Movement Schools Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Job Description

OUR MISSION

Movement Schools is a growing network of free, public charter schools. We exist to love and value scholars and communities by leading a movement of excellence in education. In partnership with our families, we equip our scholars with the tools to close generational gaps through self-efficacy, access to world-class instruction, and financial education.

Background

Movement Schools is a rapidly growing network of free, public charter schools serving students in pre-K through 5th grade. The organization exists to love and value scholars and communities by leading a movement of excellence in education. In partnership with families, Movement Schools equips scholars with the tools to close generational opportunity gaps through self-efficacy, access to world-class instruction, and financial education.

Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, Movement Schools currently operates six charter schools and multiple pre-K programs across two states: North Carolina and Georgia. Today, the network serves more than 1,500 students and continues to grow its presence across the Southeast.

Movement Schools works in close partnership with the Movement Foundation, a philanthropic organization that has committed more than $300 million to advance the network’s growth and long-term community impact. This partnership has helped establish a strong foundation for expansion and community investment while maintaining a disciplined focus on financial sustainability.

As the network continues to scale, Movement Schools is prioritizing the systems, infrastructure, and leadership capacity needed to support a larger and more complex organization while sustaining strong academic outcomes, operational excellence, and financial health.

To learn more about Movement Schools, please visit our website.

Opportunity

Movement Schools seeks a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the financial strategy and infrastructure necessary to support continued multi-state expansion.

The CFO serves as a strategic architect and operational executor responsible for designing and leading the network’s financial strategy and regulatory framework. This leader will continue to strengthen Movement’s financial systems, ensure strong multi-entity fund management, safeguard regulatory compliance, and steward the long-term financial health of the organization.

Operating across multiple states and legal entities, the CFO will oversee financial planning, financial compliance, reporting, and cash management for a complex and rapidly growing organization. The role requires a leader who can build scalable financial systems while also navigating the operational realities of charter school funding across three different states.

The ideal candidate is a systems-level leader who thrives in complexity, builds and manages high-performing teams, and ensures that strong financial infrastructure fuels sustainable academic growth and institutional integrity. The CFO will report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and partner with the Board of Directors to support continued expansion across the Southeast and the long-term vision of building a national network of schools.

A key focus for the incoming CFO will be stabilizing and strengthening the finance function as the organization transitions away from external consultants toward a fully in-house finance team. The CFO will also play an important role in improving financial forecasting, managing cash flow across multiple funding sources, and ensuring financial compliance across different state regulatory environments.

The Key Priorities for the Chief Financial Officer include:

• Support Sustainable Network Growth: Lead financial planning for expansion—including modeling for new school launches, facility financing strategies, and evaluation of strategic investments—while building scalable financial systems and controls that support multi-school operations with strong fiscal stewardship.

• Ensure Strong Financial Planning and Forecasting: Lead long-term financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting aligned with organizational strategy and expansion plans. Oversee planning for an approximately $50M budget spanning multiple entities, including regions, schools, pre-K programs, and the central management organization (CMO). Provide clear financial insights and analysis to the CEO and Board to support strategic decision-making and responsible growth.

• Maintain Financial Compliance and Reporting: Ensure full compliance with charter school financial reporting requirements, grant compliance obligations, and audit standards across multiple jurisdictions. Maintain strong internal controls and ensure transparent and accurate financial reporting to the Board and external stakeholders.

• Finalize and Implement Procurement Systems and Processes: Lead coordination between the finance, controller, and compliance teams to finalize and implement consistent procurement processes across the organization. While policies are in place, the organization is prioritizing the development of clear operational procedures, systems, and implementation practices to support efficient and compliant purchasing as the network grows.

• Build and Lead a High-Performing Finance Team: Develop and support a strong finance function that includes accounting, financial compliance, financial planning, and reporting. Build clear structures, professional development pathways, and systems that enable the team to support the needs of a growing organization. Complete the transition away from external consultants towards a fully in-house Finance Team to support Movement’s growing network of schools.

Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Develop and lead the network’s long-term financial strategy;

• Drive financial planning for growth, facilities expansion, and strategic initiatives;

• Align financial systems to support scaling to new regions and campuses;

• Develop financial models to drive sustainability;

• Analyze budget-to-actual performance using both cash and net income views;

• Identify cost-saving and efficiency initiatives.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead development of the annual network-wide budget, including school-level budgets;

• Create multi-year forecasts and scenario analyses;

• Partner with school leaders and executive leaders to align resources with instructional and organizational priorities;

• Coordinate funds flow across multiple entities.

Financial Operations & Accounting

• Complete the transition of finance operations to a fully in-house model;

• Continue to build, develop, and manage the finance team;

• Oversee accounts payable, receivable, payroll, and general ledger;

• Ensure accurate monthly closings and reconciliations;

• Establish strong internal controls;

• Ensure compliance with GAAP or modified accrual standards.

Financial Compliance & Reporting

• Oversee financial compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) and other financial reporting requirements applicable to charter schools;

• Oversee financial reporting and filings, including IRS and Department of Revenue filings, annual external audits, state financial reports, and federal grant financial reporting;

• Ensure strong internal financial controls and audit readiness across the organization;

• Develop and maintain financial compliance policies and procedures to support accurate reporting and responsible stewardship of funds.

Grants & Fund Management

• Lead federal grant application, monitoring, and financial compliance;

• Oversee restricted and unrestricted fund tracking;

• Maximize grant reimbursement and impact.

Liquidity, Debt & Risk Management

• Monitor debt service and compliance with financing agreements;

• Ensure proactive cash planning;

• Identify financial risks and develop mitigation strategies;

• Oversee insurance policies and reserves.

Board & Executive Partnership

• Prepare and present financial reports to the Board;

• Communicate key financial insights, risks, and recommendations;

• Support strategic decision-making with clear financial analysis.

Qualifications

The ideal CFO candidate will bring the following experiences, knowledge, skills, and mindset/values:

Required Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-entity financial structures;

• Demonstrated ability to build systems from the ground up, including designing and implementing financial infrastructure;

• Demonstrated experience building high-performing finance teams and developing strong leaders;

• Demonstrated experience operating in high-growth, multi-state environments;

• Strong executive presence and ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and at the Board level;

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial and regulatory concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders;

• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic vision with effective implementation and execution;

• Ten or more years of progressive finance and accounting experience;

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Experience leading financial strategy and fiscal management within charter schools, Charter Management Organizations (CMOs), or expanding school networks (highly preferred);

• Advanced degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field (MBA or similar);

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.

Mindsets and Values

• Integrity, transparency, and accountability in financial leadership and organizational decision-making;

• An exceptionally high bar for excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement and responsible financial stewardship;

• Resilience, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented approach to complex financial challenges;

• Flexibility and comfort navigating change and ambiguity in a fast-growing, multi-state environment;

• A builder’s mindset—energized by strengthening systems, building infrastructure, and rolling up their sleeves to execute in a scaling organization;

• Deep alignment with the mission and vision of Movement Schools;

• Deep commitment to equity, justice, and serving historically underserved communities, particularly Black and Brown students and families;

• Commitment to building trust with school-based and executive leaders and ensuring financial decisions support the needs of schools, communities, and organizational priorities.

Compensation and Application

The starting compensation for this role is $200,000. This full-time role aligns with the academic calendar and provides meaningful growth in a purpose-driven environment.

• Employment Type: Full-Time.

• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package available for eligible employees.

• Schedule: Monday - Friday. Evenings and weekends as needed.

• Travel between regions and schools is required. The CFO typically travels 30-40%, depending on the time of year.

Initial Application Deadline: April 20th, 2026