About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child – academically and emotionally – matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery's Equity Vision:

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.

We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students’ choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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.