Mastery Charter Schools

About Mastery:

Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 24 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.

At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.

Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.

Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director of Accounting reports to the Senior Director of Finance and is responsible for all day-to-day accounting activities with a focus on revenue and grant accounting/reporting. The Assistant Director of Accounting will support the month-end close and financial reporting, and the year-end financial audits. The ideal candidate is able to work independently and deliver under tight deadlines, highly organized, a team player, and has strong analytical skills and technical knowledge of the accounting system (Blackbaud Financial Edge). This is a hybrid position with 40% remote work during most of the year; exceptions include training, year-end close and annual audit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Management of federal, state and private grants.
• Full ownership of grant accounting and reporting.
• Expertise in federal UGG and procurement rules.
• Preparation of monthly grant entries, quarterly grant financials and compliance reports.
• Monitoring cash flow, projecting cash needs and drawing grant funds as required.
• Collaboration with program staff to develop budgets for grant and contract proposals.
• Ensuring proper allocation of grant revenues and expenses in accordance with funding guidelines and recognized cost principles; monitoring staff allocation to grants and related time and effort reporting.
• Developing and maintaining calendars and proper internal and external reporting systems to facilitate timely and accurate grant reporting.
• Review of grantee communications including work plans, budgets, modifications, extensions and other requests.
• Preparation of formal correspondence relating to grant awards, filing requirements, etc. relating to grant sub recipients and donors as required.
• Tracking and ensuring successful completion of milestones/deadlines relating to grants.
• Preparing SEFA schedules and A-133 audit schedules and documents.
• Ownership of revenue accounting, including local, state, federal and other funding sources. 
• Responsible for recording of all non-grant revenues.
• Maintenance of revenue schedules.
• Initiation of related bank transfers.
• Calculation and recording of funds due from other revenue streams.
• Billing and receivable management. 
• General Month-End and Year-End Close Support.
• Review and posting of journal entries prepared by other team members.
• Analysis and recording of other accounting transactions as needed.
• Preparation of audit schedules and back-up.
• Training and coaching of junior team members.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of accounting principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and federal cost principles.
• Proficiency in Blackbaud Financial Edge, Workday, or other enterprise-level accounting software.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Excel  Excellent communication skills.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or equivalent from an accredited school required.
• Minimum seven years of accounting experience, non-profit and/or public accounting experience preferred.
• CPA is highly preferred.  Public education and charter school experience helpful.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Results-oriented individual – a flexible thinker willing to do “whatever it takes”.
• Ability to work well in a team and enhance cooperative working relationships.
• Organizing and prioritizing.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Professional judgment.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Mastery Charter Schools. 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role as required, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as: traveling to network campuses; maneuvering in office spaces (including standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, speaking loudly and clearly, seeing and hearing things both near and far away); stooping, kneeling, reaching file cabinets/shelves; fine finger and hand manipulation in use of computer, chalkboard, dry erase, &/or projectors; filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; sitting for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse, and typing. 

Other Requirements:

• Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle, or access to reliable transportation.

Mastery's Benefits Package:

We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as a Benefits VIP Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics!

Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!

Mastery's Annual Calendar:

As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our PA Academic Calendar for SY 23/24 and our NJ Academic Calendar for SY 23/24. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!

Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.