Assistant Director of Accounting - IPS Enterprises (Immediate Opening)

Assistant Director of Accounting

Role Mission:

The Assistant Director of Accounting plays a critical role in overseeing the organization’s core accounting functions, including debt accounting, lease accounting (lessee and lessor), inter-company transactions, revenue recognition, grant receivables, and financial close management. This position is responsible for maintaining accurate amortization schedules, roll-forward schedules, reconciliations, and complex accounting entries across multiple IPS entities.

A key responsibility of this role is to lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring all checklists, reconciliations, schedules, and journal entries are completed accurately and on time. This requires advanced technical accounting knowledge, strong operational oversight, and consistent collaboration with the finance leadership, external auditors, and cross-functional departments.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No supervisory responsibilities are expected during the first year. Supervisory duties may be assigned in subsequent years based on organizational needs and demonstrated performance.

Location:

This is a full-time remote position with preference given to candidates who live in Florida, and Ohio.

Travel Expectations:

While this is a remote position, there will be in-person meetings across various regions. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 25% during the busiest times of the year.

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $89,694 and $105,391, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What You will Do – Accountabilities

Financial Close Management

• Lead the execution of the Monthly/Quarterly/Annual Financial Close Checklists, ensuring all tasks assigned to Debt, Leases, Inter-company, Revenue, and Grant Accounting are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Maintain, update, and continuously improve close checklists to strengthen internal controls and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate with AP, AR, Payroll, Treasury, Grants, and other accounting functions to ensure completeness of all inputs required for close.
• Monitor close progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and escalate issues proactively.
• Prepare and deliver close-related reporting packages as required for leadership, auditors, and key stakeholders.
• Ensure all close documentation is stored in audit-ready format in the monthly close folder structure.

Revenue & Grant Accounting

• Record all cash receipts across state per-pupil revenue, federal/state grants, public reimbursable programs, donations, and other funding sources, ensuring accurate classification and dimensional coding.
• Manage revenue recognition for public reimbursable funding, grants, and pledges by preparing receivable entries, tracking outstanding claims, and ensuring alignment with grant agreements and eligibility requirements.
• Maintain and reconcile grant and reimbursable revenue schedules, monitor collections, and prepare adjustments or reclassifications for accurate monthly and quarterly reporting.
• Support grant management and compliance by reviewing grant expenditures, preparing reclass entries, supporting reimbursement submissions, and maintaining complete audit-ready documentation.

Debt Accounting & Loan Management

• Maintain and update all loan amortization schedules and loan roll-forward schedules across entities.
• Record initial loan proceeds, issuance costs, and closing costs in accordance with accounting standards.
• Track and record all loan payments and monthly interest accruals.
• Perform month-end, quarter-end, and year-end debt reconciliations and confirm proper current vs. long-term classification.

Lease Accounting – Lessee & Lessor

• Oversee all lease agreements across the organization by adding, modifying, renewing, and terminating contracts in the Lease Management System, while maintaining accurate amortization schedules for both lessee (ROU assets and lease liabilities) and lessor (lease receivables and deferred rent) arrangements.
• Process and record monthly lease activity including lessee amortization/expense entries, lessor straight-line rent revenue, deferred rent adjustments, interest components, and lease payments received or made.
• Perform comprehensive month-end reconciliations of all lease-related GL accounts to ensure both lessee accounts (ROU assets, lease liabilities, accumulated amortization) and lessor accounts (lease receivables, revenue, AR aging) align with system schedules and the general ledger.
• Maintain organization-wide lease roll-forward schedules, prepare monthly rent invoices, reconcile AR to GL, and ensure full compliance with contractual terms, ASC 842, and internal reporting requirements.

Inter-Company Accounting

• Prepare monthly management fee calculations across entities.
• Generate inter-company billings for management fees, payroll allocations, rental activity, and other shared services.
• Assist in reconciling inter-company revenue, expenses, receivables, and payables, collaborating closely with the Comptroller to resolve variances.
• Ensure inter-company transactions are properly documented and elimination-ready for consolidated reporting.
• Prepare supporting schedules and documentation for consolidated close and annual audit requirements.

Audit & Annual Filings Support

• Prepare and maintain roll-forward schedules for debt, leases, grants, and inter-company accounts.
• Ensure all reconciliations and supporting documents are completed accurately and filed according to audit standards.
• Support interim, year-end, and grant-specific audits by preparing schedules, explanations, and documentation for assigned areas.
• Partner with the Comptroller to support external audits and tax filings, including Form 990.
• Deliver high-quality PBC items, reconciliations, and supporting schedules on time.
• Respond to auditor and tax preparer requests accurately and promptly.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, financial closing practices, and financial systems.
• Expertise in revenue, grant, leases (ASC 842/GASB 87), debt, and inter-company accounting.
• Leads the development of audit-ready financial operations, integrating closing management processes with strong controls, documentation standards, and compliance practices.
• Hand-on experience with financial ERP systems (e.g., Sage Intacct) and lease management software, with the ability to design scalable workflows and optimize processes across entities.
• Skilled in building productive relationships and providing high-quality support to staff, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders through clear, timely, and purposeful communication.
• Excellent organizational, reconciliation, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Commitment to accuracy, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-entity, fast-paced environment with competing priorities.

Required Experience and Certifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience: 5–7+ years of progressive experience in financial operations, and accounting roles; nonprofit or multi-entity experience is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff and leading operational teams.
• Licenses or Certifications (if applicable): CPA preferred but not required.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values