Position: Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Position Status: Active

FTE: 100%

Agreement Dates: July 1 - June 30 Annually

Report to: Head of School

Department: Administrative

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

EEO Category: 1.2 First /mid-level officials and managers

Pay Category: Exempt 

Pay Range: $300,000 - $350,000, commensurate with experience

Pay Rate: Annual

Pay Schedule: Semi-monthly

At San Francisco Day School, we believe that when intellect and imagination are intertwined, students delight in the discovery of connection, in their academic and creative pursuits, in their relationships, and in all that they experience here.

Every day we help our students emerge as flexible and resourceful learners. Because when we do, our students light up with the call and capacity to take on the complexities of their day and of a diverse world.

Our Mission
At SF Day we ignite curiosity. We cultivate a diverse, nurturing community that encourages learners to expand their perspectives and become their true selves. Students develop as compassionate, creative problem-solvers, prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.

SF Day Fast Facts
· Independent, co-educational, K-8 school
· Founded in 1981
· Serving 435+ students
· Located in the heart of San Francisco

Summary:

San Francisco Day’s Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) will join a community that is warm and inclusive, dedicated to the delivery of the school’s mission, and committed to the ongoing thoughtful and strategic planning and growth that continue to support it. Ideal candidates will have strong financial and operations management skills, well-honed leadership expertise, and a dedication to collaboration and team building. Head of School, Racheal Adriko, to whom the CFOO reports, is in her second year of leadership and will enthusiastically pilot the school’s next phases of growth and development. A warm, intuitive, energetic, and collaborative leader, Racheal will welcome the partnership of the CFOO as they work together closely and strategically to advance San Francisco Day School’s mission and goals through careful and sustainable strategic planning.

As a pivotal figure within the Administrative Leadership Team, the CFOO at San Francisco Day School plays a central role in advancing the institution's financial sustainability objectives. Tasked with overseeing the effective management of the school's financial resources, the CFOO ensures that fiscal decisions align with the long-term goals and values of the institution.

In addition to spearheading financial strategies, the CFOO holds crucial oversight over key functions within the Business Office, Human Resources, Facilities, Campus Safety, Food Service, IT, and Student Health departments. By leveraging their expertise and experience, the CFOO will streamline operations, optimize processes, and enhance overall efficiency. This multifaceted role demands a keen understanding of both financial and operations management principles and the unique needs of an educational institution.

Through proactive financial planning, meticulous budgeting, and astute decision-making, the CFOO empowers San Francisco Day School to thrive in a dynamic educational landscape while upholding its commitment to excellence for the institution and its related entities like Breakthrough and Simon Props.

The CFOO will work closely with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees as a strategic thought partner and innovative change manager. Responsible for overseeing the annual budgeting process and all financial operations of the school, this individual will also partner with leadership and Trustees to create and maintain long range strategic financial modeling and consolidated reporting. Academic leadership will look to the CFOO for partnership on budgeting, expenditure guidance and review, and continued dialogue and support for program growth and innovation.

The CFOO will oversee the administration of the school’s endowment, executing its investment policy, implementing decisions of the Investment Committee, coordinating with endowment consultants, investment managers, and custodians, and ensuring effective endowment allocations and performance management. The CFOO will enjoy opportunities to help steward the school’s growing endowment with refined data integration, tracking and reporting processes.

The new CFOO will lead finance and operations teams and will best serve them with strong leadership skills, advocacy, and support. Mentoring, team building, and providing performance evaluation and professional development opportunities for staff will be strongly embraced. Other projects on deck include the refinement of processes and procedures to bring further efficiency to business operations, event planning, auxiliary programming, and associated entity management. 

With strategic planning on deck to possibly include facilities expansion, the CFOO will be an essential member of project management teams. An individual with prior facilities planning and construction management experience will thrive in this position.

Responsibilities

In addition to embracing San Francisco Day School’s mission, supporting its Head and leadership, and representing the school at professional and public forums, the CFOO has the following primary responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership, analysis, and management of finances and operations;
• Establish financial and capital strategies that are consistent with the School’s strategic priorities;
• Serve on the Head of School’s Administrative Team and lead, co-lead, or participate in several other teams and committees;
• Oversee all business office functions including all financial reporting to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and various committees;
• Serve as chief staff liaison to assigned Board committees;
• Build and/or maintain the school’s short- and long-term strategic financial models;
• Oversee the administration of the school’s endowment;
• Oversee School operations departments including personnel, professional development,  budgets, contracts, and vendors;
• Oversee Simon Props which owns real estate property that is for licensed use of the employees of SF Day.
•  Provide operational support for the Breakthrough, the afterschool program for students who qualify for financial aid in the city of San Francisco.
• Oversee the audit and state and federal tax filings and compliance requirements
• Maintain strong relationships with banks and lenders to ensure that funding is secured for the needs of the school and compliance with any loan terms;
• Steward all employee benefit programs including health insurance, retirement, worker’s compensation, life insurance, and other related plans;
• Manage insurance programs including property, casualty, medical, workers’ compensation;
• Ensure compliance with all local and state reporting requirements;
• Collaborate effectively with Advancement, Enrollment Management, and other departments;
• Serve as an active participant in the school’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Attend all-school, on-campus professional development seminars, participate in all-school “reads” of important literature in the field, and actively participate in modeling our mission and work in DEI;
• Manage and oversee Facilities and Campus Safety management on oversight of the physical plant, grounds, construction functions, and campus safety planning, protocols and training.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

• Strong financial acumen, gifted in both annual budgeting and financial forecasting and planning;
• A compassionate leader with high emotional intelligence;
• An executive and even-keeled presence, able to inspire confidence, successfully guide risk management, and demonstrate strong listening and relationship building skills;  
• A creative and strategic thinker who identifies, pursues, and implements growth opportunities on behalf of the institution;
• A commitment to building community and living SF Day’s mission;
• Capacity and willingness to collaborate thoughtfully and the ability to build trust with colleagues, creating open dialogues and team building morale;
• Sophisticated communication skills, both oral and written, and the capacity to tailor messaging based on needs and interests of audience;
• The ability to disseminate financial and budgeting information with transparency and clarity;
• A strong track record of integrity.

EEO: 1.2

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, MBA or CPA preferred;
• 10-15 years of senior-level experience creating and executing financial planning and management strategies;
• Experience managing a team, setting clear goals, responsibilities, expectations, and clear methods of accountability;
• Experience managing a team with both in-office and remote members, successfully creating cohesion among the team itself;
• Proven record of accomplishment designing, implementing, and managing large-scale organizational change;
• Superb communication skills; excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills;
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex subjects, distill them, and then communicate them to varied audiences;
• Experience in an independent school preferred, though individuals with strong financial and leadership skills are welcome;
• Experience on senior administrative teams and working with non-profit Boards;
• Demonstrated experience in measuring and improving organization-wide productivity;
• Demonstrated experience in the development of analysis for strategic decision-making, such as key cost drivers, competitive analysis, market analysis, organizational strengths and weaknesses, etc.;
• Experience in human resource management, employee benefits (including pension plans), and payroll procedures. Knowledge of business and not-for-profit accounting policies, procedures, practices, facilities, and software programs; 
• Ability to think and plan strategically and creatively; 
• Ability to supervise, manage, and delegate multiple functions and activities;
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and work effectively under pressure; 
• Skilled at negotiating and initiating contracts with external vendors; 
• Aptitude for high customer-service standards;
• Consistent demonstration of an entrepreneurial mindset;
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable and inclusive practices.

Per CA statutes, all School employees should be able to pass a Federal and State background check, provide a negative TB test, and maintain professional behavior during the period of employment. The employment offer is contingent upon these requirements.

At San Francisco Day School, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment and are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

SF Day Community Expectations

In following these community expectations, we strive to create:

• A working environment for employees to feel grounded in purpose, seen, and respected at school.

• A learning environment for students to gain the skills and knowledge to grow into global citizens who care for themselves, each other, and our world.

Employees:

1. Are compassionate and kind to ourselves and others. We work together as active contributors in a connected community and focus on balance and wellness so we can show up fully for students. 
2. Are prepared. We have the appropriate training, knowledge, and skills regarding this age group's developmental characteristics and needs. We complete our responsibilities with professionalism and fidelity.
3. Are reflective and accountable. We take time to consider the intent and impact of our actions and repair the harm done for the betterment of the community.
4. Are lifelong learners. We are committed to continuous professional growth and lifelong learning.
5. Put the children first. We are child-centered, both in and out of the classroom. We treat each child as an individual with respect and dignity. We create a safe environment where students grow in autonomy and the ability to work and play together.
6. Partner with families. We believe in the importance of the home-school partnership and partner with families proactively and positively.
7. Communicate with professionalism and care. We communicate with professionalism and care to each other and our students.
8. Uphold high expectations for ourselves and our students. It is all of our work to create an environment that fosters personal integrity and social responsibility.

Teachers:

1. Are skilled at teaching their subject area and grade level(s).  We are constantly deepening and evolving our craft to ensure best practices. We know how we teach is as important as what we teach, and growth requires feedback, reflection, and change.
2. Understand the arc of child development. We align our pedagogy and content to this developmental arc.
3. Create an engaging, culturally responsive classroom. We recognize and value the importance of actively engaging students’ learning. We honor students’ cultural displays of learning and respond positively and constructively. 
4. Plan for predictable variability in the learning profiles of students. We provide multiple means of representation and engagement, as well as support and extension in what we teach and assess.
5. Provide clear, consistent classroom norms and logical consequences. We provide feedback to students with clarity and care and guide them through the reflective and restorative process. Students know what routines to expect and what’s expected of them to support them in becoming empowered learners and responsible school community members. 
6. Provide clear learning goals and objectives. We align to content area scope and sequence. We ensure that students know what they are learning when they are learning it, and why they are learning

About San Francisco Day School

SF Day is an independent, co-educational, K-8 school. SF Day educates, nurtures and inspires girls and boys of diverse backgrounds to achieve their highest academic and creative potential, to embrace ethical values and to become active contributors to their communities. San Francisco Day School welcomes and celebrates children, families, faculty, and staff that reflect the broad range of diversity in the Bay Area. The school values the strengths and accomplishments of the individuals who are part of the community and takes pride in and celebrates the diversity and special character of the community as a whole. Therefore, San Francisco Day School encourages people of color and LGBTQ+ applicants to apply.

Connections working at San Francisco Day School