Director of Finance

The Gateway Academy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Academy, a private school in Houston serving neurodiverse students, seeks a Director of Finance to lead financial strategy and operations in a hands-on nonprofit setting. You will partner with the Head of School, COO, and Board to ensure sustainable fiscal health and mission alignment.

Responsibilities include budgeting, financial reporting, tuition modeling, and ensuring compliant governance. This role requires integrity, discretion, and a passion for our mission and students.

Qualifications

• Progressive finance/accounting experience; nonprofit or independent school background preferred.
• Experience with tuition-based revenue models and financial aid budgeting.
• Experience with Board reporting and regulatory filings.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
• Manage accounting operations, payroll, AP/AR, and month-end close.
• Oversee cash flow, banking relationships, and reserve policy.
• Lead annual audit and nonprofit/private school regulatory compliance.

Skills

Financial planning

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Nonprofit accounting

GAAP

Payroll

Board reporting

Strategic partnerships

Education

CPA or MBA preferred

Bachelor's in finance or accounting

Tools

Blackbaud

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Gateway Academy is a private school in Houston serving neurodiverse students in grades 6–12, with a young adult program (GAP) extending support beyond high school. Our model integrates academics with embedded counseling, social-skills development, and a 200-hour employer-based internship program, all built toward our north-star mission of employment readiness.

Position Summary

Title: Director of Finance

Reports to: Head of School

Location: Houston, TX (on-site)

Status: Full-time, exempt

Gateway Academy

Gateway Academy is a private school in Houston serving neurodiverse students in grades 6–12, with a young adult program (GAP) extending support beyond high school. Our model integrates academics with embedded counseling, social-skills development, and a 200-hour employer-based internship program, all built toward our north-star mission of employment readiness.

Position Summary

The Director of Finance leads Gateway Academy's financial strategy, operations, and reporting, partnering with the Head of School, COO, and Board to ensure the school's long-term financial health while safeguarding the mission. This is a hands‑on role for a small nonprofit school environment — this position will both set strategy and be close to the details.

Key Responsibilities

• Budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning
• Accounting operations, payroll, AP/AR, and month-end close
• Cash flow, banking relationships, and investment/reserve policy
• Annual audit and ensure compliance (nonprofit/private school regulatory requirements, tax filings, Form 990)
• Financial reports and analysis to the Head of School, COO, and Board Finance Committee
• Tuition modeling, financial aid allocation, and enrollment-driven revenue projections
• Facilities and vendor contracts from a financial risk/value standpoint
• Gift accounting and grant compliance as needed

Qualifications

• Progressive finance/accounting experience; CPA or MBA preferred
• Nonprofit and/or independent school finance experience strongly preferred
• Experience with tuition-based revenue models, financial aid budgeting, and Board reporting
• Strong systems skills (Blackbaud)
• High integrity, discretion, and comfort operating in a mission-driven, relationship-based culture
• Genuine alignment with and enthusiasm for serving neurodiverse students and families

What Sets This Role Apart

This is a rare opportunity to shape the financial backbone of a growing school built around a deeply personal mission — working alongside a founder‑led leadership team with significant tenure and institutional trust.