Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO)

Forsyth School; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Tuition/education benefits

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Forsyth School in St. Louis, Missouri, seeks a Chief Financial and Operating Officer to guide financial strategy and campus operations while partnering with the Head of School and senior leaders.

The CFOO will oversee accounting, HR, risk, and IT, lead multi-year budgeting and capital planning, ensure GAAP compliance, and align development, admissions, and communications to advance Forsyth's mission of a joyful, inclusive learning community for elementary students.

Qualifications

• Deep passion for Forsyth’s mission and commitment to DEI.
• Significant nonprofit financial leadership with board experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance; CPA or CMA preferred.
• GAAP, non-profit accounting, financial modeling, and Excel/Blackbaud experience.
• Visionary leadership with cross‑departmental collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; diplomatic and collaborative.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy with multi‑year forecasts and scenario models.
• Partner with Head of School and senior leaders to align development, admissions, marketing and communications.
• Oversee business office operations including accounting, payroll, HR, risk, and contracts.
• Ensure GAAP reporting and coordinate with external auditors for annual audits.
• Design policies and systems across accounting, CRM, and business management software.
• Analyze tuition financial aid applications and benchmarking for strategy.
• Supervise key leaders: Director of Operations, Assistant Director of Finance, Payroll & Benefits Manager.
• Oversee campus operations, IT, data infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Financial Stewardship

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Board Engagement

Industry Best Practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

CPA or CMA preferred

Tools

Blackbaud

Excel

Job description

Forsyth School: Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Imagine your workday beginning as you enter the front door of a charming, historic home. You ascend an ornate spiral staircase to the business office suite, where a team of passionate professionals partners with you to advance the mission, vision, and strategic goals of one of the region’s premier educational institutions. The historic house containing your office is part of a neighborhood of six homes, and these homes are woven together to create a campus dedicated to growing and challenging a diverse group of elementary school students in a joyful community that is deeply committed to fostering an environment where kindness, compassion, curiosity, and questioning are valued. If you are energized by providing the financial and strategic leadership to uphold these values, and you thrive on collaborating with a leadership team that believes deeply in our mission, then Forsyth School is looking for you.

At Forsyth, our mission is to foster a spirit of curiosity and joy, empowering children to pursue challenges with confidence. Our Honor Code is embedded in the fabric of our institution, guiding our commitment to make Forsyth a special place.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO) works closely with the Head of School to advance Forsyth’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. The CFOO manages the school’s financial and physical resources and collaborates closely across development, communications, marketing, and admissions efforts to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the CFOO works extensively with the Board of Trustees and the Board Finance Committee.

OPPORTUNITIES (TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES)

Strategic Leadership & Thought Partnership

• Strategic Vision & Financial Strategy: Lead Forsyth’s financial strategy, maintaining multi-year financial forecasts and dynamic scenario models to support data-driven decision‑making and advance strategic priorities.
• Thought Partnership: Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of School and senior leadership by aligning development, admissions, marketing, and communications initiatives to drive organizational goals.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with key leaders across the school community—including the Directors of Admission, Advancement, and Communications, as well as the Assistant Heads of School—to build consensus, ensure mission alignment, and optimize auxiliary program revenues.
• Board & Policy Engagement: Work closely with the Board of Trustees and Board Finance Committee to create, monitor, and adapt strategic financial plans and oversight, operating policies, capital budgets, and school governance guidelines.
• Industry Best Practices: Stay current with business management trends, emerging industry practices, and economic conditions to anticipate opportunities and foster continuous institutional improvement.

Financial & Operations Management

• Business Office Operations: Oversee all core business office functions, including accounting, payroll, accounts receivable/payable, human resources, cash management, investment management, risk management, employee benefits, and contract administration.
• Financial Planning & Budgeting: Manage operational cash flow, banking relationships, and loan and lease agreements; develop comprehensive plans to meet current and future financial requirements.
• Compliance & Audit: Oversee the preparation and timely filing of all financial reports in accordance with GAAP and regulatory standards; partner with external auditors to ensure smooth annual audit processes.
• Policy & Systems Design: Design and implement business operational policies, financial controls, tuition/collection procedures, and technological systems across accounting, CRM, and business management software.
• Financial Aid & Benchmarking: Analyze tuition financial aid applications in collaboration with the Head of School and Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management to determine annual awards and conduct statistical research for benchmarking and strategic planning.
• Direct Supervision: Support, assess, and supervise key direct reports, including the Director of Operations, the Assistant Director of Finance, and the Payroll and Benefits Manager.
• Operations Oversight: Ensure effective management of the school’s physical campus, technology systems, institutional data infrastructure, and cybersecurity through leadership of the Director of Operations.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, AND QUALITIES

• Mission Alignment & Values: Deep passion for Forsyth’s mission to empower children; demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience: Significant experience in accounting or non-profit financial leadership, ideally with demonstrated success working with a Board of Trustees.
• Education & Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; CPA or CMA preferred.
• Financial & Technical Mastery: Expertise in GAAP, non-profit/development accounting, financial modeling, outcomes measurement, and database management software–experience with Blackbaud and advanced Excel is a plus.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Visionary leadership with proven skills in organizing people and processes, building inclusive teams, and managing cross‑departmental alignment.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional oral and written communicator, strong listener, resilient, flexible, diplomatic, patient, and humble with a joyful professional presence.

ABOUT FORSYTH SCHOOL

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Forsyth is an age 2 to Grade 6 co‑ed independent school of approximately 400 students. Neighboring Washington University and Forest Park—one of the largest urban parks in the nation—the school enjoys immediate access to world‑class cultural institutions, free museums, and a thriving community. Forsyth’s unique campus consists of six historic 1920s and 30s homes transformed into intimate, nurturing classrooms and community spaces. Since its founding in 1961, high expectations, joyful challenge, and strong community have remained at the heart of the Forsyth experience.

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

This full‑time, exempt position offers Forsyth’s comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, retirement match, tuition/education benefits, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and generous paid time off. Target base compensation is $125,000–$155,000 (commensurate with experience, qualifications, and benchmarked against peer institutions).

Forsyth School is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from groups traditionally underrepresented in independent schools are strongly encouraged to apply.

Forsyth’s background screening process requires employees to undergo a social media check, satisfactory reference checks, and a successful criminal background screening.