Project Manager

About the role

This position leads high-impact finance initiatives for a large, growing public charter school network in New York. The hire will drive operational and technology solutions specifically focused on payroll, accounts payable, and DOE billing. They will partner across finance, operations, and external vendors to deliver measurable outcomes and improve system reliability. The role involves orchestrating end-to-end project execution, covering intake, planning, implementation, and ongoing optimization to support school operations. The hire will monitor schedules, uncertainties, linkages, and conversations with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of initiatives. They will identify automation opportunities with business leaders and implement solutions that can scale effectively as the network grows. The position requires using data and analytics to guide decision-making and to measure the impact of projects accurately. Success in this role is defined by improving accuracy, reliability, and efficiency within the finance operations function.

Key facts

What you'll do

Orchestrate end-to-end project execution for finance operations, covering intake, planning, implementation, and optimization to support school operations.

Drive enhancements for payroll, accounts payable automation, workflows, and operational efficiency to improve accuracy and reliability.

Monitor schedules, uncertainties, linkages, and conversations with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.

Identify automation opportunities with business leaders and implement solutions that can scale with network growth.

Use data and analytics to guide decision-making and measure the impact of projects.

Plan, coordinate, and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Document processes and create clear escalation paths to ensure continuity and ease of transfer.

Implement practical routines, checklists, and process controls to manage vendors and logistics effectively.

Leverage strong Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP, data reconciliation, and reporting.

Utilize project management tools such as Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or Trello to track progress and communicate status.

Requirements

Earn a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field as the baseline qualification.

Bring 5+ years of experience in project management, finance operations, business operations, or a related function.

Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Possess strong Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP, data reconciliation, and reporting.

Show familiarity with project management tools such as Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or Trello.

Understand financial controls, payroll processes, and compliance requirements relevant to public charter schools.

Maintain a high level of attention to detail and accuracy in all deliverables and communications.

Commit to operating as an equal opportunity employer without providing employment-based immigration sponsorship.

Nice to have

Experience with ERP, payroll, and procurement platforms helps manage complex workflows and integrations.

Experience in education finance operations or within a mission-driven organization focused on student outcomes.

Background in process optimization and system enhancements for rapidly expanding networks.

Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to align priorities.

Practical notes

This role is based in New York and does not offer sponsorship for employment-based visas. Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer.

Typical interview steps

Operations interviews usually include a process scenario, an analytics question, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to improve a workflow or plan an event. Attention to detail and clear communication are tested throughout. Interviewers often ask how you would fix a process that is failing. Walking through diagnosis, a plan, and measurement is the winning structure.

Good to know

Project management in education finance operations often involves cross-functional coordination and data-driven decision-making.

Experience with ERP, payroll, and procurement platforms helps manage complex workflows and integrations.

Mission-driven organizations in this field focus on improving student outcomes through operational excellence and scalable systems.

Comfort with process optimization and system enhancements supports sustainable growth in fast-expanding networks.

Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders is essential for aligning priorities and delivering results.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Operations careers grow from coordinator to manager, director, and chief operating officer roles. Some people specialize in supply chain, facilities, or program management. Success depends on reliability and on improving the systems you own. Operations careers reward reliability and continuous improvement. Operators who quantify the impact of their fixes move into leadership fastest.