Chief Financial Officer

Lakefield College School; Selwyn; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

EFAP

Pension matching program

Professional development

Job summary

Lakefield College School (LCS) seeks an experienced Chief Financial Officer to provide strategic financial leadership for the School and LCS Foundation. This non-profit role requires bridging big-picture strategy with on-the-ground execution while engaging with the school community.

The CFO will oversee budgeting, audits, cash flow, and long-range financial planning, and will partner with leadership and Boards to safeguard the school’s financial health and mission.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting designation (CPA) with significant financial leadership experience.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Proven experience in strategic financial planning and analysis.
• Strong knowledge of investment management and endowment oversight.
• Experience with capital project financial planning.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly.
• Experience in educational institutions or non-profit organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide fiscal ownership, responsibility, leadership, and management for School and Foundation.
• Lead annual operating and capital budget planning cycles.
• Manage budget variance analysis and reporting to Leadership Team, Finance Committees, and Boards.
• Oversee annual financial audit process and preparation of Financial Statements.
• Lead financial risk planning and mitigation and manage cash flow forecasting.
• Develop rolling long-term forecasts and endowment strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Financial leadership

Communication

Education

CPA designation

Job description

Lakefield College School (LCS) is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide strategic financial leadership for both the School and LCS Foundation. The ideal candidate will bring strong financial acumen, strategic vision, and collaborative leadership skills to this key position. As a non-profit, we rely on leadership that bridges big-picture strategy with on-the-ground execution.

Living the Community Experience

Relationships and community are what set our school apart. Beyond the numbers, you will be an active, visible presence in school life - whether you're cheering at Regatta Day, joining in on Fall Fair, attending Closing Ceremonies, or connecting with staff and students during everyday campus events.

Organizational Overview:

Founded in 1879, Lakefield College School (LCS) is a leader among Canada’s independent boarding and day schools. It prides itself on its reputation for providing a strong, caring community, a well-rounded program, and a transformational student experience.

Employment at LCS is more than a "job." Because we are predominantly a boarding school, both faculty and staff are required to engage with our community. In return, the school strives to provide competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for growth.

At LCS, we believe in the dignity and worth of all individuals. With roughly 440 students joining us from over 40 countries, young people learn and mature best when encouraged to embrace their individuality within a richly diverse and supportive community. We believe that this diversity of perspectives strengthens our community.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Governance

• Serve as Company Officer per School & Foundation By-Laws
• Serve as staff lead for Finance & Audit Committees working alongside Chairs
• Serve as a staff lead on financial risk planning and mitigation
• Provide full fiscal ownership, responsibility, leadership, and management for School and Foundation
• Lead annual operating and capital budget planning cycles
• Manage budget variance analysis and reporting to Leadership Team, Finance Committees, and Boards
• Ownership of the annual financial audit process and development of Financial Statements for presentation to Finance Committees and Boards for approval
• Lead annual financial risk register review and assessment

Investment & Financial Planning

• Manage LCS short-term cash investments, operating capital and financing needs in conjunction with banking relationships
• Oversee management of Foundation endowment policy and investments
• Develop and implement strategic financial planning with rolling 5-10 year forecasts
• Develop strategic financial planning for annual and long term forecasting for depreciation and major capital projects
• Proactively manage the Schools investment funds, driving both short and long term growth

Operational Management

• Provide senior level leadership and coaching to a team comprised of Director of Finance, Business and Accounting staff and School Stores
• Provide account analysis and advising for budget managers
• Manage cash flow forecasting and bank treasury functions, including short term loan financing
• Ensure budget management and fiscal responsibility for operations and major capital projects

Qualifications:

• Professional accounting designation (CPA) with significant financial leadership experience
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Proven experience in strategic financial planning and analysis
• Strong knowledge of investment management and endowment oversight
• Experience with capital project financial planning
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly
• Experience in educational institutions or non-profit organizations preferred

Why LCS?

Joining LCS is more than accepting a job - it’s becoming part of a family of educators and staff who share a passion for bringing out the best in every student. You’ll have the chance to work amid enthusiastic and forward-thinking colleagues; you’ll use and enjoy our beautiful campus and facilities; you’ll be encouraged to innovate in your area of practice; and most importantly, you’ll grow as a leader. If you thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to make a genuine impact on the lives of our staff and faculty, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Staff at LCS have the opportunity to use the facilities on our beautiful campus, along with Northcote Farm. Staff enjoy lunch daily in our dining hall, along with full community lunch on Tuesdays, and can access generous tuition and summer camp discounts. Lakefield is like no other!

Compensation:

• Salary commensurate with education and experience
• Health and Dental Benefits, EFAP
• Generous Pension matching program
• Professional Development

Please note: LCS is committed to providing accommodation for persons with disabilities. Please visit Accessibility page for further details or contact our Human Resources department, [e-mail] for any information in an alternate format.

Lakefield College School is an inclusive, caring community. We believe in the dignity and worth of all individuals. We embrace diversity and practice equity. We lead with empathy to create a sense of belonging for all. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for persons of all cultures, colours, ancestries, religions, sexes, national origins, sexual orientations, ages, marital statuses, disabilities, gender identities and veteran statuses.

We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.