Gonzaga College High School

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position

Gonzaga is searching for a dynamic and experienced financial leader to serve as its Chief Financial Officer. Reporting to the President as well as the Chief Operating Officer, the school's next CFO will assume the position during a period when Gonzaga is on sound, established financial footing - with exceptionally strong admissions, a solid balance sheet, a growing endowment, and robust fundraising that complements tuition and other operational revenue.

The new CFO will build on this foundation, assuming responsibility for managing and leading an experienced and committed business office staff; continuing to modernize and upgrade essential business operations functions, and contributing to a business office culture that supports not only the financial health and functioning of the school, but that aligns with and sustains the strength of our faculty, staff, and community.

A Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school founded in 1821 and located in the heart of the nation's capital, Gonzaga offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum for approximately 960 young men in grades nine through twelve. Rigorous academics, diverse extracurricular activities, and retreats, and Christian service -- in the Jesuit tradition -- are the hallmarks of a Gonzaga education. We prepare young men to become compassionate and intellectually curious "men for others".

As a senior member of the school's leadership team, the CFO will play a crucial role in managing the financial health of the institution, ensuring effective financial strategies, stewardship of school resources, risk management and mitigation, and personnel and human resources approaches. Reporting to the President, on a day-to-day basis the CFO will collaborate regularly with the COO of the school, with additional reporting responsibilities to the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee and Investment Subcommittee of the Board. The position manages an office of 5 professionals, with responsibilities for accounting, audit, payroll and benefits, financial elements of human resources, accounts payable, tuition and donation revenue collections, and more.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Work closely with the President, COO, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee of the Board to inform strategic decision-making around finances, budgets, investments, tuition and revenue, audit and other key business aspects of the school.
• Provide financial leadership, prioritization, and management that supports the school's long-term sustainability, growth, and strategic priorities.

Financial Planning, Analysis and Reporting

• Develop and implement annual and long-term financial plans, budgets, and forecasts in alignment with the school's strategic goals.
• Oversee the stewardship of the school's financial resources, including budgeting, cash flow, and asset management.
• Collaborate with department heads to optimize resource allocation and efficiency.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide transparency and clarity on financial performance, strategies, and issues of concern through regular reporting and financial analysis to the President, COO, Board of Trustees, and Finance, Investment, and Audit Committees of the Board.

Risk Management

• Identify and assess financial risks, proposing and implementing risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with all financial regulations and standards, including those specific to educational institutions.
• Collaborate with outside vendors, consultants, and providers to ensure adequate insurance coverage for various aspects of the school, including employee health, life and disability; property; educators liability, and other lines in keeping with best practices.

Endowment Oversight and Management

• Work closely with and manage the involvement of the Investment Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees and the school's external investment advisors to optimize endowment returns/growth while maximizing strategic use of the endowment to support school priorities sustainably.

Compliance and Auditing

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and coordinate external audits.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard the school's financial assets.
• Ensure campus-wide best practices for expenditures and revenue collections
• Oversee the audit process, including engagement with external auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees

Human Resources

• Provide clear and consistent communication to employees, both in person and in writing, regarding all Business Office functions that involve or impact personnel.
• Oversee the implementation of compensation and contract policies as determined by the President and Board of Trustees.
• Negotiate and implement a competitive benefits package for Gonzaga employees, including Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, 403(b4) Retirement Plans, and Flex-Spending accounts.
• Ensure compliance with all labor laws and other regulatory requirements.
• Update and publish employment contracts and policies.

Business Office Software and Technology Systems

• Leverage technology to streamline financial workflows and contribute to the overall efficiency of financial operations at Gonzaga High School.
• Ensuring the implementation and optimization of financial systems, managing data integrity, providing staff training on technology tools, and driving continuous improvement through the adoption of efficient technologies.
• Collaborate with the IT department to establish cybersecurity measures, manage vendor relationships, and enhance reporting capabilities through analytics tools.

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree and/or CPA preferred).
• Proven experience as a CFO or in a senior financial leadership role.
• Knowledge of financial management in educational institutions is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent team management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience setting clear goals, responsibilities, expectations, and clear methods of accountability.
• Superb communication skills; excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex subjects, distill them, and then communicate them to varied audiences.
• Experience on senior administrative teams and working with non-profit Boards.
• Demonstrated experience in measuring and improving organization-wide productivity.
• Experience in human resource management, employee benefits (including 403(b) plans), and payroll procedures.
• Knowledge of business and not-for-profit accounting policies, procedures, practices, facilities, and software programs. Blackbaud experience is a significant plus.
• Skilled at negotiating and initiating contracts with external vendors.
• Aptitude for high customer service standards.
• Consistent demonstration of a problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindset.

To Apply

To submit your application, please click this link https://gonzaga.isolvedhire.com/jobs (ctrl click to follow link) to be taken to our employment page and follow the instructions on how to formally apply. Applications will be accepted until the job is filled.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued guidance referencing employers are allowed to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for in-person employees. The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity laws additionally allow an employer to legally require all employees that report to a physical workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Gonzaga College High School is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation, and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.