Financial Planning & Strategy Manager

Financial Planning & Strategy Manager Job Summary The Financial Planning & Strategy Manager is an integral part of the Budget team, ensuring support of KIPP DC's mission and day-to-day financial operations in the areas of budgeting, financial reporting, and financial analysis. The starting salary range for this role is $94,082-$103,984. This is a full-time role with hybrid flexibility based at HDQ with an anticipated immediate start date. About the Role The Financial Planning & Strategy Manager drives network-wide financial health by executing key budget planning processes, building complex financial models, and delivering actionable reporting in close collaboration with schools and headquarters. Serving as a vital bridge between network strategy and school operations, this role streamlines core budgeting workflows, leverages Workday/Adaptive Planning to ensure data integrity, and provides essential financial analysis to support strategic decision-making. Location and Type of Work This is an exempt position and will report to the Director of Budget and Financial Planning. As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. This position will generally work independently and not regularly interface with students, families, or school teams. This position will primarily work from our headquarters office to maintain a connection to their colleagues and foster a sense of cross-functional collaboration. Because of the nature of this position's work, this role allows for hybrid flexibility and will be required to be onsite 2 days per week. Responsibilities The percentages for each key responsibility are estimates, and other duties may be assigned. Flexibility and responsiveness are encouraged to accommodate organizational needs. Financial Planning & Management (40% of time)

• Drives operational efficiency throughout the budget season and school year by streamlining existing workflows and developing new ones to ensure accurate, timely financial planning aligned to organizational goals.
• Partners closely with cross functional teams to communicate findings, coordinate corrective actions, and execute necessary budget adjustments.
• Serves as system administrator and financial technical expert for Workday/Adaptive Planning, overseeing system configuration, user access, and data integration integrity, driving continuous improvement across the platform.
• Triages and resolves incoming finance help desk tickets, delivers high-quality internal customer service, troubleshooting and resolving escalated user issues and refining and automating ticket system processes.

Financial Analysis, Reporting & Presentations (40% of time)

• Builds and maintains underlying financial models for complex external reporting.
• Manages the monthly budget variance process by consolidating performance data and analyzing discrepancies.
• Responsible for rigorous budget surveillance, resolving fiscal challenges and providing leadership with actionable solutions for budget process and planning improvements.
• Supports the overarching budget process strategy to align with long term planning goals by building financial models, implementing process improvements, and preparing meeting materials.
• Monitors the financial health of facilities and capital expenditures through meticulous budget management and compliant accounting practices.
• Presents budget formulation processes and financial allocations clearly to all budget stakeholders.
• Cultivates strong relationships across teams to identify operational bottlenecks, share financial insights, and drive continuous process improvements.
• Assists with the annual audit.

Special Projects (20% of time)

• Executes ad hoc financial modeling, analysis, and reporting to support critical business operations and network-wide strategic planning.
• Drives end-to-end project execution, ensuring all initiatives are delivered on time and successfully finalized. Tracks progress against team deadlines, manages project milestones, and collaborates directly with all relevant stakeholders.
• Develops and executes strategic project and policy recommendations to optimize processes, drive efficiencies, and resolve operational challenges.
• Serves as a thought partner to school leadership and headquarters departments, fostering cross-functional collaboration to strengthen organizational financial health.
• Performs other assignments and projects as assigned by the Director of Budget & Financial Planning and Finance & Accounting Leadership.

Requirements & Preferences Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (with concentration in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business Administration preferred)
• A minimum of 5 years in financial planning and analysis or related field
• Mastery in Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and/or Google Drive Suite (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Proven experience building, updating, and maintaining complex financial models in Excel and FP&A software to support multi-year planning and scenario analysis
• Exceptional attention to detail with a strong comfort level working with large, complex datasets; ability to independently build clear, professional internal and external reports from scratch
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to translate complex financial concepts for colleagues at all levels of technical proficiency in a fast-paced, mission-driven non-profit environment
• A self-starting professional capable of managing a diverse workload and taking full ownership of deliverables autonomously to ensure completion
• A collaborative, solution-oriented problem solver

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with FP&A in Workday/Adaptive or similar ERP/FP&A platform
• Experience in K12 education
• Experience delivering presentations to large, diverse groups
• Experience with project management

Demonstrated Excellence in the Following Areas:

• Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform, believing in every child's potential for success and prioritizing students, schools, and the essential role of families.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
• Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
• Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
• Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture, fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
• Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
• Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DC's commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
• Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback, self reflection, humility, and action.

Benefits & Compensation KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:

• The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $94,082-$103,984. At KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. When determining salaries we look at benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector.
• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.
• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.