Background

Ednovate launched its first school in 2012. Since then, we’ve grown to eight schools and are on a trajectory to reach 11 schools in just the next few years (you can read more about our schools here). Ednovate is committed to serving areas where students traditionally lack access to a quality college-prep education by building tuition-free, safe, high-performing public schools driven to create positive multi-generational change.

We are made up of world travelers, nacho connoisseurs, KPOP business owners, and Beyonce fans. We love LA and OC, and we're our students' biggest cheerleaders. We are looking to hire innovative changemakers who aim to continue our goal of becoming the high school experts across Southern California. Sound like you? Keep reading.

Position Overview

As the Controller at Ednovate, you will oversee all accounting and financial reporting activities to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency. You will shape financial strategy for the organization while maintaining strong fiscal oversight and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and internal controls. As the leader of the accounting team, you will have functional responsibility over all accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and grants fiscal compliance. This position is an exciting opportunity for someone with accounting expertise and strong communication skills looking to create positive multigenerational change in a collaborative, results-oriented environment. This is a full-time, exempt role that reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer.

What You'll Do

• Lead accounting operations. Manage all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP and/or GASB standards and regulatory requirements. Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual closings and preparation of supporting schedules. Maintain the schedule of fixed assets and prepare depreciation entries and maintain charts of accounts. Ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions to ensure fidelity of data and timely reporting. Manage the finance side of the payroll function and related systems. Oversee all program and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period. Coordinate activities with external auditors, managing the assembling of schedules and documents for annual audit, 990 and tax returns, and preparing drafts of annual financial statements. Manage reporting to our charter authorizer, state and federal agencies, as well as lenders and bond holders.

• Collaborate with organizational leaders to shape finance strategy. Work with the senior leadership team to ensure that financial operations align with organizational goals, anchoring financial decisions in the mission of serving students, staff and programs and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner. Clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements. Monitor progress and changes and keep the CEO and CFO abreast of the organization’s financial status. Work with principals and other budget owners to ensure they receive timely, accurate and actionable financial information. Work closely with the CFO in the preparation of forecasts and long-term financial models. Build trusted relationships with school leaders, ensuring financial policies support, rather than hinder, operational success. Communicate financial information in an accessible, non-technical manner, making financial literacy a shared organizational strength.

• Build and lead the accounting team. Work closely with the CFO to manage a high-performing accounting team that meets organizational goals while providing excellent customer service to staff. Develop, analyze, and improve accounting and finance systems to ensure effective and efficient financial operations at scale. Establish and communicate clear roles and responsibilities and performance goals, and manage, coach and train the accounting team to set them up for success and professional growth. Lead the team to obtain clean audits each fiscal year. Develop and implement strategic goals and work plans. Continuously monitor progress towards goals and develop and implement interventions as needed. Make resource allocation and staffing decisions for the accounting team.

Who You'll Be

• Mission-driven professional passionate about increasing college attainment for historically under-represented students

• Social justice champion committed to promoting educational opportunity for all students and families

• Entrepreneurial spirit who thrives in a workplace characterized by autonomy, flexibility, transparency and accountability

• Collaborative team player who works well with others from diverse backgrounds, uplifts and celebrates our teammates and engages in healthy debate and feedback to get the best results for students and families

• Resourceful, persistent learner with a growth mindset, constantly seeking to “find a way or make one” to master your craft and improve results.

We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, required

• CPA certification, strongly preferred

• 7+ years of accounting experience, required

• 3+ years of leadership experience, required

• Advanced proficiency in accounting systems (e.g., Sage, Intacct) and financial reporting tools, strongly preferred

• Public accounting experience, ideally in a non-profit or charter school education setting, strongly preferred

• Experience in real estate financing for schools and/or non-profit entities, preferred

We're Committed To Giving You

• A competitive and transparent salary ($126,280 to $181,720, depending on background and experience)

• Medical, dental and vision coverage - including a fully-paid medical and dental option for employees and their families - and flexible spending account options

• Paid family leave, short-term disability and life insurance benefits

• Fitness and entertainment discounts

• Generous paid time off and holidays

• 403b retirement savings plan, with company match

• A place to grow, learn and be a part of the Ednovate family

We Believe in Inclusion

We aim to intentionally develop a schoolwide culture in which every student and teammate feels a sense of belonging. Ednovate does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
We know applying for a new job can be daunting, and studies have shown that individuals from historically underrepresented communities may only apply to roles when they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all interested candidates to apply. You may be just the person we need! If you have any questions about your application or interview process, do not hesitate to email hiring@ednovate.org. We are here to help.