Grants Accounting Manager

About the role

This role leads the financial and accounting operations for grants and government funding across a growing network of public charter schools. The position sets the direction for revenue oversight, process design, and compliance. It partners closely with finance, program, and audit teams to support responsible stewardship of private and public funds.

Finance teams manage money, forecasts, and reporting. Analysts build models and explain variance. Controllers run accounting and compliance. FP&A professionals support decisions with budgets and forecasts. The work is precise, deadline driven, and tied to business results. Finance teams follow tight calendars, with monthly closes and annual planning cycles. Accuracy and auditability are expected on every deliverable.

Key facts

What you'll do

Daily financial oversight ensures accurate tracking and reporting of private and government grant funds. Comprehensive accounting records and controls are maintained to safeguard restricted resources. Process maps and control documents capture the grants revenue lifecycle for clarity and consistency.

Tagging structures for expenses are implemented and training is delivered so teams apply codes correctly across all grant types. Opportunities to seek additional funding are identified for currently untagged programs and costs.

Receipt of grant payments is monitored to confirm timely deposits and proper application of funds. Budget development for grants is managed from the front end in collaboration with program leaders.

Documentation for budget narratives, program explanations, and spend is created to support audits and funder inquiries. Month-end close materials are prepared and provided to the Accounting team to support timely consolidation and review.

Requirements

You bring 6+ years of professional experience, including at least 3 years focused on grants and government funding accounting. A Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or Finance is required. Demonstrated success in nonprofit or charter school accounting is preferred but not mandatory.

Strong financial acumen helps you navigate nuances of fund accounting, restrictions, and compliance requirements. You communicate clearly with finance peers, senior leaders, and external stakeholders at every level, including the CFO.

You operate with integrity, ownership, and a collaborative mindset while driving continuous improvement in financial processes. You analyze problems, design practical solutions, and execute them reliably in a fast-paced public education environment. Detail orientation and strict follow-through ensure that deadlines and controls are met consistently.

Practical notes

This role is based in New York and aligns with the school network's operational calendar. Typical interview steps

Finance interviews usually include technical questions on accounting or modeling, a case study, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to build a forecast or explain a variance. Spreadsheet skills are tested in most loops. Accuracy and clear explanations matter. Interviewers may give a real dataset and ask for a quick analysis. Showing your work and explaining assumptions matters as much as the final number.

Good to know

Roles in education finance often combine strict compliance requirements with a mission driven environment. Success Academy uses a range of tools to manage grants, including tagging platforms, financial systems, and reporting tools. Strong written and verbal communication is essential when working with auditors, funders, and internal stakeholders. The position supports data driven decision making and continuous improvement in financial operations.

Career growth

Finance careers move from analyst to senior analyst, manager, and controller or FP&A director levels. Some people earn certifications such as CPA or CFA. Cross-functional work with operations and leadership grows with seniority. Finance careers reward precision early and business partnership later. Learning the operations of the company beyond the numbers accelerates growth.