Director of Finance

JOB SUMMARY: The Finance Director is the senior business officer for the school and, as such, is responsible for the business office functions, financial integrity, and fiscal planning of the organization. The Director also serves on the Executive Council in the shared leadership model for school-wide leadership. The Director will directly supervise the business office staff to ensure that business policies, financial policies, and associated processes are implemented and that our payroll, student billing, ledger, and accounting systems are kept current and valid. Along with the Head of School, the Director will lead the preparation and board approval of the annual budgets and maintain the budget processes during the year. The Director serves as our main point of contact with the Board’s selected external auditing firm for our annual financial audit. The Director is also the primary point of contact for our institutional insurance contracts. The Director is an advisory administrative member of the Board of Directors’ Finance Committee and will provide support as needed to this committee and the Board Treasurer, with consultation from the Head of School.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Responsible for maintaining the general ledger for the school, in compliance with applicable rules and GAAP recommendations to support timely, clear, clean, and accurate reporting to various constituents, including monthly close procedures, end-of-year close procedures, and ensuring that updated reports are available at least 14 days after the end of each month period

 Responsible for ensuring compliance with established business office policies and procedures, including internal controls, and recommends changes to policies as needed to insure compliance with all laws, best practice and accounting standards; monitor and/or recommend current internal controls over cash and other operations policies to ensure limited exposure to employee and volunteer embezzlement, including the cashier functions for special events and activities held by or sponsored by the school

 Serves as an advisory administrative member of the Board of Directors’ Finance Committee and to the board Treasurer, attending committee meetings and providing supporting reports and information as needed and upon request in coordination with the President, who is the sole employee and official point of contact of the board

 Acts as liaison with outside auditors in all matters; prepares and manages all aspects of annual audit, as well as interim reviews by outside auditors, including final presentation of the audit report and results to the board for review

 Monitors the school’s investment accounts and, where appropriate, works with the selected investment/account manager. Manages all investment transactions, including draws from the endowment funds as directed by policy and as needed to support the budgets in coordination with the Head of School, Board Treasurer, and the Board Finance Committee

 Leads in the preparation of annual budgets for review by the Head of School and the Board of Finance Committee. Prepares regular financial reports for budget officers, the Executive Council, the Head of School, and the board to provide status, forecasting, and review of variances to the budget

 Prepares long-range financial planning and works with the Head of School on business and financial analysis for the strategic plan, special projects, and strategy development

 Manages Payroll, Student Billing, and Accounting/Accounts Payable employees and oversees these processes, providing assistance as needed to ensure timely and accurate completion of work; oversees all banking functions of the association and the internal audit and review of all banking transactions

 Coordinates with the Head of School and Advancement Offices, monitors all grant and philanthropic activity, and ensures funds are posted and released in compliance with all donor and grantor requirements

 Oversees and coordinates the HR function and manages the HR Manager and any related staff to ensure that compensation plans are maintained and implemented in accordance with best practice and final board approvals, monitors that benefit contracts are current and reasonable, and ensures that adequate budget support is provided to employee training and development programs

 Provides for risk management to the association and its schools and coordinates with the insurance carriers to assess and measure all insurable risks and secure coverage, where appropriate; reviews all major contracts of the association for advisability, risk mitigation and favorable treatment of the association in such agreements

 Prepare and file all required regulatory and government reports

 Keep current on applicable Federal and State tax laws as they relate to donations, not-for-profits, as well as employment and payroll laws, and ensure that the Association complies with these laws and recommended practices

 May also be required to assist with logistics and transporting computer equipment (and other equipment) when events are held offsite; must also be willing to assist other departments as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:

 Bachelor’s degree in business/management, finance, or accounting required, master’s in related discipline, MBA, and/or CPA certification preferred

 Minimum of 10 or more years of progressively responsible accounting duties, preferably with knowledge of not-for-profit/educational accounting requirements; supervisory experience with at least two or more direct report employees required

 Advanced proficiency with general accounting systems (QuickBooks experience a plus), database systems and query interfaces (experience with BlackBaud’s Raisers Edge and Student Information Systems such as FACTS is a plus), and Microsoft Excel, and proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

 Proven management success in an outcomes-oriented environment and ability to be effective in working with many details in a multitasking, multi-site environment, and effectively leading a team and coordinating the work with others in that environment.

 Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, and motivational skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with Trustees, parents, and other external constituents in a professional manner

 Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including weekends, weeknights, and weekends in support of events and school or association activities related to fundraising and handling cash

 Fully accepts our belief statement and actively exhibits these Christian values and behavior in all they say and do, agreeing to limit their personal expression to remain in alignment with the school's stated religious beliefs and according to our agreement with The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, under which we are a Recognized Service Organization.

 Must be a member of and in regular attendance at a Christian congregation, a Lutheran church preferred