Description
Our Mission
New Leaders develops transformational school leaders and advances policies and practices that ensure high academic achievement for all children—especially students from under-resourced communities.
Position Details
The Senior Director, Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis will be based out of a home office located anywhere within the contiguous United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones) or United States territories that fall within the Atlantic time zone.
Position Overview
The Senior Director, Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis, ensures the financial sustainability of the organizational mission by leading the annual budget process, tracking projected revenues and expenses through the fiscal year, and supporting the long-term financial planning of the organization.
The Senior Director, Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis, is a highly analytical leader that also focuses on communicating highly complex financial information to the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer and other key members of the organization’s leadership team, while working collaboratively across the organization to produce relevant, actionable financial plans.
This position reports to the Senior Executive Director, Finance.
Specific Responsibilities
Budget Management & Financial Analysis
- Develops the budgeting process with the Senior Executive Director, Finance and the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, focusing on transparency, efficiency, and scalability.
- Leads the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes, incorporating input from the finance, programmatic, and development teams.
- Develops financial models to evaluate program sustainability, funding scenarios, and cost-effectiveness of initiatives.
- Produces monthly reports that track key performance indicators.
- Manages the ongoing budget process, tracking all necessary inputs and reporting deadlines with key internal stakeholders.
- Develops an annual budget calendar that incorporates key action dates from organizational leaders.
- Analyzes financial performance against budgets, grants, and restricted funds, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
- Prepares reports and leads the management of the organization's position and cash flow forecasting in coordination with the accounting team.
- Partners with other leaders to develop programmatic budgets that reflect actual costs, future investments, and necessary operating expenses and to - - develop budgets for philanthropic proposals that reflect proper cost allocations and adhere to donor-specific guidelines.
- Serves as a key business partner to program and department heads, providing financial analysis and modeling to evaluate new initiatives, strategic opportunities, and cost-saving measures.
- Prepares clear, compelling reports for the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer and Senior Executive Director, Finance for use with the Board of Directors, key funders, and other senior leaders.
- Use relevant organizational technology to integrate data from various sources to clarify financial information.
- Develops various monthly and ad hoc reports to address financial reporting needs at the request of the Senior Executive Director, Finance and the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer.
Team & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborates with the Development team to ensure accurate financial reporting for internal projections, funders, and audits.
- Maintains the Finance Team’s Budgeting SharePoint site to ensure all relevant documents, processes, and data are easily accessible and up to date.
- Develops, edits, and refines the Finance Team’s internal budget page as needed, including building and maintaining all information to ensure policies, processes, and key dates are current, concise, and clear for the entire organization.
- Ensures effective communication with other key executive stakeholders to facilitate seamless scheduling, communication, and project updates.
Strategic Leadership
- Serves as a key partner to the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, providing financial analysis and modeling to evaluate new initiatives, strategic opportunities, and cost-saving measures.
- Evaluates the financial implications of new programs, partnerships, or funding opportunities (e.g., government contracts, major gifts).
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Qualifications and Competencies
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
- Professional Experience: 7-10 years’ professional experience required.
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience developing and managing complex, organization-wide budgets. Non-profit and philanthropic experience preferred.
- Mission Alignment: Belief that every student, in every circumstance, can achieve the highest levels of academic excellence, and a passionate commitment to New Leaders’ mission and vision.
- Team-Driven: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals across a variety of backgrounds and experiences; must be results-driven while maintaining a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
- Exceptional finance-related technology skills, including advanced proficiency in Excel, Salesforce, and other financial analysis tools.
- High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, Word, and SharePoint.
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with key stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly resourceful team player who can also work effectively independently.
- Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve high-performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptable, with the ability to manage various competing demands while delivering the highest level of customer service.
- A forward-thinking mindset who actively seeks opportunities, proposes solutions, and adapts to change.
- Flexibility in a dynamic work environment.
Self-starter who can work both independently and with supervision.
- Must be able to travel on occasion aligned with New Leaders’ Travel and In-Person Activities policy.
- New Leaders requires each employee to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination (i.e., at least two weeks have passed since the employee received the dose of a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine with at least the minimum recommended interval between doses) or to obtain an approved exemption or reasonable accommodation through the Human Resources team within six weeks of their start date as a term and condition of employment.
Physical Requirements
The employee's routine activities involve sitting, talking, hearing, and using hands for tasks like typing, filing, and handling objects. Visual acuity is necessary for keyboard use, data analysis, transcribing, computer terminal viewing, and extensive reading. The role may involve ordinary ambulatory skills for visits to other locations or the ability to perform activities like standing, walking, lifting, carrying, and moving light-weight items. Proficiency in hand-eye coordination, along with dexterity in arms, hands, and fingers for tasks like grasping, operating standard office equipment, and learning technical information, is essential.
