Education Financial Compliance and Strategy Consultant

Excellence in Changemaking Institute (ECI)

The Excellence in Changemaking Institute is a bold, values-driven institute building the leadership our times demand. We equip social impact professionals with the strategy, skills, and support needed to lead transformative change—grounded in clarity, care, and real-world impact.

We partner with mission-driven organizations to close the gaps between vision, strategy, and long-term impact through transformative leadership development experiences. We’re thrilled to launch our flagship credentialing program in 2026 for early- to mid-career professionals—a rigorous certification designed to become the gold standard for social impact leaders driving systems change and collective impact.

To bring this vision to life, we are transitioning from a leadership development strategy firm to a licensed Private Career School through the state of Minnesota’s Office of Higher Education, building out the operational and financial infrastructure required to deliver a high-impact, compliance-ready program.

The Role

We are seeking a part-time, project-based financial consultant to support the financial documentation, compliance, and strategic budgeting required to secure licensure with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE), and to set us up for sustainable growth in our first year of this new operating model.

This role is ideal for a CPA, EA, or seasoned nonprofit/education finance professional who is excited by infrastructure building, aligns with our justice-centered values, and is comfortable working closely with a founder in an early-stage environment.

Contract Terms

• Initial fixed-fee phase: $2,500
  • Covers licensing readiness, financial systems and strategic foundations, and a pilot-level view for public program eligibility.
  • Starts immediately; project to be completed by September 30, 2025.
• Potential extension: $50–$85/hr, up to 10 hours a month

Deliverables - Initial Phase ($2,500)

Licensing and Compliance Readiness (MN OHE)

• Prepare or review required financials: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement.
• Draft or refine compliance-aligned policies: tuition collection, refunds, and internal financial controls.
• Review financial language in the program catalog and licensing application.
• Assist in computing bond requirements based on projected tuition revenues (10% of net revenue, minimum $10,000).

Foundational Financial Systems and Strategy

• Design infrastructure for tuition tracking and audit-ready recordkeeping.
• Align pricing and cash flow structure with state requirements and financial sustainability.
• Identify risks or gaps in our financial model for tuition-based sustainability.
• Identify recordkeeping and financial governance systems that align with regulatory expectations for tuition, refund tracking, and audit-ready documentation.

WIOA/ETPL Readiness (Pilot-Level Prep)

• Outline financial and performance documentation needed for ETPL application and public eligibility.
• Advise on data systems for outcomes reporting (e.g., completion, placement).
• Frame internal control systems to satisfy Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) standards—required for federally funded programs.

Potential Ongoing Support ($65/hour, up to 10 hours/month)

• Full support for ETPL application process (e.g., financial and outcomes assurances)
• Coaching on student-level and financial reporting (ETA‑9170, 9171, 9179 standards)
• Audit readiness: document retention, cost allocation, and system control procedures
• Financial modeling or strategy planning for long-term access, scaling, or dual-entity (LLC + nonprofit) structure

Who We’re Looking For

• Required qualifications: CPA, EA, or equivalent financial consultant with education or workforce finance experience
• Must-have knowledge: Minnesota Private Career School licensure, WIOA/ETPL listing expectations, and Uniform Guidance/2 CFR Part 200 compliance
• Skills:
  • Translating complex compliance into actionable financial policies, systems, and documentation.
  • Balancing compliance with strategy.
  • Advising founders.
  • Mission alignment around justice and impact.
  • Leveraging AI to enhance deliverables built upon the consultant’s expertise rather than filling critical skill or information gaps.
• Values: Equity-driven, imaginative, detail-focused, systems thinker who appreciates high-trust partnerships and building financial infrastructure that sustains and scales impact

We’re building systems designed for both regulatory integrity and enduring social impact.