Regional Finance & School Support Specialist (Payroll, Invoice Payments, Budget Monitoring)

Who We Are

Partnership Schools is accepting applications for the role of a Regional Finance Manager & School Support Specialist in Cleveland, Ohio. The ideal candidate brings zeal, creativity, imagination, positivity, and passion to their work, and is ready to dive into a fast-paced and exciting entrepreneurial environment.

Since 2013, the Partnership has been a pioneering school management organization shaping the next generation of urban Catholic schooling. From 2013 through 2024, the Archdiocese of New York granted operational management of seven long-standing Pre-K to 8th-grade schools in the South Bronx and Harlem to the Partnership, and during that time the schools experienced substantial math and reading achievement gains and increased enrollment significantly. In 2020, the Partnership was invited to expand to the Diocese of Cleveland, where it manages four schools in the heart of the city providing students in historically underserved neighborhoods with the academic preparation, faith formation, values, and skills they need to thrive. The Partnership currently serves about 1,000 students in Cleveland, nearly of all of whom live in poverty.

The historic success of urban Catholic schools stems not only from a rigorous tradition of academic excellence but also from an emphasis on developing self-worth, moral character, a love of learning, and a sense of civic responsibility—all part of our long-standing commitment to educating the whole child. Partnership Schools is unique in knitting this tradition together with lessons from high-achieving public, charter, and independent schools, in the service of our students.

At the Partnership, we believe all children can achieve at the highest levels. If you are interested in serving as a pioneer in education and share an unwavering commitment to raising student achievement and an appreciation and respect for Catholic culture, identity, and values, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

Partnership Schools is at a pivotal moment in our trajectory. In our first decade, Partnership Schools successfully pioneered a groundbreaking approach for the independent management of urban Catholic schools, one needed now more than ever. As Catholic schools nationally have faced enrollment, academic, and financial crises that resulted in waves of closures, the schools in the Partnership increased enrollment, produced academic growth, and raised more money than ever. Because our effective model serves as a proof-point of what is possible, Partnership Schools is accelerating our growth and tenaciously expanding philanthropy to increase the number of students served and bolster the organization’s national impact on the school choice movement.

Partnership Schools seeks an entrepreneurial and innovative Regional Finance Manager & School Support Specialist to help catalyze the organization’s continued growth and advancement. They will join a growing, motivated, and collaborative team—comprising both on-the-ground leadership in Cleveland, and geographically dispersed talent based on the organization’s talent-first mindset. The Regional Finance Manager & School Support Specialist will serve as a critical link between finance and everyday school operations, allowing the Partnership to accelerate their turnaround efforts in Cleveland. We are seeking a Regional Finance Manager & School Support Specialist to manage financial transactions, support school leaders with budgeting, and ensure financial compliance at the school and regional levels. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with experience in bookkeeping, payroll processing, and financial reconciliation.

The role reports to Angela Larson, CFO—with important partnerships with key department leaders, including network and school level operations.

As a key member of the leadership team, the Regional Finance Manager & School Support Specialist will have the following key responsibilities:

Payroll Management:

• • Execute regional payroll processing, ensuring accuracy in data entry and reconciliation.
  • Verify payroll data collected from schools and ensure compliance with tax filings and benefits administration.
  • Coordinate with the Controller to manage payroll-related cash flow impact.

Accounts Receivable (AR) & Accounts Payable (AP):

• • Support tuition, grant, and state funding collections, ensuring timely processing.
  • Track outstanding receivables and escalate any concerns as needed.
  • Oversee and reconcile school-level American Express accounts, ensuring timely receipt collection.
  • Process vendor invoices, school-approved expenses, and reimbursements, ensuring timely processing.
  • Reconcile accounts payable transactions and validate invoice approvals.

Financial Reconciliations:

• • Complete monthly close and financial reconciliations for school bank accounts, including investment accounts to support the organization’s monthly close.

Budget Tracking & School-Level Support:

• • Partner with school leaders to monitor budgets and spending, ensuring alignment with financial policies.
  • Provide financial literacy support and guidance to school administrators.
  • Maintain consistency in financial reporting across all schools, enforcing adherence to standardized policies and templates.

Compliance & Process Optimization:

• • Assist in grant tracking and reporting, ensuring compliance with grant budgets.
  • Support school banking needs, ensuring transparency and proper documentation.
  • Implement and maintain financial controls to prevent errors and fraud.

Ad Hoc Projects:

• Assist with various finance-related projects and tasks as needed to support the finance team and company growth.

Skill Requirements:

• • Accounting Fundamentals: Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and financial analysis. CPA license preferred.
  • Payroll Processing: Experience with payroll systems and processing payroll accurately and on time. Familiarity with tax regulations and payroll-related compliance. Paycor experience is helpful.
  • Invoice Management: Proficiency in reviewing and processing invoices, tracking expenses, and managing payment schedules.
  • Budgeting: Ability to assist in budgeting, forecasting, and tracking expenses against budget targets.
  • Software Proficiency: Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or similar), Microsoft Excel and payroll software (e.g. Paycor).
  • Attention to Detail: High attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively interact with team members, vendors, and stakeholders, not all of whom are financially savvy.
  • Time Management: Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
  • Problem-Solving: Ability to identify issues, analyze data/systems, and propose solutions.

What You’ll Bring

• • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
  • 2+ years of experience in financial operations, bookkeeping, or school finance.
  • Proficiency in financial systems such as Intacct, Paycor, or similar accounting platforms.
  • Strong analytical skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Ability to communicate financial concepts effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
  • Experience in an education or nonprofit setting is a plus.

Why You’ll Be a Fit

• You are deeply committed to the mission of Partnership Schools and to the education of students in underserved communities—and will inspire others to support and our efforts;
• You are interested in learning about preK-8 education, Catholic education, school choice, and/or social justice;
• You’re open-minded, intellectually curious, and eager to learn something new each day!
• You naturally bring a positive, high-energy, and collaborative approach to your work; and
• You are comfortable being part of a team that is “forming, storming, and norming” as it builds on current ways of working to continually improve systems, tools, and approaches—and would welcome the chance to shape the future with us.

What We Offer

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The Partnership offers a competitive benefits package and is an equal opportunity organization that values diversity.

This position offers the potential to grow into a regional Controller role as the company expands. You will gain hands-on experience in various aspects of financial management, with the opportunity to take on more strategic responsibilities as you develop your skills.