Controller

Yellowstone Schools

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Master’s degree or CPA license required
• 5+ years of experience in municipal, not-for-profit, public, charter, and/or private school accounting and finance 

Organizational Overview

Founded in 2001 and rooted in the Christian faith, Yellowstone Schools collectively educates 600 children in Pre-K through 10th grade and will grow a grade each year to serve 12th grade by 2026. Yellowstone partners with students and families—regardless of financial means—to provide a life-changing education, develop a strong moral foundation, and prepare scholars for life beyond high school. The K-12 campus is located in the Third Ward, one of Houston's oldest historically Black neighborhoods.

Most students served live in communities without access to strong educational opportunities. With classes ranging in size from 16 to 22, our students experience a rich academic and co-curricular model while receiving bus transportation, two meals a day, and access to a comprehensive student support program.

Yellowstone Schools consists of a cooperative of two school systems: a lower school (a private Christian school serving PreK-5th grade) and an upper school (a tuition-free, public charter school growing to serve 6th-12th grade). The lower school and upper school are distinct legal and financial entities with separate governing boards. The name Yellowstone Schools reflects each school system’s shared mission, vision, values, culture, and leadership. Each school complies with all applicable federal and state laws.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the Chief Financial Officer is advised on the business affairs of the schools.
• Ensure accounting transactions are executed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and established standards of internal control.
• Ensure that accounting systems comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations (FASRG). 
• Direct, review, and participate in the analysis of state and federal laws, rules, regulations, opinions, and decisions that affect the financial activities of the schools to ensure company policies and procedures are compliant. 
• Evaluate and implement accounting procedures, systems, and controls for the schools. 
• Assure protection of the assets of Schools by enforcing and promoting internal controls, internal auditing, and ensuring proper insurance coverage.
• Included in discussions with the Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Director/Superintendent, Chief of Schools, Chief Advancement Officer concerning matters of finance, associated regulatory issues, and financial reporting requirements; and recommend necessary actions for the most efficient operation of the school system.
• Attend school board meetings as requested.
• Direct and provide leadership to assigned personnel.
• Maintain the accuracy and timeliness of records and reports, while meeting regular and special demands for data.
• Manage all hardcopy and computerized reports, records, and other documents required.
• Manage the grants management programs to ensure maximum and effective participation in all available local, state, and federal grants. 
• Manage temporarily restricted donations including proper use of funds and all associated journal entries.
• Responsible for fiscal requirements on all approved grants (competitive and noncompetitive) in compliance with EDGAR rules and regulations. Grant management fiscal requirements include approval of all purchases and recordkeeping of job descriptions as well as time & effort requirements by federally funded employees. 
• Responsible for semi-monthly review of payroll to include review of payroll, Paid Time Off, and benefit administration for Upper School. 
• Responsible for review of any decisions, responses, or hearings related to unemployment decisions by TWC. 
• Assist CFO in preparation of annual budget for Schools and help in assessing the long- and short-range objectives for the business operations. Collaborate with personnel to project student enrollments, staff needs, building and facilities needs, energy needs, capital equipment needs and other cost items. 
• Monitor budget against actuals to ensure TEA compliance requirements such as the FSP program intent code allotments, Charter First, and ensure programs and funds are managed effectively. 
• Responsible for any proposed budget adjustments, additions, and deletions.
• Manage purchasing approvals across departments.
• Responsible for management of donations and other revenue, reconciling monthly.
• Responsible for management of Inventory of property and equipment to be audited and reconciled annually. 
• Responsible for monthly Credit Cards and reconciliations. 
• Assess and authorize all purchase orders and expense reports and manage budget by certifying availability of funds. Functions include ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of accounts as assigned.
• Responsible for management of Shared Services Agreement including monthly calculations and subsequent recording of transactions.
• Review of General Ledger each month.
• Review of monthly financial statements and other management operational reports including the statement of financial position, statement of activities, and statement of cash flows on an accrual basis in conformity with GAAP and financial accounting standards for not-for-profit accounting and financial reporting principles.
• Manage and lead the completion of annual compliance reports such as financial audit, annual financial management report to include Charter First Ratings, 990 tax returns.
• Maintain a continuous audit program for all funds.
• Assist with audit preparations and ensure compliance. 
• Regularly assist the CFO with Financial Model to include periodic cash flow analysis and forecasts to determine cash available for investment, construction, and payment of bills as well as compliance with debt service and other TEA requirements. 
• Analyze financial and statistical data, make appropriate projections, effectively create, and deliver presentations of complex data and plans, and make or recommend decisions as needed.
• Maintain appropriate certifications and training hours, as required. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• This position will include early morning, evening and weekend commitments as required and assigned.
• This position requires participation in training and other learning activities as required and assigned.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Yellowstone Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical (including HSA), dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, $50K employer-paid life insurance, supplemental life ( short-term disability insurance, cancer, hospital, accident), EAP, wellness day off and generous paid time off program, and 10-weeks paid parental leave.

Yellowstone does not refuse to hire, terminate, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, sex, or national or ethnic origin.