Grow Public Schools · 7 hours ago
Chief Financial Officer
Bakersfield, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$170K/yr - $200K/yr
8+ years expGrow Public Schools is a network of high-performing schools in Kern County committed to academic excellence. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability and strategic growth, providing financial leadership and guidance to support the mission and long-term impact of the schools.
Education Management
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required
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
Preferred
MBA, MPP, or similar advanced degree
CPA, CFA, or similar certification
Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Benefits
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
Company
Grow Public Schools
Grow Public Schools is a growing network of high-performing TK-8, college-prep public charter schools in Kern County, California.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Doc Ervin
Chief Executive Officer
Elysa Vargas, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Officer
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