Senior Director of Client Services - School Finance

Job description

Be the one who makes a difference! At Vertex Education we are a team of high achievers, courageous leaders, and passionate believers in changing lives through education. As a purpose-led education services provider, our mission is destined to benefit many and yet it starts with just one person inspired to work together with us to make a memorable and meaningful difference for our clients, schools, students, and communities. Be the one who makes a difference—with us. We are seeking a strategic school finance services leader dedicated to changing lives through education by becoming an indispensable partner to our client schools. As the Sr. Director of Client Services for School Finance, you will operate as the primary strategic advisor and expert problem-solver for our most critical school partnerships. Your focus will be on securing and expanding these key accounts, prioritizing deep client satisfaction and customized, expert solutions over rigid process standardization. Based in Albuquerque, you will leverage your deep expertise in New Mexico school finance to build trusted advisory relationships, lead a team of dedicated finance professionals, and ensure our partner schools have the financial foundation they need to thrive. Responsibilities / Essential Functions: 1. Strategic Client Partnership & Advisory: Act as the lead Business Manager for a portfolio of key school partners, translating complex financial data into strategic insights for school boards and leaders. Cultivate deep, long-term relationships with school leaders and board members to drive high satisfaction and ensure client retention. Lead recurring strategic financial reviews with clients, presenting budget-to-actual analysis, long-range forecasts, and compliance updates. Proactively identify and resolve complex financial challenges for clients, serving as their primary expert on New Mexico-specific funding and regulations. 2. Portfolio Growth & Client Management: Support business development efforts by participating in discovery meetings and strategic conversations with prospective school partners. Identify and pursue opportunities for expanded services within the existing client base, leading renewal and upsell / cross-sell conversations. Oversee the onboarding process for new school partners, ensuring a smooth and effective transition to VSS financial services. Serve as the primary point of escalation for high-stakes client issues, personally intervening to manage crises and ensure satisfactory resolutions for key accounts. 3. Team Leadership & Development: Manage and coach a team of client-facing business managers and staff, providing regular, direct feedback to build their capabilities. Establish and maintain team service delivery standards, reinforcing operational discipline and ensuring consistent, high-quality financial work. Foster a client-centric culture of accountability and continuous improvement, celebrating successes and coaching through challenges. Delegate client work strategically, balancing direct personal involvement in critical issues with the need to develop team members' skills. 4. Regional Operations & Service Delivery: Oversee the delivery of core business management services, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and audit preparation for all regional clients. Partner with Regional Heads to inform resource planning and goal-setting , providing insights on team capacity and client portfolio health. Prioritize critical client requests and urgent needs, adjusting team assignments and timelines to ensure key partner satisfaction. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Finance , Accounting, Business, or related field. 12+ years of progressive experience in K-12 school finance, with deep expertise in New Mexico's public-school funding, compliance, and reporting systems. 5+ years of experience managing and coaching client-facing teams responsible for delivering financial services. Demonstrated success serving as a strategic financial advisor to school leaders and boards, building trusted-partner relationships. Proven track record of retaining and expanding a portfolio of client accounts through high-quality service and strategic counsel. Experience personally managing and resolving complex, high-stakes financial issues for key clients. Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to establish credibility with executive-level stakeholders. Must hold, or be eligible to obtain, a New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) School Business Official (SBO) license. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or related advanced certification. Experience in a professional services, consulting, or other multi-client service delivery environment. Experience successfully inheriting and cultivating strategic client relationships previously managed by executive leadership. Background in developing team capabilities and improving service delivery processes in a growing organization. Familiarity with school finance systems in other states within the region, such as Colorado, Texas, or Nevada. Be excited to be a part of our team and grow your career with us! ​ Be the one who enables us to positively impact over 258,000 students across multiple states while driving our growth forward so we can enrich even more lives. Be the one who helps us achieve excellence for over 226 schools that we support with academics, finance, technology, human resources, communications, marketing, facilities, construction, and food services. Be the one who is a diverse thinker, a team player, a smart risk taker, an innovator, and a difference maker by encouraging others to climb higher and reach farther to further education. Be yourself surrounded by wonderful people who care about you, value your unique skills, and lift you up. Be supported in your work by caring leaders and team members who want you to succeed. Be empowered to make a difference and climb higher and reach farther to change lives through education. Be well in all aspects of your life from your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing to your finances. Enjoy industry-leading pay, rewards, referral bonuses, with unlimited flexible paid time-off for performance. Be able to care for your health and your family with comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits and invest in your future with 401(k) plans with a 6% employer match on your contributions. Enhance your growth and development with mentoring and money to take training classes. Thrive in a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment where we treat others with fairness and respect, celebrate diversity, and elevate equality and inclusion as an equal opportunity employer. Be the one who makes a difference! With an innovative mind, a hungry heart, and engaging spirit you can change lives through education. Be a part of Vertex Education and let’s make a difference together. Apply Today!