Director of Accounting - Seton Education Partners

Director of Accounting
New York

Seton Education Partners seeks a Director of Accounting who will play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the financial integrity of our schools.  The ideal candidate will have a strong background in accounting, experience in managing outsourced teams, and a commitment to educational excellence.

About Seton Education Partners

Co-founded in 2009 by KIPP pioneer Scott W. Hamilton and Teach for America alumna Stephanie Saroki de García, Seton Education Partners is a response to the dramatic decline of urban Catholic schools which have historically been the greatest equalizing factor for economically underserved children, families and communities in America for decades. 

Specifically, Seton expands opportunities for parents in underserved communities to choose an academically excellent, character rich, and—for those who seek it—vibrantly Catholic education for their children. As a national non-profit, Seton partners with (arch)dioceses and others across the country to implement innovative and sustainable new models that bridge the best of Catholic education's rich tradition with new possibilities. Seton was born of the belief that a tremendous opportunity exists to revitalize urban Catholic schools in America and strengthen the education they provide. The challenges are significant, to be sure, but with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, much can and should be done, not only to preserve this national treasure but also to build on its foundation for the benefit of thousands of children in America’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Seton has pioneered multiple innovative and high-impact solutions to the shuttering of Catholic schools in underserved communities. Seton is working to take these remarkable achievements to scale by managing a network of schools and programs that ensure that thousands of underserved children whose Catholic schools close—and other local children—have access to an academically excellent, character-building, and, for those who choose it, faith-nurturing education. Seton provides a national model for how other cities facing the shuttering of Catholic schools can continue to serve children and families with limited educational options. For more information on Seton Education Partners, please visitwww.SetonPartners.org.

About the Brilla Schools Network

Brilla Public Charter Schools is a network of K-8th grade schools that currently serves nearly 1,600 students from Mott Haven, University Heights and other neighborhoods in the Bronx. The network plans to grow from a current four elementary and one middle school to five elementary and five middle schools educating some 4,000 students in the Bronx and Paterson, NJ. Core to our mission is that our students become young men and women of good character and spirit and be prepared for excellence in high school, college, and beyond. Brilla combines a classical approach to education -- an emphasis on virtue formation, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and direct instruction of a content-rich curriculum that has stood the test of time -- with co-teaching practices and individualized online learning.* We approach the formation of our students holistically and also set high academic expectations. Ours is a joyful community that honors the dignity of each student, family member and staff. 

About El Camino Network

El Camino, which means “The Way” in Spanish, is an optional, privately-funded Catholic after-school faith formation program that is closely partnered with Brilla charter schools.  El Camino helps children, their families and their catechists to know, love and serve Christ and His Church; develop the habits, dispositions and beliefs that are indispensable to human flourishing and happiness; and live as disciples in this world and saints in the next. El Camino honors the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. In the last 10 years, over 230 children have been baptized through our program. 

El Camino currently serves approximately 40% of Brilla’s students for 90 minutes a day, Monday through Thursday. Children receive homework help from experienced teachers, a nutritious snack, and 30 minutes each of catechism and physical fitness. Additionally, children and families have opportunities for shared and personal prayer and character formation. This video provides a snapshot of El Camino. El Camino will grow to serve children through 8th grade, growing a grade level at a time each year.

About the job of Director of Accounting

The Director of Accounting will manage all accounting processes, systems and record-keeping.  This position will oversee an outsourced accounting team and ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all accounting records and financial systems. 

Main Responsibilities

Accounting Oversight 

• Review, recommend and implement all accounting procedures in order to align with GAAP standards and best practices
• Develop, maintain and enforce internal controls to safeguard the financial assets of the organization
• Oversee the financial policies and procedures manual; recommend revisions as necessary to align with industry best practices
• Maintain an organized chart of accounts
• Ensure the annual operating budget is accurately reflected in the accounting software
• Promote adherence to the annual operating budget by budget owners and purchasing staff
• Oversee the maintenance of all workpapers, including fixed asset and depreciation schedules

Oversee Outsourced Accounting Team 

• Manage and coordinate with the outsourced accounting team to ensure all financial systems are followed and transactions are accurately recorded in a timely manner

Systems Management

• Work with the Director of Finance and the Finance Associate to ensure accurate setup and regular maintenance of all financial systems, including General Ledger Software (Quickbooks Online), Procurement (Procurify), Accounts Payable (Bill.com), Reporting and Visualization (DataRails), and Payroll (Centrally HR)
• Troubleshoot issues as necessary; provide training to end users

Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables

• Oversee procurement, and support schools in all aspects of the procurement process, ensuring accurate coding, approvals, and documentation
• Review and approve invoice coding, journal entries, cash and grant reconciliations
• Monitor accounts payable for timely payment of invoices and accounts receivables for prompt collections

Financial Close, Reporting and Analysis 

• Lead a consistent and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual close process
• Prepare, distribute and present all financial reports to relevant stakeholders, including school leaders, network leaders, board members, lenders and charter authorizers
• Offer analysis of trends in order to inform leadership decisions

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors for the annual audit
• Support in the preparation and review of IRS Form 990
• Support in the preparation and review of Forms 5500 for the school’s 403(b) plan 
• Create and maintain a reporting calendar to ensure all compliance deadlines are met
• Prepare and monitor bank covenant calculations and authorizer metrics

Other 

• Maintain strong relationships with school-based teams; promote and support their adherence to policies and systems
• Provide strategic recommendations to the CFO and senior management team regarding financial performance, financial systems and all new opportunities
• As needed, provide support to Seton Education Partners in all accounting-related matters
• Perform various accounting, administrative, and other related duties as assigned and required by the role
• Participate in ongoing professional development to maintain an understanding of best practices in the industry and changes to accounting standards

Qualifications and Desired Characteristics

Candidates for the position must possess the following personal characteristics:

• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to Seton’s mission and values
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to Brilla’s mission, including its commitment to a classically inspired curriculum and character formation
• Personal responsibility with humility
• A relentless drive for excellence
• A strong belief that all children can achieve both moral and academic excellence
• An unwavering determination to be better today than you were yesterday

The ideal candidate will bring experience, skills, and beliefs in the following areas:

• Bachelor’s Degree (required)
• CPA or CMA certification (preferred)
• At least 4 years of accounting experience with increasing responsibility
• Experience in not-for-profit or educational settings
• Detailed understanding of GAAP accounting principles and best practices
• Experience with accounting and financial systems (Quickbooks, Bill.com, Procurify, etc.) 
• Adept in MS Excel and Google Sheets
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong time-management, organization and prioritization skills
• Keen attention to detail and thorough follow-through
• Ability to work autonomously and take initiative

Diversity & Inclusivity

We are building an organization in which talented individuals from all walks of life and past work experiences can join our team and make significant contributions. We are particularly committed to attracting and developing individuals who share the life experiences or backgrounds of the students we will serve.

*At Brilla, education in the classical tradition is understood to require the education of the whole person - mind, body and spirit - in the service of human flourishing. Cognitive development and character formation are interdependent: People flourish by living out the virtues. A time proven way of learning how to live out the virtues is to learn about, contemplate and discuss how these virtues have been expressed in literature and history and represented in time-tested works. 

Secondarily, a classical education is pedagogically consistent with modern cognitive science. Many current pedagogies are not fully consistent with what we know today about brain development. In contrast, classical pedagogy  (referred to as the Trivium) perfectly corresponds to how the brain develops. It emphasizes patterns, routines, and facts that young brains crave (Grammar stage); it leverages the brain’s orientation to asking “why” in the middle years (Logic stage); and it focuses on communication and persuasion in the high school years (Rhetoric stage).

To Apply

Initial application materials include: a cover letter, contact information for three references, and a resume that includes information on your background and leadership experience.

Resumes without cover letters will not be reviewed.

Seton Education Partners provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.

The base pay range for this position is $115,000 - $140,000 per year. Pay may vary within the stated range, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits will be provided.

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