Chief Financial Officer

Insero Talent Solutions is honored to have been retained to conduct the executive search for the next Chief Financial Officer for Allendale Columbia School.

Allendale Columbia (AC) is a thriving, diverse community of learners who engage locally and internationally to create opportunities to design, imagine, learn, and make a positive impact. Serving over 385 students in Little School through Grade 12, AC seeks an experienced, dynamic collaborative, nimble, and goal-oriented Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee all aspects of the school’s financial operations. The candidate for this position must have equal parts strategic capacity and operational acumen and should be effective at collaborating and executing with teams throughout the organization.

The CFO plays a vital role in the Allendale Columbia School community. Reporting to the Head of School, they will participate in strategic planning and high-level decision making with the Head of School and Board Committees. The CFO will have direct supervision of the Business Office which is responsible for all aspects of accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, annual audit, etc. Additionally, the CFO will have supervisory responsibility for the facilities and food services operations, along with the financial aspects of the after school program and summer programs. The CFO will play a major role during the planning and implementation of any construction projects and the tracking of related funding needs.

Job responsibilities will include:

• Working with the Head of School to develop the annual school budget, presents a proposed budget to the Board, and actively manages expenses to the budget throughout the year.
• Preparing quarterly dynamic updates to the Strategic Financial Model to provide a basis for budgets consistent with the school’s Strategic Priorities.
• Establishing appropriate financial controls and procedures to manage the resources of the school consistent with the budget and ensuring all accounting is according to GAAP standards ("Generally Accepted Accounting Principles").
• Overseeing the business and human resources offices, and leading the operation of facilities, food service, and after school/summer programs. This includes operational oversight of licensing, code compliance, fire and security, and HVAC
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with financial institutions and vendors related to accounts payable and accounts receivable including tuition payments, development gift accounting, banking, and investments.
• Managing the school’s financial aid by processing applications and recommending awards as part of the Financial Aid Committee.
• Managing the school’s insurance and overseeing risk management, including cyber-security
• With the support of an HR Coordinator, oversee the health insurance renewal process.
• Serving as the primary contact with auditors, oversees the Business Office Manager, and prepares statements and other materials for annual audits.
• Serving as the staff person for the Board Finance Committee, Board Audit Committee, and Board Investment Committee. Actively participates in meetings held by the Board Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Financial Aid Committee, and the AC Leadership Team.
• Presenting at Board, Finance and Faculty/Staff meetings to inform stakeholders around the school’s finances.
• Actively participating in independent school association events and providing peer school data to the Head of School and Board committees on an annual basis.
• Attend occasional school events outside of school hours where the Leadership Team presence is needed.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field.
• Experience should include a solid grounding in fundamental finance and accounting systems and procedures; expertise in forecasting and financial modeling; significant depth of experience in financial analysis and reporting.
• At least 5 years of experience in a CFO, Controller or Business Manager role preferred
• Advanced Excel skills, prior experience working in a Google environment, and a strong working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and financial software programs, such as Blackbaud and other accounting software.
• The ability to work effectively with trustees, faculty, staff, and external constituents.
• Experience working with external auditors, implementing internal controls, and managing compliance-related issues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage personnel with diverse backgrounds and execute all duties with demonstrated sensitivity, and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender, and ethnic backgrounds of the AC community.
• Familiarity with HR operations and oversight including payroll software and benefits administration.