Job Description

Chicago Jesuit Academy (CJA) is a tuition-free, private lower and middle school for students and families impacted by historical disinvestment. We use small classes, extended school days and an 11-month school year to give personal care to students and help them develop as persons for others. Through our College & Career Persistence Program, we also work closely with our alumni through the age of 25 and through our High School Bridge (HSB) Program, we partner with 13 other elementary schools to support their students as they transition into high school.

Strong candidates to work at CJA are disciplined workers, compassionate listeners and tireless advocates for the children they serve. Most importantly, they recognize that Chicago Jesuit Academy will ask them to approach their work as a vocation and make substantial contributions of their time and talents in the service of the students, alumni and families of CJA.

The Controller plays a vital role in leading the day-to-day accounting and financial reporting for the organization, which has an annual budget of $12M+ and over 100 employees. As CJA grows from serving 318 students, 314 alumni, and 1049 HSB students to 426 students, 419 alumni, and 1836 HSB students over the next three years, the Controller will serve a vital role in ensuring that CJA’s accounting and finance systems are well-managed and that appropriate controls are in place to ensure operational efficiency and financial integrity. The person in this role reports to the Vice President of Operations & Finance and manages the Staff Accountant. This position is largely in-person with occasional work-from-home days possible.

CONTROLLER RESPONSIBILITIES:

Finance

• Prepares, reviews and distributes consolidated financial statements
• Develops and monitors budgets and forecasts
• Conducts financial analyses that support strategic decision-making for CJA’s Board of Directors and Finance Committee
• Works regularly with leaders across the organization to understand and contribute to CJA’s strategy, operations and financial decision-making processes

Accounting

• Oversees and conducts day-to-day accounting
• Ensures compliance with financial regulations and standards (GAAP)
• Maintains strong internal controls and policies
• Responsible for timely month-end close
• Works closely with CJA’s external auditor to lead the annual May FYE financial statement audit
• Manages compliance requirements of CJA’s capital structure with a special focus on CJA’s New Market Tax Credit financing
• Ensures the general ledger is accurate via monthly account reconciliations and detailed review
• Prepares bank reconciliations and records deposits

Other

• Oversees CJA’s financial information technology systems to create and enhance efficient and accurate systems
• Completes special projects

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Embraces the Catholic and Jesuit identity and mission of CJA and sincerely believes all children deserve a high-quality education and a school community where they feel they belong
• Is detail-oriented and has exceptional organizational skills
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minimum of five years experience in a similar role, preferably in the nonprofit sector
• Sage Intacct or similar ERP experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong technology skills with system implementation preferred
• Ability to contribute longer hours during busier times

Chicago Jesuit Academy Mission Statement

Mission: Chicago Jesuit Academy is a loving and academically rigorous tuition-free Catholic elementary school for students and families from resilient communities impacted by historical disinvestment. We accompany our students and alumni from enrollment through the start of their careers as they develop their gifts and grow as men and women for others.

Means: Located in Austin on Chicago’s West Side, CJA admits students to all grades in our lower and middle school without regard for their race, ethnicity or religion, and CJA enrolls 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-grade students without regard for their past levels of academic achievement.

We use small class sizes, extended school days and an 11-month school year to give personal care to our students and help them develop as whole persons.

We accompany our alumni on their unique paths to meaningful employment and support them throughout high school, their post-secondary education and the start of their careers, always welcoming them back as leaders at CJA and in the broader community.

CJA students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, volunteers and benefactors listen to and learn from one another and make disciplined sacrifices to accomplish our shared mission.

We partner with other schools and the broader community to create access to better educational resources, confront systemic racism and remove obstacles to educational equity.

We call one another to find God in all things and be men and women for others who are open to growth, loving, religious, seeking intellectual excellence and committed to doing justice.

Chicago Jesuit Academy, in accordance with our Jesuit tradition, is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the CJA community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected identity. ​]]><

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