Noble is Chicago’s highest-performing and largest network of public charter schools. Our 17 campuses and 1,600 employees currently serve 12,000 students, 98% of whom identify as persons of color, 90% low-income, and 81% first-generation college attendees. Noble’s mission is to ensure that all students have equitable and positive school experiences that equip them to complete college and lead choice-filled lives. We are proud to be recognized nationally for college access and persistence. Noble supports over 30,000 alumni with 98% of Noble students accepted into college and almost 94% choosing to enroll.
The people we hire must have a commitment to being anti-racist in all areas of our organization. In the past, we have diligently worked toward pursuing the accomplishments listed above. We plan to use that same determination, innovation, and diligence in our goal to become an anti-racist organization. We believe our people are the most valuable asset in preparing our students to be successful in college and lead choice-filled lives - and welcome those ready to join us in that pursuit.
Job Description
Reporting to the Senior Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, and working in close coordination with the CFO, Controller, campus Principals and Chiefs, the Financial Planning Analyst is responsible for supporting the annual budget process, monthly reporting, rolling forecasts, philanthropy proposals, grants tracking and ad-hoc analytical requests. As a Financial Planning Analyst, your work, whether it's modeling business scenarios or tracking performance metrics, is used by our leaders to make strategic organizational decisions.
We’re looking for a combination of: (i) exceptional analytical, data and spreadsheet skills, and overall intellectual curiosity, coupled with (ii) some financial planning experience, (iii) exceptional teamwork and communication, and (iv) sense of urgency, follow-through and proactiveness.
Key Job Responsibilities
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Support the annual budget process across campuses and central office departments, partnering with school and functional leaders to create accurate and aligned budgets.
- Manage monthly rolling forecasts, conducting variance analysis and collaborating with budget managers to refine assumptions and identify corrective actions.
- Develop multi-year financial projections and scenario analyses to support strategic planning and senior executive level decision-making.
Financial Analysis & Reporting
- Prepare monthly financial reports and dashboards with clear, detailed commentary on trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Analyze enrollment, staffing, and other operational KPIs to inform resource allocation decisions.
- Assess the financial impact of mid-year decisions and provide actionable recommendations
Grant & Philanthropy Support
- Partner with the Development team to track grant expenditures, and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
- Collaborate to report on financial and non-financial metrics to funders.
Process Improvement & Systems
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve, scale, or automate FP&A processes using technology and data tools.
- Support the implementation and optimization of budgeting and reporting software, and ensure alignment with accounting and HR/payroll systems.
- Collaborate with the Data team to respond to ad-hoc non-financial data requests supporting operational and strategic initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership Exposure
- Serve as a finance partner to campus leaders and central office managers, building their capacity to interpret financial data and manage resources effectively.
- Prepare materials for Board of Directors and Finance Committee meetings, providing insight into budget drivers, trends, and strategic implications.
Qualifications
- Proven track record of ambitious results in previous roles.
- Customer-service oriented, excellent teamwork and communication skills, and ability to build effective partnerships across the organization.
- Methodical and organized approach to work, with high attention to detail. Able to build complex yet understandable and explainable financial models, budgets and reports.
- Intellectual curiosity: self-driven to continuously update skills set, learn new analytical and financial modeling skills, new tools, and better ways to do the job.
- Ability to transform raw data and information into insights and recommendations.
- Commitment to Noble’s core values of Results; Follow-through; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Respect; and Humility and Self-awareness
- Collaborates positively: able and willing to professionally challenge assumptions and ideas and influence without authority; receptive to others’ ideas and proposals; willingness to help and get help
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a quantitative/STEM discipline
- Advanced Excel skills (complex formulas, PivotTables, nested functions) and experience handling large data sets
- Experience with at least one BI or analytical tool (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, SQL, Google Sheets, or MS Access)
- Strong financial modeling, variance analysis, and data interpretation skills
- Excellent teamwork, communication, and customer service orientation, with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-finance staff
- Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in driving results and meeting deadlines
Preferred
- 3 to 5+ years in FP&A, financial analysis, or budgeting; non-profit or K-12 experience strongly valued
- Experience with budgeting and accounting systems such as Adaptive Insights, Vena, DataRails, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or MIP
- Understanding of GAAP and grant reporting; CPA, MBA, or prior audit/accounting experience a plus
- Familiarity with public school finance or government funding compliance
- Familiarity with VBA/macros
- Experience with the implementation of accounting, payroll or budget software
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Noble has a top-of-market medical, dental, and vision benefits package among a multitude of other perks that make Noble one of the highest-rated places to work in K-12 education in the country. Compensations range is $60,000-$80,000
Statement of Non Discrimination
Noble is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic or classification protected by law.