Description

Aspire Public Schools NorCal — Senior Accountant, Accounts Payable

Job Description 

About Aspire NorCal 

Founded in 1998, Aspire Public Schools has served scholars and communities across California for nearly three decades. With Aspire Los Angeles transitioning into an independent organization, the Bay Area and Central Valley regions are coming together to form Aspire NorCal, operating 22 schools serving approximately 10,000 scholars across Northern California (Oakland, Richmond, East Palo Alto, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, and Ceres). 

This evolution comes at an important moment for Aspire. Changes in California’s funding, policy, enrollment, and operating environment have created an opportunity to rethink how the organization supports its schools and scholars in its next chapter. The formation of Aspire NorCal creates an opportunity to strengthen support for schools across teams previously organized by geography, improve the consistency and effectiveness of school support, and create clear accountability systems for organizational and scholar outcomes. The new model will require the organization to balance greater coherence across Aspire NorCal with responsiveness to the different communities and contexts of its schools. 

Aspire NorCal enters this transition with a long-standing mission focused on post-secondary success and a deep commitment to educational equity, along with decades of institutional knowledge across its schools and teams. Preserving those strengths while building Aspire NorCal as a unified region will be central to the work ahead. 

About the role 

The Senior Accounts Payable (AP) Accountant ensures a high level of accuracy in expenses and other accounting entries, reconciles bank accounts, fixed asset ledgers, and construction project expenses, and works closely with schools through internal auditing of records.

The Senior AP Accountant performs the overall function of accounts payable and vendor relations, assists in accounting systems administration, provides training to teammates, and ensures the accuracy of balance sheet accounts such as benefit liabilities and accounts receivable, collaborating within the team and across departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure accuracy of AP entries through a strong understanding of the chart of accounts.

• Complete monthly bank reconciliations and other balance sheet reconciliations, and resolve discrepancies.

• Process monthly self-billing benefit payments and reporting to vendors.

• Process entries in the Abila MIP accounting system, including journal vouchers, invoice uploads, payment runs, voids, reissuances, and reclassifications.

• Review and process construction project payment applications, resolving billing discrepancies.

• Fulfill periodic and annual reporting and data requests from the Financial Reporting department and auditors.

• Perform internal audits of school records and communicate openly with school sites.

• Maintain positive relationships with vendors and partners, and ensure Aspire maximizes the benefits its vendors offer.

• Review invoices, expense reports, check requests, and new vendor requests for compliance with fiscal policies, collaborating with the AP Manager to update policies.

• Process wire payments and work with banks to resolve payment issues.

• Monitor Coupa purchasing procedures and integrations, and provide training and materials to internal users on Coupa purchasing and expense systems.

• Train and mentor AP team members on standard operating procedures to ensure adherence to internal controls.

• Work with vendors and internal staff to streamline purchasing and invoice processes (such as cXML purchasing and invoicing), and manage Aspire's corporate accounts.

• Seek ways to streamline current processes.

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, and values, including antiracism, and uphold confidentiality standards and the code of ethical behavior.

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

• Support the new Service Level Agreement (SLA) under which Aspire NorCal will provide finance, accounting, and payroll services to Aspire LA.

Qualifications 

Education

• Undergraduate degree in Accounting or Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting preferred.

Experience

• 4+ years of accounting or accounts payable experience; intermediate/advanced Excel proficiency.

• Experience in non-profit accounting preferred.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent financial analytical skills and knowledge of accounting; solid understanding of the general ledger accounts and how they relate to invoices and receivables.

• Exceptional time management, organizational skills, and ability to work independently, completing tasks on time and accurately.

• High accountability, with appropriate follow-up and sense of urgency.

• Strong customer service orientation; ability to address difficult situations tactfully.

• Works well with others and maintains positive, professional relationships; flexibility to learn new technology.

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of information.

Compensation and benefits

The salary range for this role is $84,564 to $108,556 annually in accordance with our salary schedule policy, commensurate with experience. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Eligible for Aspire health benefits

• Retirement through CalSTRS or CalPERS, depending on the role's credential requirements, with a 403(b) option

• Paid time off and additional teammate benefits to be determined in accordance with updated employee value proposition to be shared prior to offer.  

Aspire NorCal is conducting a comprehensive study of our employee value proposition, which could lead to material changes in July 2027.

Location and work arrangement

• Work location and in-person expectations for this role are being finalized as part of our broader NorCal planning. We will share clarity with candidates in the coming weeks

Aspire NorCal expects to provide Finance, Accounting, Payroll, and Retirement services to Aspire LA under a multi-year service agreement, and part of this department’s budget is expected to depend on that agreement.  If the agreement is not finalized, is not renewed, or ends early, Aspire NorCal may reduce the department’s size accordingly, and any position in the departments listed above may be impacted.  Employment with Aspire is at-will

Application Deadline: November 20, 2026.

Equal opportunity 

Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Aspire Public Schools provides reasonable accommodations during the application and interview process.

Disclaimer

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.