Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis

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

The Senior Manager, FP&A is a full-time, exempt position and will participate in budgeting, forecasting, long-range scenario planning, monthly and quarterly reporting, charter petitions and renewals, and tracking KPIs relevant to the organization. The successful candidate will be proficient in Excel and Powerpoint and be comfortable working with large financial data sets, have working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), experience using planning and reporting software, experience with charter school finance, and the ability to work in a remote team environment with collaborative cross-functional working relationships.

Essential Functions: The Senior Manager, FP&A serves as a strategic financial partner to schools, regions, and the network organization by taking raw data and analyzing it so that management can provide clear insights and actionable recommendations. This role helps leaders align resources with student needs, anticipate financial challenges, and make informed decisions that support long-term financial sustainability by providing timely and accurate financial reports.

The following are essential functions related to the position:

• Perform monthly budget versus actuals calculations, revenue & expense forecasts and provide detailed, timely, and accurate variance analyses, and reporting to management, regional & school leaders, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders

• Participate in the budgeting process performing calculations, projecting enrollment/attendance, revenue, and expenses, and collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders to get to a finalized budget the board will approve

• Analyze historical, current, and projected financial data for use in planning, forecasting, and management decision making

• Create multi-year financial scenarios for long-term planning and decision making

• Update 5 year financial plans for charter petitions and renewals

• Help advance the integration of Adaptive Planning into FP&A’s daily workflow and identify areas for process improvement

• Perform various ad hoc analysis for finance and leadership

• Complete interim internal and external reports and submit in a timely manner

• Develop strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the organization

• Displays the competencies of a Senior Manager at Rocketship included but not limited tor:

• The ability to take feedback and develop solutions or improvements

• Reacts to change, ambiguity, and uncertainty with confidence and openness; does not let change derail progress towards results

• Anticipates potential roadblocks or challenges and works with the team to plan around potential challenges and can independently develop solutions based on previous experience

• Monitors progress against goals and adjust plans as needed

• Proactively seeks other’s perspectives to better understand the implications of their work or when addressing roadblocks encountered

• Willingness to help teammates and cross-functional partners

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of total professional experience and 3 years of relevant charter school finance or operational experience, including budgeting, monthly revenue and expense forecasting, interim internal & authorizer reporting, and multi-year scenario planning
• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Accounting, Finance or equivalent. Masters in a related field preferred
• Commitment and passion for Rocketship’s mission, vision, and goals
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, understanding of financial statements & GAAP
• High level of intellectual curiosity, self-motivation, attention to detail, and accuracy
• Advanced Excel proficiency and comfort with financial systems and data analysis tools
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work independently, collaborate effectively across teams, and interact effectively with all levels of management
• Working knowledge of Adaptive Insights or a similar SaaS financial reporting tool