Business Clerk - IDEA Austin (Immediate Opening)

Business Clerk

Role Mission: Business Clerks act as finance liaison from the Business Office department to the campus staff. They assist with campus issues and work on district finance projects and campus initiatives, including presenting budgets, contracts submission, requisitions, inventory of campus supplies and technology, fundraising (SBAA), and support with field lessons. Business Clerks offer expertise, solutions, budget advice to campus partners, and will work hand in hand with campus leaders, administrative assistants, and teachers to support instructional staff and students.

Location: This is a full-time in-person position that reports to an IDEA campus daily

Travel Expectations: This role has limited travel expectations that are limited to commuting to the Regional Office or a neighboring campus for department trainings, meetings and workshops. Out of region travel is expected for Summer Trainings that are mandatory for the entire Department.

What We Offer

Compensation: Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $19.99 for 0 years of experience and $24.99. This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Other Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, generous vacation time, referral bonuses and professional development. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What You'll Do Accountabilities

In this role you will: Business Clerks provide and maintain a financial skillset to be utilized on the support and management of finances 100% of the time at the campus level. Their role is to ensure all the systems and procedures for the campus are being executed with fidelity to meet budget targets, procurement timelines, and compliance. This requires a specific skillset and access to systems that will allow for the implementation and support of campus administrative staff and instructional staff with our financial policies.

Required experience:

• Education: HS Diploma or GED Required, Bachelor's Degree Preferred
• Experience: 2+ years experience at a school system or nonprofit; experience managing cross-functional projects and finances in a large, mission-driven organization
• Experience working in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment

Expectations:

• Emails and Teams messages are responded to in a timely manner (48 hours)
• Submissions of forms are completed accurately and on time (Requisitions, contracts, other approval forms)
• Campus support to staff and students
• Monday Friday from 8AM 5PM is the standard work schedule for a Business Clerk. The Business Clerk schedule will be unique to the Business Clerk and the campus. The Regional Manager will be responsible for providing the Business Clerk schedule to campuses to ensure alignment.
• Will participate in Campus Operating Mechanisms (weekly/biweekly check-in, tactical, EOD updates).
• Will provide support and potential solutions that meet IDEA Business Office policies in emergency situations.

Non-Negotiables:

• Business Clerks and campus leadership should adhere to escalating matters to the Regional Manager. If the situation needs to be escalated further, the Regional Manager will escalate to the Assistant Director and/or Director.
• Business Clerks must be included with procurement, fundraising, and field lesson decisions.
• Business Clerks will submit Contract Requests in the Contracts Module with collected supporting documentation from campus lead team members or the Administrative Assistant. In cases where another member of campus would like to submit a Contract Request, they should seek partnership with the Business Clerk to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the request.
• Business Clerks will support in securing Charter Bus quotes with an updated Safer Reports for compliance for all field lessons and travel. In cases where another member of campus would like to submit for a Charter Bus quote, they should seek partnership with the Business Clerk to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the request.
• With the support of Administrative Assistants, Business Clerks will support in submitting all fundraising approval forms and maintain cash handler compliance for all sponsors on campus.
• Business Clerks will prep cash and check deposits to avoid suspensions for that corresponding month.
• Visibility and workspace of Business Clerks
• Business Clerks will continue executing and implementing Business Office best practices for their specific campuses. There must be a sufficient work area where the Business Clerk can comfortably work to operate any cash handling and inventory.
• Business Clerks will also require access to storage closets to audit inventory on a bi-monthly basis for all campus supplies and technology and the campus safe.
• Having a space that is visible to all will provide transparency for the Business Clerk and Campus staff.
• Business Clerks will no longer be able to perform campus duties outside the scope of Business Office functions.
• A Business Clerk must be available to meet deadlines and timelines set by Business Office. (APB, textbook orders, BOY/EOY Checklists, receiving, contracts)
• If an emergency happens, a Business Clerk must be available to attend to the matter for resolution. Such examples are receiving, securing field lesson transportation, or lodging due to unforeseen changes.
• Business Clerks may visit different sites within their region to support in processes, act as an administrator for multiple sites, or support to temporarily fill an unforeseen vacancy.
• Business Clerks are the only personnel allowed on campus with access to certain systems that are used to support, submit, and track Business Office processes. This means no other personnel on campus can provide support or coverage for a Business Clerk and therefore, the Business Clerk must be available at all times.
• Business Clerks will not be approved for overtime for work not core to role.

What You Bring Competencies

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Knowledge of educational processes and the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy.
• Proficient in using financial software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students

About IDEA Public Schools

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.

IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report's top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.