IDEA Public Schools Careers

VP of Treasury and Grants

Finance Department

Role Mission:

IDEA Public Schools is searching for a Vice President of Finance. The Treasury and Grants Team strives to support the leadership at IDEA as we work together to meet and exceed our ambitious financial and student achievement goals. The Vice President of Treasury and Grants will lead cash management, portfolio investment decisions, commercial banking business operations and relationships, real estate acquisition/campus launch schedule and various facility financing structuring functions across all IDEA entities. In doing so, the Vice President of Treasury and Grants will be charged with setting and executing on the strategic investment vision for our growing organization and managing staff to sustained efficacy in all aspects of their scope.

Their mission is to ensure short- and long-term planning information is available to support strong decision making of senior leaders and fiduciary Boards. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer of IDEA Public Schools, the Vice President of Treasury and Grants will play a critical role ensuring the Treasury, State, Federal, and Philanthropic Grants teams are equipped with the resources necessary to maintain compliance in alignment with local, state and federal requirements and achieve our shared mission of ensuring IDEA Public Schools students get to and through college. This is a hybrid position based in Texas with preference given to candidates who live in Texas. We are looking to fill this role by July 1, 2024.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The VP of Treasury and Grants will supervise up to four teams overseeing functions such as Treasury, Investment, State, Federal and Philanthropic Grants,  Compliance.

Location:

This is a full-time remote position based in Texas with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:

Up to 20% of the time during the busiest parts of the year

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

In this role you will:

• Achieve annual treasury and investment goals to ensure long term financial stability for IDEA Public Schools of Texas and IPS Enterprises.
• Work with Senior Leadership to incorporate expansion plans into the cash planning process to ensure IDEA Texas maintains a targeted Maximum Annual Debt Service on all historical and projected debt.
• Partner with Budget, Financial Modeling, Operations, and Regional Executive Directors to achieve compliance with all financial covenant requirements for IDEA Texas and IPS Enterprises, Inc.
• Work with the CFO Senior Leadership, Rating Agencies, Financial Advisors, Underwriters, Banks and Investors to achieve optimal financing structures to support IDEA Texas and IPS Enterprises capital improvement program (CIP)
• Ensure the Treasury and Grants teams produce high quality reporting and analysis  to meet key financial performance indicators
• Support the development of mathematical, analytical, statistical constructs and models to understand the impact of loans and investments across existing and new regions
• Achieve no less than specific targeted days of operating cash on hand at June 30 for each IDEA and IPS entity
• Partner with the Managing Director of Treasury and other members of the business office team to manage the cash position for all entities, meeting regulatory requirements, debt covenants, and philanthropic covenants
• Maintain and utilize available Lines of Credit to supplement as necessary or maximize cash efficiency across all entities
• Recommend strategies for maximizing cash and returns on investments
• In conjunction with finance leaders for IDEA Texas and IPS Enterprises, as applicable, on an ongoing basis, oversee the production of a quarterly and annual cash flow forecast
• Maintain data and reporting regarding key metrics, develop a dashboard available to managers to provide additional transparency and visibility for cash on hand
• Maintain productive relationships with banking partners, lenders, philanthropists, bond attorneys financial advisors, and management consultants to ensure products and services are best aligned to organizational needs

Real Estate and Capital Expenditures

• In partnership with the Operations team, advise the Real Estate acquisition and divestiture process
• With the support of the Chief Financial Officer and Financial Advisors ensure capital or fund sources are available for real estate and investment funding
• With the support of the Chief Financial Officer and Financial Advisors manage all sources of interim financing, evaluating optimal utilization of resources and renewing the facilities as needed
• Manage liquidity and capital support needed to fund maintenance, building updates, and other operational capex needs

• State, Federal and Philanthropic Grant Management
• Manage all audits and reviews of state and federal grant programs while developing staff skills in this area.
• Manage staff to present accurate and timely Federal and State grants applications and amendments, working in close conjunction with the budgets team.
• Working with the advancement team, advise and track acquiring philanthropic funds, coordinate required reporting and covenant compliance
• Perform grant expenditure review and approve grant drawdowns.
• Assist in preparation and submittal of required Federal and State grant reporting. 
• Assist, guide, and develop staff on Federal and State grant compliance.
• Ensure drawdown records are properly maintained and staff redundancies exist to support unexpected demands.

What You Bring – Competencies

Knowledge and Skills:

• Skill in critical-thinking and problem-solving, along with the ability to perform during moments of ambiguity
• Skill in organization, prioritization, follow through, and attention to detail
• Ability to build strong relationships and mutually beneficial business partnerships through trust, empathy, and credibility
• Ability to manage and monitor multiple projects at once, often under pressure with competing priorities and tight turnarounds while maintaining composure, ensuring quality, and achieving results
• Able to analyze and interpret data and statistics to identify trends, draw conclusions, and develop strategies and tactics that that yield results and achieve goals
• Knowledge of EDGAR, state and federal charter school grant funding opportunities, reporting, spending rules
• Ability to translate financial data and information to non-financial stakeholders in a way that is clear and concise and where key takeaways are understandable

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, management, finance, business or another relevant field. Master of Accountancy or Business Administration preferred.
• 10 years of work experience with 5 years finance, banking, investments or state/federal programs experience; preferably non-profit or educational setting
• Mastery in MS Excel and proven experience in building and maintaining complex financial models required.

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $161,600 and $198,800, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment

Additionally, IDEA offers medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, 403(b) and 457 retirement plans. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

Learn more about IDEA

• IDEA’s Core Values

• https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/leadership/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/campus-operations/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-approach/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/impact-magazine/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/history/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-approach/special-programs/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/blog/introducing-our-revised-core-values/