Controller

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.

Position Description

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Controller is a senior leadership role at Rocketship responsible for all aspects of financial reporting, compliance, and stewardship. The role has primary oversight of the Rocketship Accounting team  - ten professionals who have functional responsibility over accounting, accounts payable and receivable, cash management,internal and external  financial reporting, fiscal compliance,  grants accounting, and audit management. The Controller will ensure that Rocketship has the accounting and compliance systems, controls, and procedures in place to support effective school operations in a growing network that spans multiple states with their own unique requirements. 

The Controller plays a key role throughout our organization by partnering with school and network leaders to develop and implement finance, accounting and compliance procedures, realize a clean annual audit, and to explore and improve support of school programs and operations. In addition, the Controller works closely with the business and audit committees, as well as the Network Executive Team, to provide high quality data, strategic insights and recommendations on improving our business procedures.

• Lead a high-performing, representative Accounting team and sustain a culture of high performance and service orientation among team members;
• Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring accuracy and full compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements. Includes general ledger, bond accounting, lease accounting, quarterly bond reporting, bond payments, payroll, retirement benefits, cash management, bank reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grant accounting, and internal /external reporting.
• Maintain internal controls and safeguards over all accounting and cash management functions.  Ensure proper implementation and provide training accordingly.
• Oversee the monthly, quarterly and annual closes and collaborate with the finance team accordingly.
• Serve as a key point of review and accountability for financial entries by approving all check runs, payroll, and journal entries.
• Collaborate with the Directors of Finance to prepare and present financial statements, in accordance to GAAP, in a clear, accurate and timely manner and to ensure that charter authorizer deadlines are met.
• Manage a Director of Audit to oversee all required audits, including annual financial statements, retirement plan audits, A-133 federal single audit, and other special audit projects as required.
• Evaluate accounting and payroll related systems and interfaces, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to implement upgrades when needed. Continuously identify and implement opportunities to streamline processes.
• Manage the implementation and ongoing support for Rocketship’s procurement and accounts payable platform, RAMP, including supporting school and network staff in the appropriate usage of the platform.
• Direct the preparation of annual  tax returns or reports for government regulatory agencies.
• Report to the Audit Committee of the Board on cyclical audit and compliance agenda items and to the Board on financial statement updates.
• Attract, hire, train, manage and motivate an accounting team of highly skilled and driven individuals who execute at the highest level of excellence and consistent with the culture and mission of the organization; 
• As necessary, manage cash and investments as well as Rocketship Public School’s external relationships with auditors, lenders, bondholders, insurers and other financial institutions; 
• Successfully represent Rocketship’s financial needs, interests and results with internal (school leaders, regional leaders, executive team) and external stakeholders and develop trust and leverage influence with external organizations and allies (i.e. banks, bond holders, Launchpad board, funders, etc.); 
• Ensure the accounting team is viewed as a positive support to the organization’s mission that are fully aligned with Rocketship’s Core Characteristics (Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence, Authenticity, Community, and Tenacity), and not as bureaucratic obstacles to serving the needs of the students.

• A belief in the mission and education model of Rocketship Public Schools with the ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, flexible and autonomous environment.
• CPA and/or MBA (preferred)
• A minimum of 8 years of broad accounting experience serving as a senior leader in a non-profit or for-profit entity overseeing audit activities and managing reports, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and general ledger, ideally in a complex, multi-revenue stream, multi-site, multi-regional environment.
• Non-profit accounting experience preferred, charter school experience a plus. However, must have an understanding of GAAP accounting
• Experience with bond accounting, bond covenant calculations and lease accounting. 
• Strong understanding and oversight of the accounting function, with the ability to strategically advise the CFO and the Board on the financial strength of the organization and identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls.
• Robust understanding and oversight of all compliance matters including, but not limited to, overseeing internal and external audits and ensuring that they are accurate, prepared in a timely manner, and there are no significant negative findings of any kind.
• Excellent communication skills especially with critical data, influencing and negotiation skills to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and the school network including presentations to team, senior management, board or other internal and outside partners.
• Strong understanding of Federal and State grant compliance requirements.
• Residence in a Rocketship region (Bay Area, Milwaukee, Nashville, Washington DC) is strongly preferred. Some travel between Rocketship regions is required. 
• Experience in an organization experiencing emerging growth.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

Compensation:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy.  For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.