Chief Financial Officer
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Newark, NJ
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- C level
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- Not specified
- Category
- Finance
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- A genuine commitment to GOLCS's mission of preparing Newark's students for success in college and beyond.
- A demonstrated track record of financial leadership at a nonprofit or educational organization is strongly preferred; we will also consider exceptional finance leaders from other sectors who show clea
- A track record of steady, methodical improvement in a finance function — tightening controls, closing gaps, and building trust over time — rather than building something new from a blank slate.
- A track record of leading and developing finance teams, with strong people-management and coaching skills.
- Demonstrated success as a strategic partner to a CEO/ED and Board — translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insight.
- Comfortable being hands-on with detail (reviewing reconciliations, vendor contracts, and reporting directly) in a lean team, not solely a high-level strategist.
- Bachelor's degree required; CPA and/or MBA strongly preferred. NJ School Business Administrator (SBA) licensure a plus.
Full description
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School | Newark, NJ
REQUISITION ID: 330
THE OPPORTUNITY
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) is seeking a seasoned Chief Financial Officer to strengthen the financial foundation of an established, high-performing ~$55M PK-12 charter network serving approximately 2,200 students across six campuses in Newark (approaching ~$60M by FY2028). Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a core member of the senior leadership team (G2), the CFO will own financial strategy, systems, and controls for the network as GOLCS's strategic planning process defines its next chapter — one focused on operational discipline, financial rigor, and durable institutional strength rather than rapid expansion.
This is not a build-from-scratch or high-growth mandate. GOLCS's enrollment and campus footprint are largely stable, and near-term growth is likely to be modest and deliberate rather than aggressive. The right leader is one who brings the experience and judgment to make steady, compounding improvements to an existing finance function — tightening systems, deepening controls, and building trust with the Board and school leaders one solid quarter at a time.
Who Thrives in This Role
- A steady, methodical operator who is energized by incremental, compounding improvement — not someone who needs a blank slate or high ambiguity to stay engaged.
- Someone with the seniority and judgment to set strategy, but who is also willing to be close to the details in a lean finance function while systems and team capacity are built out.
- A leader who reads as calm and trustworthy to a Board and CEO managing a mature organization, not a builder looking for their next high-growth platform.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESOrganizational Leadership
- Serve as chief financial strategist and thought partner to the CEO, senior leadership team (G2), Board, and school leaders on all financial matters.
- Own budgeting, forecasting, long-term financial planning, risk management, capital planning, financial reporting and analysis, accounting, cash flow planning, and grants management.
- In partnership with the CEO, G2, and Board, translate GOLCS's strategic plan into a multi-year financial model and set targets that ensure sustained financial health — with a focus on strengthening what exists rather than scaling headcount or campus count.
- Serve as the primary interface to the Board of Directors; lead the Board Finance Committee and deliver timely, accurate financial reporting for monthly Board meetings.
Financial Management
- Lead and continuously improve the annual budgeting process across schools and the network office; build the financial acumen of budget owners and hold them accountable to it.