Chief Financial Officer

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ROLE DESCRIPTION

Position

Chief Financial Officer

Department

Finance

Reports to

CEO

About School Group

School Group (SG) is a start-up international non-profit developing a cutting-edge global e-learning platform that will allow students around the world to connect for peer-to-peer collaborative learning and skills development - improving the accessibility and quality of education, while transforming lives and impacting future success. We need talented people to help us make our vision a reality. So, if you believe in the power of education, international development and community service - and have the time, skills and know-how to match - we want you as a School Group volunteer. 

RoleOverview

Manage, oversee and perform duties related to the Financial and Accounting aspects of the School Group. Maintain and provide financial data and information about all company activities that will assist Management, the Board of Directors and other users in making educated economic decisions about the organization’s future. Accountable for leading and managing the organization’s financial and accounting policies, systems and processes, tax and regulatory requirements, as well as producing and maintaining the annual budget. Provide leadership and coaching to the Leadership Team.

Essential Functions

• Serve as internal consultant to the CEO,leadership team and other key stakeholders on all financial matters, making recommendations and suggesting pro-active strategies to keep SG on track;
• Provide oversight for and manage all budgets, forecasts and internal financial plans and processes;
• Support accounting, general ledger and operations functions, ensuring that systems are in place to guarantee timeliness and accuracy;
• Drive best financial practices within SG by publicizing standard operating procedures, keeping the senior leadership team, and staff up-to-date on SG’s financial status and by generally serving as a point of reference for all growth plans and projects within SG;
• Explore and suggest how SG can invest its reserves and resources to generate passive income;
• Review short and long-term goals in light of existing and projected financial resources available;
• Create data-based long- and short-term goals, budgets and forecasts;
• Participate in all internal planning regarding SG’s proposed program expansion, to ensure alignment of program, outreach and training plans with financial projections;
• Establish annual priorities and benchmarks and conduct regular reporting, measuring projections against actual performance;
• Generatemonthly, quarterly and annual reports as needed to monitor, evaluate and optimize cash-flow and liquidity;
• Utilize technology to optimize all reporting and analytical functions;
• Ensure that SG meets critical regulatory and legal compliance benchmarks;
• Build a top-tier internal finance team by actively recruiting, training and developing talented accountants, analysts, consultants, auditors, tax planners and payroll staff, as needed.

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, this position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you may be required to perform. The omission of specific descriptions of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or can be considered essential to this position. 

Key Relationships

• Senior leadership team
• Finance Department

Qualifications

Basic

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Must have 7-10 years of hands-on accounting managerial experience.
• 6 plus years of broad financial and operations management preferred.
• CPA certification preferred
• Strong general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, income tax and banking working knowledge.
• Excellent computer skills (hardware and software) -- spreadsheet proficient.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Microsoft Office Suite; Strong Excel experience.
• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in-group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes self-available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products and services.; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Achievement Focus - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; recognizes and acts on opportunities; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.

Preferred

• Knowledge of donor and inventory software programs preferred.
• Experience at integrating IT/Systems to improve accounting productivity and accuracy
• Experience at working with external auditors, compliance and regulatory oversight
• Strong motivational and staff leadership abilities

Why volunteer with us?

We are a community of people from different parts of the world who share a common belief in improving education which will eventually reduce poverty and improve the quality of life and living conditions globally. Volunteering with us will enable you to build your resume and gain invaluable experience in a supportive environment. 

• In the USA, School Group is a Certifying Organization, offering the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to eligible volunteers. 

• School Group will provide a letter of recommendation to all volunteers who are able to showcase outstanding performance for professional references. 

Other information

This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet.