Chief Financial Officer

Association of Colorado Independent Schools; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Denver Academy in Denver, Colorado seeks a Chief Financial Officer/Director of Finance to serve as the school's senior financial leader and partner to the Head of School and Board of Trustees.

The CFO will lead budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audits, endowment management, and capital planning while building a strong Business Office and ensuring sustainable financial operations aligned with the school's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business or related field required.
• Seven+ years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience.
• CPA, MBA or other relevant credential preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary financial advisor and strategic partner to the Head of School.
• Lead annual and long-range financial planning, forecasting and scenario modeling.
• Develop and oversee operating and capital budgets.
• Provide timely financial reporting to leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Oversee accounting, internal controls, cash management and tuition receivables.
• Lead annual audit and coordinate regulatory reporting and tax compliance.
• Oversee endowment, investments, debt, and financial reserves.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management on tuition strategies and revenue analysis.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning

Forecasting

Board communication

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or business

CPA or MBA preferred

Job description

ACIS accredits, supports, and advances the interests of Colorado independent schools.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Denver Academy | Denver, Colorado
Start Date: July 1, 2027*

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

Denver Academy seeks an accomplished, collaborative, and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/Director of Finance to serve as the school’s senior financial leader and a trusted partner to the Head of School, Senior Administration Team, and Board of Trustees.

The next CFO will join Denver Academy at an important and exciting time in the school’s history. With more than 50 years of experience educating bright students with varied learning profiles, Denver Academy has developed a distinctive educational model, an exceptional faculty, a beautiful 21-acre campus, and a strong commitment to long-term institutional sustainability.

Denver Academy’s mission is to inspire and empower diverse learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.

Reporting directly to the Head of School, the CFO will provide both strategic leadership and hands-on financial oversight. The CFO will help shape the school’s financial future while ensuring that its financial operations, systems, controls, and reporting meet the highest standards.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The CFO will serve as an important institutional leader whose work extends well beyond the traditional Business Office.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serving as the primary financial advisor and strategic thought partner to the Head of School.
• Leading annual and long-range financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
• Developing and overseeing the school’s operating and capital budgets.
• Providing timely and insightful financial reporting to school leadership and the Board.
• Serving as the primary administrative liaison to the Board Finance Committee and supporting other financially related Board committees.
• Overseeing accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, cash management, tuition receivables, and Business Office operations.
• Leading the annual audit and coordinating tax and regulatory reporting.
• Overseeing endowment, investment, reserve, and debt-related financial matters.
• Partnering with Enrollment Management on tuition, enrollment, financial assistance, and net tuition revenue analysis.
• Partnering with Advancement on gifts, endowment, restricted funds, campaigns, and capital initiatives.
• Providing financial leadership for campus planning, major capital projects, and long-term facilities investment.
• Supporting compensation, benefits, and workforce financial planning.
• Recruiting, leading, and developing a strong Business Office team.
• Identifying financial opportunities and risks and helping Denver Academy make thoughtful, data-informed decisions.

The successful candidate will combine strategic perspective with operational competence. Denver Academy seeks a CFO who understands that excellent financial leadership is not simply about managing numbers—it is about helping an institution deploy its resources in ways that best serve its mission, people, and future.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Strong candidates will bring significant progressive financial leadership experience and demonstrated expertise in budgeting, accounting, forecasting, financial analysis, internal controls, and organizational financial strategy.

We are particularly interested in candidates who:

• Are genuinely interested in the mission and work of an independent school.
• Think strategically and can also execute effectively.
• Have experience advising a CEO, Head of School, Executive Director, or comparable organizational leader.
• Can communicate complex financial information clearly to people who are not financial professionals.
• Have experience working with governing boards and finance committees.
• Are skilled at building long-range financial models and evaluating competing strategic choices.
• Build strong relationships and thrive in collaborative leadership environments.
• Lead with integrity, discretion, intellectual curiosity, humility, and sound judgment.
• Understand the importance of strong systems, documentation, controls, and accountability.
• Enjoy leading and developing others.

A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible financial

leadership experience. A CPA, MBA, other relevant graduate degree or professional credential is preferred.

Independent‑school experience is valuable but not required. Denver Academy is interested in exceptional candidates from independent schools, higher education, nonprofit organizations, public accounting, and other complex organizations who are drawn to mission‑driven leadership.

WHY DENVER ACADEMY?

Denver Academy is an independent nonprofit school serving students in grades 2–12 on a 21-acre campus in Denver, Colorado.

For more than five decades, Denver Academy has helped students with varied learning profiles—including students with dyslexia, ADHD, executive‑function challenges, and twice‑exceptional learners—recognize their strengths, develop confidence, and achieve success.

Our teachers and staff share a deep commitment to knowing students well and providing an education designed around how individual students learn best.

The CFO will join a school that values thoughtful leadership, long‑term stewardship, strong relationships, and the belief that financial resources should ultimately serve students and teachers.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The anticipated salary range for this 12‑month position is $160,000–$190,000. This range reflects the compensation Denver Academy in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Placement within the range depends on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant expertise. No bonus or commission compensation is offered for this position.

Denver Academy offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees,

which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer‑sponsored retirement plan with employer contribution
• Employer‑paid basic life and disability insurance
• Health savings and/or flexible spending account options
• Paid time off, including paid school holidays and scheduled school breaks
• Paid sick leave in accordance with the Colorado Healthy Families and

Workplaces Act

• Paid family and medical leave insurance benefits through Colorado FAMLI
• Tuition remission for eligible employees

Applicants are not required to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance ator graduation from an educational institution, and may redact that information from anyrésumé, transcript, certification, or other application material submitted.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check asrequired for Colorado school employees, and verification of eligibility to work in the United States.

*The successful candidate will begin employment no later than July 1, 2027. An earlier start may be considered and could be advantageous in providing overlap and transition time.

Denver Academy is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive community. Denver Academy makes employment decisions without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Denver Academy provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals withdisabilities in the application and interview process. To request an accommodation,contact Rebecca Musil at: [e-mail].

Denver Academy does not seek or rely on salary history in setting compensation.