What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Finance position at Roessel Joy?
About the Organization
We are with a well-known and reputable non-profit Greater Boston area who are looking to bring on a Director of Finance to lead its accounting and finance function. This role is currently being supported by interim help and is now looking for a permanent leader to take ownership of day-to-day financial operations, reporting, and audit.
About the Role
The Director of Finance leads the accounting team, including the Controller and accounting staff, and is the primary finance partner to leadership and the Board of Trustees. This is a hands-on leadership role: you will run the close, manage student billing and payables, oversee the audit, and lead two software initiatives focused on restricted gift tracking and financial reporting.
Responsibilities
Financial Operations & General Ledger
- Manage daily accounting operations, including AP, AR, cash receipts, payroll, and general ledger maintenance
- Partner with the Controller to execute month-end and year-end close and reconcile bank, investment, and balance sheet accounts
- Maintain non-profit net asset accounting, tracking restricted and unrestricted funds (including endowment), and provide monthly updates to budget managers
- Oversee fixed asset accounting, including depreciation and capital projects
- Lead the implementation of new software to track endowment and restricted gifts and to bridge the student information system to financial reporting
Reporting, Compliance & Audit
- Prepare monthly financial statements and variance reports for the CFO, Head of School, and Board
- Lead annual audit preparation as the primary contact for external auditors
- Assist with Form 990 and other state and federal filings
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, non-profit accounting standards, and internal policies
Tuition Management, AR & AP
- Supervise student billing, including tuition, fees, auxiliary programs, and financial aid adjustments
- Serve as the escalation point for families on billing questions, payment plans, and collections, with empathy and professionalism
- Reconcile student billing sub-ledgers to the general ledger monthly
- Supervise the AP process and modernize how vendors are paid
Budgeting & Support
- Work with department heads to track budgets and analyze variances
- Support the CFO with the annual operating budget and long-range financial modeling
Leadership & Community
- Supervise the Controller, accounting staff, and other direct reports, providing regular feedback, coaching, and annual reviews
- Take part in the school community, including chaperoning select events and weekend duty a few times per year
- Contribute to a culture of belonging, collaboration, and continuous learning
Qualifications
- Active CPA license required
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting
- 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years in public accounting or auditing
- Non-profit, higher education, or independent school experience strongly preferred, including net asset accounting
- Proven experience supervising and leading a team
- Advanced knowledge of GAAP and advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling); Google Suite proficiency
- Experience with school or non-profit systems (e.g., Veracross, Blackbaud, Sage, or QuickBooks) preferred
- Strong attention to detail, discretion, and the ability to explain financial concepts to non-finance staff, faculty, and parents