Job Bank

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Head of School, and serving as a member of the School’s Senior Administrative Group, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for managing and overseeing the School’s business office and finances with a high degree of efficiency, effectiveness, integrity, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Direct reports to the CFO include: Accountant, Accounts Receivable Manager, Accounts Payable Specialist, Director of Centennial Hall, Director of Facilities (Sodexo) and Director of Dining (Sodexo).

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a highly collaborative working relationship with the Head of School, to ensure cohesive messaging of the head’s institutional strategic goals and objectives, including alternatives and their financial implications, for consideration by board committees and other constituencies.
• Oversees the development, administration, and reporting on the operating budget to the School’s Board of Trustees, the auditors, federal, state, and local authorities, rating agencies and bond information agencies, donors and various Haverford School administrative offices.
• Assumes administrative responsibility for the School’s endowment, providing appropriate information on invested funds and implementing decisions of the Board endowment committee; coordinates with the endowment consultants, investment managers, and custodian(s) implementing effective endowment allocations, performance, and reporting.
• Organizes and coordinates agendas and meeting material for the Finance/Audit Committee, Endowment Committee.
• Collaborates with general counsel regarding all Risk Management matters.
• Collaborates with other school administrators to manage positive relations with the town of Haverford.
• Works closely and in concert with the external vendor (Sodexo) on all matters that pertain to food services and buildings and grounds.
• Possesses an understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion and the implementation of those principles in independent schools

Specific Responsibilities:

Financial Management: Budgeting, Reporting & Audits

• Develop, implement and monitor operating and capital budgets.
• Prepare regular financial forecasts to project fiscal year operating results.
• Oversee and monitor financial investments (endowment funds, invested operating funds, and Israel bonds).
• Act as plan sponsor and fiduciary to the School’s 403b retirement plan with TIAA-CREF.
• Administer grants from regional, state, and local grantor agencies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
• Hold primary responsibility for the outcome of the annual financial statement and pension plan audits.
• Ensure effective financial policies, procedures, and operations in accordance with GAAP.

Planning:  

• Direct long-range budget planning for the School with the Head of School, Senior Administration, and Board.
• Support the School’s Strategic Planning efforts, in collaboration with the Head of School, Senior Administration, and Board
• Prepare financial analyses to support planning for and implementation of long-term goals.

Operations

• Serve as the School’s primary risk assessment officer.

Relationships Management

• Keep the Head of School apprised of all business and financial matters.
  Work collaboratively with the Leadership Team to support the successful operation of the School.
• Serve as staff liaison for and collaborate with board committees: Budget and Finance, Investment, Audit.
• Serve as the primary liaison in banking relationships and with the School’s investment managers.

Successful candidates will share a commitment mission and values and bring a variety of experiences and attributes to The Haverford School.

Skills, work experiences and attributes:
The ability to work effectively with all levels of a socially and culturally rich and diverse independent school, ultimately serving as a role model to promote a positive and productive work climate.

• The ability to serve as a critical business thinker, capable of providing positive and proactive solutions to business issues.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)

• Advanced technology skills including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and database management software
• Knowledge and experience in setting up and monitoring effective financial controls, and proven financial modeling and forecasting skills.
• Demonstrated background in finance, budgeting, investing, and cash management required.
• Effective negotiation skills in developing contracts with external vendors.
• Creativity, analytical skills, project development and management skills.
• Ability to motivate and manage a high-quality staff, and hire new talent.
• An effective financial and business manager, capable of earning the respect and trust of the Head of School, faculty, administration, staff, students and the Board of Trustees.
• Experience in an independent secondary school, college or university setting preferred though individuals with strong financial and leadership skills in a related field are encouraged to explore this high visibility opportunity.
• 10+ years work experience in a financial and business leadership position.
• Bachelor’s degree required, M.B.A. and/or a master’s degree in a related field strongly preferred.
• CPA professional accreditation a plus but is not required.

• Commitment to upholding the Essential Qualities + Principles of Community of The Haverford School
• Commitment to fulfilling the mission of The Haverford School, and an appreciation of single-sex independent school education
• Sense of humor, enthusiastic and happy; high ethical professional standards, and multicultural perspective