Chief Financial Officer - Bakersfield - Grow Public Schools

Description

Reports to: Superintendent Grow Public Schools

Exempt, Year-Round

Organizational Overview

Grow Public Schools (GPS) mission is to be a network of high-performing schools in Kern County, dedicated to academic excellence that empowers all students to thrive through a foundation of health and wellness, college and career readiness, and lifelong success. We believe education and wellness are fundamental pillars for success, and their harmonious integration paves the way for brilliant and vibrant futures.

Founded in August of 2011 by the Grimm Family Education Foundation, GPS is committed to serving the Kern County community through high-quality public education. GPS currently operates two TK-8 schools, Grow Academy Arvin and Grow Academy Shafter, serving more than 1,600 students. With continued growth in mind, GPS plans to open two additional schools, expanding its reach to a total of 3,200 students.

Job Overview and Summary

Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the senior financial leader for Grow Public Schools and is responsible for ensuring the organization's financial sustainability, strategic growth, and operational scalability. The CFO provides forward-looking financial leadership that supports academic excellence, mission alignment, and long-term organizational impact.

As a core member of the GPS Leadership Team, the CFO will lead strategic financial planning, including scenario and sensitivity analysis; guide capital planning and financing, including bond financing; and support strategic investments in programs, talent, and facilities. The CFO will translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights that inform decision-making at the executive, board, and school leadership levels. This position will be responsible for leading the financial team at Grow, including two direct reports and managing Grow's relationship with our back office provider.

The CFO plays a critical role in enabling GPS's fiscal sustainability and leading the next phase of growth by strengthening financial systems, managing risk, and ensuring that resources are aligned to support high-quality instruction, strong school leadership, and equitable student outcomes. The CFO will be a key partner to the Superintendent, allowing the Superintendent to step out of day-to-day financial operations and focus on organizational leadership and strategy. The CFO will collaborate closely with Grow's executive leadership and Board of Directors to drive financial strategy and operational alignment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership & Planning

• Lead the development and execution of short- and long-term financial strategies aligned with GPS's mission and growth plans.
• Develop multi-year financial forecasts, scenario planning, and sensitivity analyses to inform executive and board decision-making.
• Provide strategic financial guidance to support expansion, enrollment growth, and programmatic investments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Superintendent and Board on financial strategy, sustainability, and risk.

School Finance, Capital Planning & Facilities

• Lead charter school finance across a multi-site, network-level environment.
• Oversee capital planning and long-range facilities strategy, including bond financing, debt management, and capital project oversight.
• Partner with external advisors, bond counsel, and financial institutions to structure financing solutions that support sustainable growth.
• Ensure alignment between facilities planning, enrollment projections, and instructional needs.

Revenue & Resource Development

• Oversee financial management of grants, fundraising, and other revenue streams.
• Ensure resources are strategically aligned to organizational priorities and academic goals.
• Partner with leadership to evaluate return on investment (ROI) for programs, staffing, and initiatives.

Financial Operations, Compliance & Risk Management

• Oversee all financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, audits, reporting, and internal controls, with support from an external back office provider.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local education regulations, charter law, and authorizer requirements.
• Lead audit processes and proactively manage financial, operational, and compliance risk.
• Establish and maintain scalable financial systems and processes to support network growth.

Data-Driven Decision-Making & Reporting

• Translate complex financial information into clear, accessible insights for diverse stakeholders.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to support leadership, school leaders, and the Board.
• Apply qualitative and quantitative data to guide decisions through an ROI and equity lens.

Collaborative Leadership & Change Management

• Serve as a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader across academic and operational teams.
• Partner closely with the CAO to support school leaders with financial planning and decision-making.
• Lead change initiatives that improve financial systems, processes, and organizational effectiveness.
• Take ownership of outcomes while enabling others to succeed.

Qualities and Competencies:

• Strategic financial leader with deep charter school expertise and a forward-looking mindset.
• Strong understanding of charter school finance, funding models, charter law, accreditation, and authorizer expectations.
• Demonstrated experience with capital planning, bond financing, and long-range facilities strategy.
• Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and comfortable operating in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments.
• Exceptional communicator with executive presence and the ability to translate financial complexity into actionable insights.
• Collaborative, low-ego leader who builds trust across teams and functions.
• Skilled problem solver with strong process design and scaling capabilities.
• Comfortable leading through ambiguity, change, and complexity.
• Passion for GPS's mission, academic excellence, and building school leadership capacity.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA, MPP, or similar advanced degree preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with charter school experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with charter school finance, public funding, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven experience with capital financing, including bonds and facilities planning.
• Experience partnering with Boards of Directors or Finance Committees.
• CPA, CFA, or similar certification preferred but not required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

This position is exempt. The compensation range for this position is $170,000-$200,000 depending upon experience, with the potential for both a signing and relocation bonus. The organization offers robust benefits including a 403b retirement plan, generous employer contributions toward healthcare premiums for employees and dependents, medical, dental, and vision HMO and PPO plan options, employer-paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance.