Director of Finance

OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Finance has a critical role in supporting Green Dot’s mission to prepare students for college, leadership, and life. The role requires a strong understanding of finance, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to communicate financial information effectively to diverse stakeholders. The Director will serve on the Finance team, report to the Chief Financial Officer, and is primarily based in Los Angeles.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Budgeting and Forecasting
  • Lead the development and oversight of the annual budgeting process for both school sites and the Home Office.
  • Collaborate closely with department heads and senior management to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
  • Cultivate a deep understanding of the organization’s funding models, state and federal education funding sources, key expense drivers, and opportunities for financial optimization.
  • Enhance and refine budgeting and modeling tools, including the utilization of Adaptive Insights, to streamline the budgeting/forecasting process.
  • Manage budget performance throughout the fiscal year and execute corrective actions based on trends and analysis.
  • Collaborate closely with Operations and Finance Managers to fine‑tune monthly forecasts and develop tools for disseminating financial information to stakeholders.
• Reporting and Analysis
  • Collaborate with the CFO and other leaders to develop interactive multi‑year projections encompassing Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow statements at school and organization levels.
  • Oversee standard and ad‑hoc analyses and reports that provide a comprehensive view of financial and operational aspects.
  • Identify long‑term risks, devise strategies to mitigate financial volatility, and propose strategies to enhance financial outcomes.
  • Lead annual continuous‑improvement projects aimed at refining financial processes, optimizing reporting systems, and implementing best practices.
  • Act as a key resource for senior management by providing insightful analyses and actionable recommendations to inform strategic decision‑making.
• Grants and Fund Management
  • Facilitate the creation and management of budgets and projections for public and private funding sources.
  • Collaborate with program managers to construct comprehensive grant budgets, ensuring precision and completeness in reporting to funders.
  • Support grant proposal preparation by providing required financial data.
• Management and Communication
  • Maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, including school leaders, department heads, and organization partners.
  • Act as a liaison between the finance department and other departments, facilitating effective communication of financial matters.
  • Communicate financial information and insights effectively to non‑financial stakeholders.
  • Manage Finance Manager duties and provide necessary resources and support.
• Other
  • Maintain and update financial policies and procedures aligned with industry best practices.
  • Manage the process for annual financial audits, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Develop strategies to optimize cash reserves and investments.
  • Identify financial risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement changes as necessary.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

5+ years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budgeting, or financial planning, preferably within California K–12 public education or charter school environments.

3+ years of direct experience managing and developing finance, accounting, or budget team members.

Demonstrated experience managing complex organizational budgets for both school‑site and centralized/home office budgets.

Advanced expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, variance analysis, and budget system development; experience with Workday Adaptive Planning strongly preferred.

Proven ability to identify financial discrepancies, cross‑reference data across systems, and partner effectively with operations and finance leaders to drive accuracy and accountability.

Pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer.

Highly motivated, self‑driven, curious, problem‑solving, and capable of coaching, training, and leading junior staff. Strong personal responsibility, growth mindset, and commitment to Green Dot’s mission.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Work Hours: Consistent attendance during scheduled hours; flexibility is limited by classroom or operational requirements.

Breaks: Structured within the workday and aligned with operational needs and student care requirements.

Information contained herein is not intended to be an all‑inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, skills, or abilities required to perform the job.

COMPENSATION

The starting salary range for this role is $125,000 – $135,000.

BENEFITS

• PPO, EPO, and HMO choices for medical, dental, and vision coverage – including a 100% employee‑only paid option.
• Employee Assistance Program (100% employer‑paid).
• Life and AD&D insurance (100% employer‑paid). Optional term life and AD&D insurance.
• Short‑ and long‑term disability insurance (100% employer‑paid).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care).
• Monthly parking for Central Office‑based employees (100% employer‑paid).
• Wellness programs and resources.
• Financial planning/coaching access.
• Optional non‑matching 401(k) plan.
• Potential for remote work opportunities (occasional or recurring).
• Potential for annual performance‑based compensation increases.
• Approved family care and/or medical leave (unpaid).
• Paid time off: 15 days during years 1–3 of service, 20 days during years 4–6, and 25 days beyond 6 years of service.
• Additional 15 days (minimum) of paid time off each year for Winter and Spring breaks, including Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
• 10 annual paid holidays: MLK Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Day after Thanksgiving.
• 3–5 days of paid bereavement leave (if needed).

EEO STATEMENT

Green Dot Public Schools is committed to hiring employees who reflect the diversity of our communities. We recruit, employ, support, compensate, and promote employees, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, veteran status, age, citizenship, legal status, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law. Green Dot is unable to sponsor any applicant for a temporary or permanent U.S. employment‑based visa.