Chief Finance And Operations Officer

Carney, Sandoe & Associates; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Carney Sandoe & Associates seeks a Chief Finance and Operations Officer for an independent school in Seattle. The CFOO will lead financial strategy, campus operations, budgeting and reporting, and oversee HR, benefits, and vendor relationships.

Experience in nonprofit or education finance is preferred. You will partner with the Head of School and the Board to shape long-term planning, audits, investments, tuition setting, and risk management, while guiding compensation and benefits in a complex

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Experience as a manager/supervisor in a multi-functional environment.
• Experience in strategic planning and budget projections.
• Experience in human resources management, including benefits administration.

Responsibilities

• Guide the long-term financial sustainability of the school.
• Provide strategic leadership, analysis, and management of finances and operations.
• Partner with the Board and Finance Committee on governance and planning.
• Develop and lead short-term and long-term financial planning and forecasting.
• Oversee Business Office functions, external audits, benefits, retirement plans, and investments.
• Oversee compensation philosophy and annual evaluation.
• Lead risk management and major capital projects.

Skills

Financial leadership

Strategic planning

HR management

Budget forecasting

Education

MBA or CPA or equivalent

Tools

Blackbaud

NetSuite

Concur

Clarity

ADP

Job description

Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an education recruitment firm, has been retained by an independent school in Seattle, Washington to find their next Chief Finance and Operations Officer.

The CFOO has primary responsibility for the school’s overall financial and campus operations, design and management of the annual operating budget and financial reporting, human resources, benefits administration, risk management, and establishing, sustaining, and evaluating relationships with vendors and professional services consultants (bank, legal, accounting/tax, insurance, investments).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Guide the long-term financial sustainability of the school.
• Provide strategic leadership, analysis, and management of finances and operations.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees' Finance Committee and contribute to other board committees as needed.
• Develop and lead short-term and long-term financial planning and forecasting.
• Partner with the Controller to oversee all Business Office functions, including daily operations, external audit, employee benefits, retirement plan, and investments (for operations, reserves, and endowment).
• Partner with the Head of School to establish and steward the school's compensation philosophy for faculty and staff, including leading the annual compensation evaluation.
• Oversee employee benefits and retirement plan administration, including plan design, annual renewals, and fiduciary oversight, in partnership with the Controller and HR Specialist.
• Lead risk management evaluation and practices, including business continuity planning.
• Lead major capital projects.
• Lead determination of tuition and other student fees, based on analysis of local economic, demographic, and independent school market trends.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including general accounting functions related to internal controls and accounting policies and procedures.
• Experience as a manager/supervisor, ideally in a multi-functional environment.
• Experience in strategic planning and budget projections.
• Experience in human resources management, including employee benefits administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced degree.
• Prior direct experience in an independent school, nonprofit, or similarly complex mission-driven organization.
• Proficiency with finance and accounting software (e.g. Blackbaud, NetSuite, Concur, Clarity, and ADP.)

Carney Sandoe does not discriminate on the basis of physical handicap, sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its services, consulting, events, professional development, or other programs.