Business Manager and HR Director

School Description

Hilltop Montessori School is an independent day school with a current enrollment of over 130 students ages Toddler through Middle School (15 months through 8th grade), and a faculty and staff of over 40. The school has been established for 52 years and is perched on a 43 acre hill in Brattleboro, VT in a custom built (2009) facility that houses two Toddler Rooms (15-36 months); two bright, sunny Children’s House (3-6 years) classrooms; a Lower Elementary (6-9 years); an Upper Elementary (9-12 years); as well as a fully equipped kitchen area, and art room. The Middle School (12-14 years) enjoys its own building with comparable facilities. There is integrated computer use at the Upper Elementary and Middle School levels, woods and trails for hiking and cross country skiing, gardens, a greenhouse and a pond. An Arts Barn, built in 2013, includes an all-purpose room, staff/event kitchen, gymnasium, expanded music facilities, and a theater. The beautiful facilities are fully paid for, and the school is fortunate to have a sizable investment fund and an Indexed Tuition program that supports economic diversity among the student families and a robust benefits package for staff.Hilltop Montessori School implements an authentic Montessori curriculum at all levels, and incorporates an anti-bias curriculum along with a focus on addressing climate change.

Job Description

Hilltop Montessori School seeks a Business Manager who can become part of the collaborative administrative team supporting a community of engaged teachers and families. Ideally, this position would start part-time in January of 2026 and overlap with the dedicated outgoing Business Manager through June. From July 2026 on the position would be full-time while school is in session and half-time during school breaks.

The Business Manager reports to and works as a strategic partner with the Head of School, and is a critical member of the Administrative Team supporting the school. In partnership with the Head of School, the Business Manager provides leadership and management of the school’s finances. They are responsible for coordinating and administering all aspects of the Business Office and Human Resources for the school. The Business Manager maintains relationships with staff, families, vendors, banks, professional accountants, and insurance companies with whom the school does business.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Management and Reporting:

• Coordinate, track, budget, and, with the Head of School, report all financial aspects of the school operations to the Board of Trustees.
• Overseeing the cash management, administration, and reporting of the funds and investments of the school to the Finance Committee, Investment Committee, and donors.
• Prepare program annual and quarterly budgets.
• Prepare projections and periodic analyses as requested by the Head of School and the Board of Trustees.
• Reconcile bank accounts and credit cards monthly.
• Manage, record, and track all receivables and payables, ensuring timely collection and coordinating with other team members as needed.
• Review and verify invoices for accuracy, proper authorization, and adherence to organizational policies.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve any discrepancies.
• Process reimbursements promptly.
• Manage tuition and incidental charges.
• Track grants and donations.

Human Resources:

• Manage and direct all payroll functions.
• Manage and direct all benefits and retirement contributions.
• Maintain organized and easily accessible files. Archive the prior year’s files.
• Assist the Head of School in writing personnel policies and reviewing benefits.

Tuition Management:

• With the Admission Director, prepare enrollment/reenrollment contracts and tuition agreements. Serve as a member of the Indexed Tuition Committee, working with the Head of School and the Director of Admissions, to determine and administer State funding, school grants, and family contributions to tuition.

School Administration:

• Support the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in the development of school policies and procedures that support the fiscal and personnel components of managing the school.
• Ensure all programs comply with federal and state laws and regulations, and are communicated appropriately to employees.
• As a member of the Administrative team, it is expected that team members assist at events, cover the front desk, and/or, on occasion, help with lunch coverage in a classroom.
• Have a keen eye for detail around campus, especially as it relates to liability.
• Be self-motivated, and take initiative without oversight.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of an Associate's Degree in Business.
• Minimum of three years of experience in a comparable position.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook), Google Suite, and QuickBooks accounting software.
• Ability to analyze invoices and expense reports for accuracy and compliance.
• Ability to identify and resolve discrepancies and issues.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact with staff, families, vendors, and various committees.
• Ability to build relationships and instruct others to adhere to deadlines and protocols.
• Commitment and ability to partner with the Head of School on a variety of matters that involve a high level of generative thinking, confidentiality, and trust.
• Proven working knowledge of financial accounting practices, including maintaining customer accounts, reconciling bank and credit card statements, and generating invoices and statements.

Compensation: Hilltop Montessori School offers a competitive salary based on prior experience and position requirements. This salaried position is full-time during the 39 weeks when school is in session and during In-Service Days, and half-time during the 15 weeks when school is not in session. This results in a salary of $40-$60K for the equivalent of 45 weeks worked in a year. The school also provides comprehensive benefits, including employee health insurance premiums, PTO, paid birthday leave, short-term disability insurance, matching 401(k) contributions, and tuition remission (50% off for one student in the school). For more information about the school, please visit our website at www.hilltopmontessori.org. Hilltop Montessori School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply: Interested, qualified candidates may apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to Tamara Mount, Head of School ().

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000 - $60,000