Who We Are
Founded in 2011, RePublic serves more than 3,300 scholars in seven schools across two cities: Jackson, Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. RePublic Schools is the only school network solely dedicated to reimagining public education in the South.
Part of reimagining education in the South means confronting the historic inequities that work against scholars and actively working to dismantle those inequities. RePublic is doing this by intentionally creating environments that embrace, honor, and celebrate scholars' identities and experiences as well as the identities and experiences of every member of its community. RePublic cultivates a cohesive community of families, staff, and scholars committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure scholars succeed.
Awards and Accolades
For two years straight (2021-2023), the state of Tennessee announced that all three RePublic schools in Nashville earned the highest possible score—a level 5 on the TN Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS).
Nashville Prep and Liberty Collegiate Academy earned Reward School Status, the highest possible designation for a school in TN.
The state of Mississippi announced that Smilow Collegiate, the network's first elementary school, has received an accountability rating of B for the 2021-2022 school year. This past year, 62% of state-tested scholars at Smilow achieved significant growth in reading, and 76% made significant growth in math.
The two middle schools in Jackson, Reimagine Prep and Smilow Prep, are two of the highest-performing non-magnet schools in the city. Smilow Prep achieved 60% growth in reading and 79% in math, and Reimagine Prep achieved 63% in reading and 69% in math.
For more information about RePublic Schools, please visit their website.
What You’ll Do
Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a valued thought partner to the CEO and leadership team and support them in understanding how decisions impact the financial performance and sustainability of the organization.
- Collaborate with the leadership team to ensure the organization will achieve short and long-term goals.
- Interface with the Board of Directors and communicate timely and accurate financial information.
- Provide support to school leadership and staff, emphasizing a culture of excellent customer service.
Financial Management
- Lead the annual budgeting process, including the development of easy-to-use tools and templates.
- Meet regularly with leadership to review financial information and help improve their financial and business acumen.
- Maintain annual and multi-year financial models; conduct contingency and scenario planning to inform decision-making.
- Manage cash flow and develop strategies to ensure the organization's cash position is strong.
- Develop and communicate timely, accurate and insightful financial management reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Oversee grant compliance, as well as compliance with federal, state, and local agencies.
- Lead the planning and implementing of efficient business processes and financial systems.
Accounting
- Provide oversight of all accounting activities and ensure accuracy and full compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
- Manage facilities financing, capital improvement budgets and debt compliance.
- Oversee all payroll activities, including processing, reporting, documenting and updating procedures.
- Manage and ensure clean annual financial audits.
- Establish strong financial controls to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws.
- Ensure documentation is in place for accounting policies and procedures.
Procurement & Risk Management
- Manage the procurement of goods and services, negotiate and approve contracts and manage vendor relationships.
- Develop or enhance procurement policies and processes; ensure compliance with procurement laws.
- Manage and maintain insurance; advise on risk management and crisis planning.
Team Leadership
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, management, and evaluation of all finance and accounting staff.
- Serve as an exceptional role model as a leader and manager; support and develop finance and accounting staff.
- Incorporate a strong customer service orientation into all aspects of the finance and accounting team's work.
Qualifications
All successful candidates must be a steadfast believer that all students can achieve academic excellence, regardless of background. In addition, strong candidates will have:
- Bachelor's degree required; CPA preferred
- Over ten years of progressive finance and accounting experience; non-profit finance/accounting background is a plus
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage financial systems and processes
- Strong financial management skills and business acumen; demonstrated ability in budgeting, financial analysis and financial modeling
- Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Experience successfully leading change management initiatives
- A demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, lead multiple projects and meet concurrent deadlines
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
