What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Financial Officer position at Dr Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy?
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is HFCA’s executive leader responsible for the financial health, sustainability, and integrity of the organization.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CFO oversees all financial strategy, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and compliance functions. The CFO serves as a trusted thought partner to the CEO, EVP, executive team, and Board of Directors—providing clear financial insight, disciplined planning, and strategic guidance to support decision-making and long-term growth.
This role balances strategic finance leadership with operational rigor, ensuring HFCA’s resources are aligned to its mission, academic priorities, and organizational values.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership
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Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the CEO, EVP, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
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Lead the development of HFCA’s multi-year financial strategy, including scenario planning, risk analysis, and sustainability modeling.
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Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights that inform enterprise-level decisions and tradeoffs.
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Anticipate funding, policy, and market trends that may impact HFCA’s financial position and proactively recommend solutions.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Management
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Lead the development and management of HFCA’s annual and multi-year budgets, ensuring alignment with academic and operational priorities.
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Oversee forecasting, cash flow management, and financial modeling in a resource-constrained, mission-driven environment.
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Ensure accurate, timely financial statements and dashboards for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board, and Finance Committee.
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Allocate resources strategically to support instructional excellence, staff sustainability, and organizational growth.
Accounting, Compliance & Risk Management
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Oversee all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll coordination, and financial close.
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Ensure compliance with all federal, state, authorizer, and grant-related financial requirements.
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Lead annual audits and maintain strong relationships with auditors and external financial partners.
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Strengthen internal controls, documentation, and financial policies to mitigate risk and ensure transparency and accountability.
Systems, Processes & Financial Infrastructure
- Assess and strengthen financial systems and processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
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Lead improvements to procurement, expense review, and financial approval systems to ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
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Partner with the COO and CPO to ensure financial systems support operational and people priorities.
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Evaluate and manage relationships with external vendors, consultants, and financial institutions.
- Organizational Capacity & Financial Literacy
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Build financial acumen across HFCA by supporting leaders in understanding budgets, financial reports, and fiscal accountability.
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Partner with budget owners to ensure clarity of expectations and shared ownership of financial outcomes.
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Develop and mentor finance staff, building internal capacity and professional growth pathways.
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Foster a service-oriented finance function that supports schools and departments with clarity and responsiveness.