Director of Finance

Calgary French and International School; Calgary; On-site; CAD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Calgary French & International School (CFIS) seeks a strategic Director of Finance to guide financial sustainability and future development. You will lead Finance and HR, oversee two direct reports, and partner with the Senior Leadership Team to support growth while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The role requires strong GAAP knowledge, non-profit leadership experience, and the ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Extensive GAAP knowledge and consolidation theory for non-profit contexts.

Responsibilities

• Prepare quarterly financial statements and variance analyses for the CFIS Society.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial reporting

Non-profit leadership

Communication (English)

Education

CPA designation or equivalent

University degree

Tools

Sage 300

Job description

At Calgary French & International School (CFIS),exceptional education is supported by strong leadership, responsiblestewardship, and a commitment to excellence. As we experience significantenrolment growth and campus expansion, we are seeking a strategic,forward-thinking Director of Finance to help guide our financialsustainability and future development.

Guided by our values of We Care, We Connect, WeStrive, and We Grow, CFIS is a collaborative and ambitious schoolcommunity. The Director of Finance will be a key member of our leadership team,bringing financial expertise, sound judgment, and strategic insight to supportinformed decision-making and responsible growth.

Anticipated Start Date:December 1, 2026, or a mutually agreeable date for the successful candidate.

Purpose of the Position

CFIS’sDirector of Finance will be a self-motivated, methodical and conscientiousleader. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to the strategicplan and strategic financial plan, will ensure the financial health of theschool and the feasibility of strategic decisions, and will support financialactivities to allow the school’s Board of Directors to meet its fiscalresponsibilities. They will oversee the operations of the school’s Finance and HumanResources Departments, and as such will lead, coach and manage two directreports for high performance.

The Director of Finance will bea member of the Senior Leadership Team and will work closely with the Head ofSchool, Assistants Head of School and Departmental Directors.

Job Responsibilities

Theposition’s key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:

• Prepare quarterly financial statements and varianceanalyses for the CFIS Society.
• Implement and maintain effective financial policies andprocedures to ensure financial integrity.
• Provide senior leadership team with monthlydepartmental/divisional financial reports.
• Work closely with senior leadership team and providefinancial leadership and strategic insight to the Head of School.
• Lead and coach the Finance and HumanResourcesDepartments to ensure that the department’s stakeholders see the departments asan operational partner in achieving their goals.
• Business planning, budget development, and performancemeasurement.
• Preparation of financial information for AlbertaEducation’s Annual Education Results Report and Three-Year Business Plan, andAnnual Operating Plan.
• Preparation of annual T3010 Registered CharityInformation Return.
• In collaboration with the Head of School and seniorleadership team, prepare annual budget and financial strategic plan for theCFIS Society.
• Maintain internal control system to support the growthand expansion of CFIS.
• Lead the Business Office through the year-end externalfinancial audit and any other financial audits by government bodies.
• Lead, oversee, and evaluate the business units of theschool’s operations and ensure appropriate process mapping, planning,organization, leadership, performance management, and accountability.
• Annual issuance of childcare tax receipts.
• Monthly issuance of charitable tax receipts andgift-in-kind tax receipts.
• Verify and ensure bank covenant calculations on aquarterly basis.
• Ensure compliance with Alberta Education’s Level 2funding requirements and reporting.
• Review the Finance and HR Department’s processes,technology and departmental structure to harness the benefits of automation,process modernization and finance effectiveness best practices.
• Continue to ensure the full integration of all businesstransactions and the accounting system.
• Prepare input for and analyze results of the CAISbenchmarking report.
• Attend monthly meetings of the CFIS Society’s Board ofDirectors and Finance & Audit Committee.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bringthe following education, experience, skills and competencies:

• A university degree from a recognized post-secondaryinstitution and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (orequivalent).
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsibleexperience in accounting, audit procedures, and financial operations.
• A minimum of three years of experience leading afinance function or a team of at least five.
• Demonstrated impact in non-profit or businessorganizations in a senior leadership position.
• Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted AccountingPrinciples (GAAP), consolidation theory and practice, modern controllership,financial and accounting theories and practices, in order to ensure theappropriate financial framework of the school, provide specialized financialexpertise, advice and leadership, and to set accounting standards and ensurecompliance.
• Ability to present complex financial information tovarious audiences, and present convincing recommendations for effective andappropriate financial management.
• Solid analytical, organization, planning andproblem-solving capabilities.
• Able to think both strategically and tactically.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, preferably in bothEnglish and French (English essential).

The successful candidate will needto provide, or have on file, an updated Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening prior to commencing work.

Skills, Technical and Behavioural Competencies Required

Preferencewill be given to candidates who:

• Are strong planners and organizers.
• Have previous experience with non-profit financialmanagement and operations.
• Model best practices of exemplary professionalism indealing with all stakeholders.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills that fostercollegiality and further the common goals of CFIS’s mission, vision and values.
• Have previous experience working in an independentschool.
• Have experience with finance automation and processmodernization. Sage 300 is the school’s current accounting platform.
• Experience in the role of Chief Financial Officer in anot-for-profit organization would be beneficial.

Compensation

We offer a competitive, comprehensive salaryand benefits package as well as opportunities for professional growth.

Our benefits include:

• Personal days
• Sick days
• 60% tuitiondiscount for children of full-time employees
• Extended health and dental coverage
• Health and Wellness Spending Accounts
• Three weeks paid vacation time off in addition totwo-weeks off at winter break and one-week off at March break when the schoolis closed.

Pay range: $160,000 to $180,000 annual salarybased on education and experience.

ApplicationProcess

Thisjob posting will remain open until filled.

We thank all applicantsin advance for their submission.

For any questionsregarding this opportunity, please contact: [e-mail]