Accounting Advisor: advise on the accounting set up for a new nonprofit charter school

We filed for our 501(c)(3) status as of June 2025 and want to make sure that the foundational finance and accounting structure we set up will support this new charter school through inception, ongoing operations, and growth. Though the establishment of an accounting system for a charter school is not unprecedented, we do want to make sure we're doing this in coordination with the rules of the Portland and Oregon board of education. Our mission to serve under privileged children in middle school (where most kids fall behind) through an arts-centered curriculum may be more financially demanding than a traditional school, and we need the financials to be accurate and serve the needs of the organization.

I am the designated member of the team who will manage the volunteer and the project, and it will be incumbent on me to ensure the right people are involved in the project. We are just getting started so it will be a lot of advice-seeking and you sharing your expertise with us. I will also take considerable time to explain the structure of the school, and what we need to enable us for long term accounting success.

Organization Mission

The Carley School will serve students in grades 6–8 through a rigorous, arts-centered curriculum. The mission is founded on the belief that every child deserves an education that speaks to their soul as much as their intellect. At the Carley School, knowledge drives us, radical truth defines us, and fearless expression unites us.