| Established in 1887, Winchester Thurston School (WT) (winchesterthurston.org) is an independent, Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12, coeducational college preparatory day school in Pittsburgh, PA, serving more than 630 students. Committed to cultivating confident, curious students who are articulate and self-directed, WT has enjoyed record enrollment and growth with its innovative curriculum. With approximately 36% of those enrolled identifying as students of color, WT strives to be an inclusive community that pursues the social and pedagogical benefits that diversity brings. WT’s campus, located in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, is situated in the heart of Pittsburgh’s educational, cultural, medical, and research center. Shadyside is approximately five miles east of the city center and is an established area known for its historic homes, distinctive boutiques, and lively restaurant scene. Carnegie Mellon University, Google, the Carnegie Museums, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts are a few of WT’s renowned innovative and cultural neighbors. WT’s nationally recognized City as Our CampusSM program leverages local resources, community partners, and cultural opportunities to provide experiential learning for students across all grades. Guided by its founding credo, Think also of the comfort and the rights of others, WT has been a beacon of progressive education in Pittsburgh. In recent years, WT has achieved national recognition as one of five schools in the country to receive both an E.E. Ford Foundation Leadership Grant and an invitation to participate in the Malone Scholars Program. WT seeks an experienced business management and finance professional who will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the school’s $18M annual budget. The Director of Finance will support the Head of School and the Board of Trustees to align resources with the school’s Strategic Priorities. The individual in this position will report to the Head of School and will work collaboratively with academic and administrative leaders, faculty, staff, and students to advance the school’s Mission. Mission Winchester Thurston School actively engages each student in a challenging and inspiring learning process that develops the mind, motivates the passion to achieve, and cultivates the character to serve. Equity and Inclusion Statement As a means to fulfill our credo, “Think also of the comfort and the rights of others,” Winchester Thurston will be an inclusive community and will pursue the social and pedagogical benefits that diversity brings. We will place the highest value on enabling students to understand their own identity and those of others. It is our moral imperative to be courageous and intentional in promoting understanding, addressing bias, identifying and honoring qualities of justice, respecting multiple perspectives and contributions, and valuing the dignity of all. The Position The Director of Finance (CFO) will be responsible for and/or provide oversight of a broad range of fiscal and operational activities and functions, including financial reporting, budget development and implementation, student billing and collection, purchasing and accounts payable, benefits administration, insurance, investments, transportation, food service and maintenance vendors, and auxiliary programs. While the Director is responsible for oversight of the daily operations of the Business Office and Programs Department, the individual in this position will also need to demonstrate strategic leadership and a collaborative spirit to work with stakeholders in identifying and allocating resources to further the school’s education endeavors. The ideal candidate will have experience in a senior administrative role, a working knowledge of accounting/financial business management, as well as expertise in contract negotiation and budget management. The WT community will embrace a leader who brings humor and integrity to the role and inspires trust by building strong relationships. In addition, WT’s next Director of Finance will: - Manage all functions of the Business Office and its staff
- Provide oversight of auxiliary programs and services that offer extra services and generate additional revenue for the school, including supervision of the Director of Programs and staff, who manage after-school programs, summer camp, and facility rentals
- Partner with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to determine how to align and/or procure financial resources to fulfill the school’s strategic priorities
- Identify, as needed, appropriate vendors for maintenance and food service, negotiating and managing contracts for these services
- Establish policies, procedures, standards, and strategies for all areas of responsibility to ensure adequate internal controls, appropriate risk mitigation, protection of confidential information, and assurance of accurate financial reporting to safeguard the school’s assets
- Prepare and administer an $18+ million annual budget and provide multi-year forecasted budgets to align with the school’s goals and mission, as requested by the Head of School and Board of Trustees
- Manage investments made on behalf of the school, including the endowment
- Serve as the primary Plan Administrator for the school’s benefits, including serving as the chair of the 403b Investment Committee
- Assess risk exposure, oversee the enterprise risk management program, and identify and administer appropriate property, casualty, and liability insurance for the school
- Maintain compliance with governmental regulations by staying current on changing laws and regulations
- Provide financial reports to school leadership and the Board of Trustees
- Work with the Finance, Audit, Endowment, and Buildings and Grounds Committees of the Board of Trustees, ensuring that the committees have adequate financial information to make decisions and perform their fiduciary roles
- Coordinate the gathering and submission of information, as required, for the purposes of benchmarking
- Remain current with business management trends and cultivate professional standards and development by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in local, regional, and national professional organizations
- Serve as a member of the Head’s Council
- Serve as the advisor to the Upper School students’ Investment Club
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