Position Title: Grants & Payables Operations Manager
Status: Full-time with benefits (4/1 Hybrid Schedule)
Directly Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer
Salary Range: 50K-60K
ABOUT DPSCD FOUNDATION:
The Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation’s (Foundation) mission is to create and enhance educational opportunities that are equitable and inclusive for the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (District) students, families, and educators by building strong community philanthropic partnerships and advocating for policy, systematic, sustainable change. The Foundation has been working closely with the District since 2009, serving as its fundraising and fiduciary partner. Over the years, we have implemented and managed more than 100 programs. These initiatives focus on various critical areas that enhance education and support students holistically. The priority areas include education and literacy, health, science, technology, engineering, art, and math (often referred to as STEAM), workforce development, college pathways, and experiences beyond the classroom. This is achieved by executing fiduciary responsibilities over donations, leveraging partnerships and resources, grant administrative management, and fiscal and programmatic oversight. The Foundation in partnership with the District has established an exciting strategic plan with key sustainable program growth opportunities.
Position Summary: The Grants & Payables Operations Manager is a critical financial operations role responsible for overseeing accounts payable, grant expense tracking, compliance, and financial workflow systems. This role ensures that vendor payments, reimbursements, and grant expenditures are processed accurately, on time, and in strict alignment with nonprofit accounting standards and funder requirements.
This position sits at the intersection of finance, grants management, and operations, requiring both strong technical execution and sound judgment. The Manager partners closely with leadership, program teams, and external vendors to maintain financial integrity, strengthen systems, and continuously improve workflows.
Duties and Responsibilities: The Grants & Payables Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all accounts payable, expense processing, and grant-related financial operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timeliness. This role manages the full lifecycle of vendor invoices, reimbursements, and payments, including review, coding, documentation verification, and processing through Bill.com and QuickBooks Online. The Manager tracks expenses across a large portfolio of active grants, ensuring strict adherence to grant budgets, allowable cost rules, and nonprofit accounting standards. They maintain organized financial and grant documentation to support audits, funder reporting, fiscal year close, and 1099 preparation. The role administers financial systems and workflows, including vendor onboarding, approval routing, user permissions, and system integrations, while serving as a primary liaison for vendors, internal teams, and leadership on payment status and compliance matters. In partnership with grants and finance leadership, the Manager proactively identifies discrepancies, flags non-compliant requests, and communicates financial risks or trends. Additionally, this position supports cross-functional collaboration, assists with reconciliations and reporting, contributes to continuous process improvement through SOPs and internal controls, and provides limited cross-training support across finance operations to strengthen overall organizational efficiency.
Shared Administrative Duties: Administrative team members work collaboratively across departments to support day-to-day operations and organizational priorities. Responsibilities include managing incoming communications, coordinating meetings, and handling time-sensitive information to ensure deadlines are met. Team members work both independently and cross-functionally, applying sound judgment and critical thinking to support leadership and program needs. Staff are cross-trained in accounts receivable, attend and document board meetings, and complete administrative tasks assigned by the President & CEO and Chief Administrative Officer. The team also provides operational support for the planning and execution of annual fundraising events.
Minimum Qualifications: We seek experienced candidates with some college coursework, including advanced accounting studies, and 4–6 years of relevant experience in accounts payable, financial operations, or nonprofit accounting. Professional certifications or demonstrated expertise in QuickBooks Online and advanced Microsoft Excel skills are strongly preferred. The ideal candidate brings a proven ability to manage accounts payable processes, support project-based work, and maintain accurate financial records in complex environments. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, along with experience using grants management systems, project management tools, and Microsoft 365. Candidates must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and knowledgeable in nonprofit accounting principles and regulatory requirements. The role requires the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, resolve issues efficiently, and continuously improve financial processes. Occasional local travel may be required.
If you meet these qualifications and are eager to contribute your expertise to our dynamic team, we encourage you to apply