Application Guide

How to Apply for Finance Manager

at CollegeSpring

🏢 About CollegeSpring

CollegeSpring is unique as the only national nonprofit providing teacher-led test prep during the school day, specifically targeting students impacted by poverty. Working here means directly contributing to educational equity by helping first-generation, economically disadvantaged, and BIPOC students unlock greater opportunities through improved test scores on gateway exams like the SAT and ACT.

About This Role

As Finance Manager at CollegeSpring, you'll lead all financial and accounting practices while building infrastructure to support the organization's strategic growth. This role is impactful because you'll ensure financial health and transparency for a mission-driven nonprofit, directly enabling more students to access higher education opportunities through sustainable operations.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing accounts payable through bill.com, reconciling program expenses against grants, preparing financial reports for leadership, and developing processes to support CollegeSpring's expansion into new school districts. You'll balance detailed accounting work with strategic planning to ensure financial health supports more students accessing test preparation.

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🎯 Who CollegeSpring Is Looking For

  • Has 3-5 years of nonprofit finance/accounting leadership experience with demonstrated ownership of month-end close, reconciliations, and audit preparation
  • Possesses hands-on experience preparing organizations for independent financial audits and managing auditor relationships in a nonprofit context
  • Is proficient in QuickBooks, bill.com, and Google Workspace with experience implementing financial processes in a growing organization
  • Combines strategic financial planning skills with meticulous attention to detail in day-to-day accounting operations

📝 Tips for Applying to CollegeSpring

1

Quantify your nonprofit finance experience - specifically mention how many audits you've prepared for, size of budgets managed, and any process improvements you implemented

2

Highlight your QuickBooks and bill.com proficiency with specific examples of how you've used these tools in a nonprofit setting

3

Demonstrate understanding of nonprofit accounting standards and compliance requirements relevant to CollegeSpring's educational mission

4

Connect your financial management experience directly to supporting organizational growth - show how you've helped nonprofits scale effectively

5

Research CollegeSpring's specific programs and mention how your skills would support their teacher-led test prep model during the school day

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with nonprofit financial audits and month-end close processes', "How you've built financial infrastructure to support organizational growth in mission-driven settings", 'Specific examples of using QuickBooks and bill.com to improve financial operations', "Your passion for educational equity and how financial management supports CollegeSpring's student-focused mission"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → CollegeSpring's specific programs and their teacher-led, in-school test prep model
  • → The organization's growth trajectory and recent annual reports or financial disclosures
  • → The specific tests they prepare students for (SAT, ACT, TSIA2) and their importance for college access
  • → Their school district and organizational partnerships to understand their operational ecosystem
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your experience preparing for and managing nonprofit financial audits
2 How would you approach building financial infrastructure to support CollegeSpring's growth while maintaining day-to-day accounting excellence?
3 Describe a time you improved financial processes in a nonprofit setting - what tools did you use and what impact did it have?
4 How do you balance strategic financial planning with the detailed work of month-end close and reconciliations?
5 What experience do you have with remote financial management and ensuring transparency across distributed teams?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only for-profit finance experience without making clear connections to nonprofit accounting requirements
  • Failing to demonstrate specific QuickBooks and bill.com proficiency with concrete examples
  • Presenting as purely strategic without showing hands-on accounting skills for month-end close and reconciliations

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to CollegeSpring!

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