Director of Finance and Operation

Hawai'i Association Of Independent Schools; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Independent School in Ottawa, Ontario, is seeking a Director of Finance and Operations to provide strategic financial leadership and oversee the school’s business operations in support of its Catholic mission and long-term sustainability.

The role includes budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, and collaboration with the President, leadership team, and Board to enable timely, informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field required; CPA, MBA, or other advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, or business operations, including significant management or senior leadership responsibility.
• Experience in a nonprofit, independent school, Catholic school, or educational institution preferred.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, financial reporting, cash management, internal controls, audit preparation, tax filings, nonprofit accounting standards, and applicable regulatory compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data, prepare clear reports and forecasts, and communicate financial information effectively to the President, leadership team, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Commitment to the mission, philosophy, and values of Catholic education and the ability to work effectively within a faith-based school community.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior financial leader for the school and foundation, providing strategic financial guidance to the President, leadership team, and Board.
• Lead the annual operating and capital budget process, including enrollment-based revenue planning, tuition and fee analysis, expense forecasting, and presentation to the President and Board.
• Oversee accurate and timely financial accounting, reporting, and internal controls for the school and related entities.
• Monitor monthly operating results, trends, and forecasts against budget; provide clear financial analysis and reports for timely decision-making.
• Direct the daily operations of the Business Office, including tuition billing, accounts payable/receivable, payroll coordination, purchasing, and cash management.
• Coordinate audits, tax filings, public record filings, and required financial reporting with external auditors and financial partners.
• Coordinate the full Finance Committee meeting process, including agendas and distribution of financial reports and materials.
• Ensure compliance with financial reporting, tax obligations, payroll, nonprofit standards, and related fiscal policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial sustainability and align resources with enrollment and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee risk management and insurance programs for property, liability, and other exposures.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Cash management

Internal controls

Audit preparation

Nonprofit accounting standards

Regulatory compliance

Leadership and communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business administration

CPA or MBA or other advanced degree/certification preferred

Job description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The Director ofFinance and Operation provides strategic financial leadership and oversight forthe school’s business operations in support of its Catholic mission, academicprograms, and long-term sustainability. This position is responsible forfinancial planning, budgeting, reporting, internal controls, compliance, riskmanagement, and stewardship of school resources, while advising the President,leadership team, and Board on financial matters that support sounddecision-making.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJORRESPONSIBILITIES

( The essentialfunctions/major responsibilities listed are intended only as illustrations ofthe various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of dutiesdoes not exclude them from the position. Duties and responsibilities are also subject to change by the employeras the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

The Directorof Finance and Operation is expected to have competencies in the followingmajor areas:

I. COMMUNITYOF FAITH

• A. Supports and implements the mission/philosophy of Catholiceducation and the school
• B. Gives evidence of lived Gospel values
• C. Participates in building faith community

II. INTERPERSONALRELATIONSHIPS

• A. Works cooperatively with administration
• B. Works positively with Board of Directors, colleagues, andsupport staff
• C. Maintains positive interpersonal relations with parentsand constituents
• D. Demonstrates positive interpersonal relationswith students

III. PROFESSIONALRESPONSIBILITIES

• A. Serve as the senior financial leader for the school andfoundation, providing strategic financial guidance to the President, leadershipteam, and Board of Directors in support of the school’s mission, long-termsustainability, and stewardship of resources.
• B. Lead the annual operating and capital budget process,including enrollment-based revenue planning, tuition and fee analysis, expenseforecasting, and presentation of the annual budget to the President and Board.
• C. Oversee accurate and timely financial accounting,reporting, and internal controls for the school and related entities, ensuringreliable data on cash position, cash flow, income, expenses, balance sheetactivity, and financial performance.
• D. Monitor monthly operating results, trends, and forecastsagainst budget; provide clear financial analysis and reports that supporttimely, informed decision-making by school leadership and the Board.
• E. Direct the daily operations of the Business Office,including tuition billing and collections, accounts payable, accountsreceivable, payroll coordination, purchasing, cash management, bankingrelationships, and financial recordkeeping.
• F. Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors,banks, investment advisors, insurance brokers, and other financial partners;coordinate audits, tax filings, public record filings, and required financialreporting.
• G. Serve as the primary liaison to the Finance CommitteeChair by coordinating the full meeting process, including developing proposedmeeting agendas, identifying key financial topics for Committee review,preparing and distributing timely financial reports and presentation materials.
• H. Participate in the Financial Aid Committee on thefinancial aid program by helping establish budget parameters, reviewingfinancial impact, ensuring consistent processes, and monitoring awards inrelation to available resources.
• I. Partner with Admissions on enrollment managementmatters involving tuition contracts, student accounts, payment plans, billingpractices, and financial implications of enrollment trends.
• J. Provide leadership and oversight for assignedoperational areas, which may include Human Resources, Information Technology,Facilities, and other administrative functions, ensuring that businessoperations support a safe, efficient, and mission-aligned learning environment.
• 1. For Human Resources and Benefits, this may includeoverseeing employee onboarding and offboarding processes, personnelrecordkeeping, payroll coordination, benefits administration, open enrollment,employee leave tracking, workers’ compensation coordination, employmentcompliance documentation, job description maintenance, compensation andstaffing budget support, employee handbook updates, and coordination withbenefit brokers, carriers, legal counsel, and other HR-related vendors.
• 2. For Information Technology, this may include overseeingtechnology planning, cybersecurity and data protection practices, hardware andsoftware purchasing, network reliability, technology support response times,vendor contracts, system upgrades, and coordination of technology needs forclassrooms, offices, and school events.
• 3. For Facilities, this may include overseeing campusmaintenance priorities, work order processes, preventive maintenance schedules,custodial services, safety inspections, repair and renovation projects, vendorcoordination, emergency preparedness, and compliance with applicable health,safety, and facility-related requirements.
• K. Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, andfederal financial reporting requirements, tax obligations, payroll andcontractor payment regulations, nonprofit reporting standards, and school-relatedfiscal policies.
• L. Establish, maintain, and strengthen financial policies,procedures, internal controls, cash handling practices, and segregation of duties to safeguard school assets and reduce the risk of error, fraud, and misappropriation of funds.
• M. Identify opportunities to improve financialsustainability, manage expenses, strengthen operational efficiency, and alignresources with enrollment goals, academic priorities, facility’s needs, andstrategic initiatives.
• N. Oversee the school’s risk management and insuranceprograms, including annual review of coverage for property, liability, auto,umbrella, employment practices, directors’ and officers’, student-related activities, and other operational exposures.
• O. Coordinate insurance documentation and risk-relatedrequirements for off-site activities, leases, facility use, vendors, and school-sponsored events, including requests for Additional Insured coveragewhen appropriate.

IV. PROFESSIONALGROWTH

• A. Interacts with colleagues to further professionalgrowth
• B. Takes advantage of opportunities for professionalimprovement

MINIMUMQUALIFICATIONS

Qualifiedcandidates must demonstrate the education, experience, judgment, and leadershipability necessary to oversee the financial and business operations of a K–12independent Catholic school.

• · Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance,business administration, or a related field required; CPA, MBA, or otheradvanced degree or professional certification preferred.
• · Minimum of ten years of progressivelyresponsible experience in accounting, finance, or business operations,including significant management or senior leadership responsibility.
• · Experience in a nonprofit, independent school,Catholic school, or educational institution preferred.
• · Strong knowledge of budgeting, financialreporting, cash management, internal controls, audit preparation, tax filings,nonprofit accounting standards, and applicable regulatory compliance requirements.
• · Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data,prepare clear reports and forecasts, and communicate financial informationeffectively to the President, leadership team, Board of Directors, and otherstakeholders.
• · Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• · Commitment to the mission, philosophy, andvalues of Catholic education and the ability to work effectively within afaith-based school community.