OVERVIEW:

Westmark School is a creative and supportive college preparatory school dedicated to educating, empowering, and celebrating students with distinct learning styles, providing the tools necessary to achieve successful and fulfilling futures. Since its founding in 1983, Westmark has transformed the lives of young people with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other diagnosed language-based learning differences (LD).

Westmark is Greater Los Angeles’s leading independent school serving 230 students from grades 2-12. Westmark opened a Lower School Campus for the 2024-25 school year and began accepting students entering grade 1. The school employs 80 faculty and staff.

The Chief Business Officer (CBO) is a senior member of the Westmark leadership team reporting directly to the Head of School and supporting/liaising with the Board of Trustees. The CBO is responsible for the development, oversight, and administration of all the financial and business affairs and the operations of the School. The CBO plays a key role in ensuring fiscal responsibility, transparency, and strategic financial planning, and provides supervision for a team of non-academic personnel with responsibilities that include finance and accounting, budgeting, purchasing, inventory and resource management, risk management, facilities, human resources, and auxiliary programs. The CBO coordinates all capital projects and provides vision and leadership to help Westmark deliver on its strategy, mission, vision, and goals.

Westmark provides a comprehensive competitive salary and benefits package for full-time employees. Faculty and staff engage in year-round professional development opportunities to ensure that every member of the team thrives. If you are seeking an amazing community that learns and grows together, consider a career at Westmark.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Management & Planning

• Collaborate with and assist the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in meeting the School’s fiduciary responsibilities.
• Create long-term strategic financial plans and projections with the Head of School and Finance Committee to ensure efficient financial operations and the long-term financial health and sustainability of the School.
• Develop and oversee financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard assets, protect confidential information, and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Manage investment portfolio, providing regular updates to the Finance Committee.
• Participate in the development of strategy for capital projects, providing recommendations, financial analysis, projections, timelines, and other data to both inform and manage the process.
• Provide relevant financial data and reports to the Head of School, division and department directors, and the Finance Committee of the Board.

Business Office

• Oversee the School’s business functions and related staff, including: tuition billing and collection, accounts payable, financial aid, contracting, payroll, accounting and reporting, regulatory reporting and compliance, and other business administration activities.
• Administer the annual budget and multi-year forecasting process to align with the School's goals and mission and maintain account records related to the School’s budget.
• Establish a plan and schedule for the preparation of the annual budget that will inform the setting of the succeeding year’s tuition early in the calendar year.
• Control cash flow through the organization and maintain the integrity of funds, securities, and other financial instruments.
• Create, publish, and update Accounting and Tax Compliance Policies and Procedures manual as needed.
• Formulate effective procedures and processes with the Admissions Office to ensure accurate and timely invoicing and the sharing of payment and student information, and oversee communication with parents in terms of financial issues.
• Work collaboratively and meets regularly with the Development Office to ensure accurate financial data reporting, best practices and fiscal accountability within the framework of the School philosophy, policies, and current tax laws.
• Oversee the annual audit of the School’s financial statements and 990 tax returns.

Operations & Facilities Management

• Oversee the maintenance of the buildings, grounds, and equipment to ensure buildings and grounds remain attractive and a vibrant environment conducive to learning.
• Work closely with the Head of School and Board to establish effective processes and procedures regarding land use and regulatory compliance.
• Work with the Head of School and Board to research and propose real estate strategies and facilities plans to meet the School’s mission and vision.
• Manage risk at the School to ensure the safety of personnel and students in their use of the facilities and to maintain appropriate levels of insurance to protect the property and to cover the liability of the School.
• Ensure that the health and safety policy is regularly updated and enforced to conform to current health and safety legislation
• Work closely with the Technology Committee to ensure the School’s management information system is developed and in line with the needs and that proper controls are in place to ensure overall security.

Human Resources

• Oversee human resources functions.
• Oversee changes in policies and procedures, employment contracts, compensation, and benefit administration.
• Ensure that human resources policies and practices are clearly articulated, consistently applied, are in line with the School’s mission and conform to legal requirements.
• Coordinate with the Head of School to develop effective hiring strategies.
• With and under the supervision of the Head of School, review salary schedules to determine fairness, legal compliance, and effectiveness in drawing best qualified personnel to the School.
• Commit to professional development by remaining 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.
• Understand the culture and climate of the School and the wider educational environment.

Other

• Manage, mentor, develop, and evaluate direct reports, providing constructive and timely feedback.
• Attend Board of Trustees and Finance Committee meetings as needed.
• Represent the School at various regional, state, and national associations related to the role.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit in on meetings and work on a computer for long periods of time; and is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

FOR CONSIDERATION:

Westmark School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and job performance. School policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions (including genetic characteristics or information), sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, and local laws.Westmark School follows Centers for Disease Control and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocols for K–12 schools.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a formal letter of application, current resume, and a list of three references with contact information to:

Carolyn Stiles

Creative Independents

Please do not contact the school directly.

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

For more information regarding Westmark School, consult the School’s web site at www.westmarkschool.org.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.A., M.Ed., CPA or related advanced degree required.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in financial management required; experience at a not-for-profit organization, higher education and/or independent school preferred.
• In-depth understanding of key financial controls, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of investment strategies and techniques; demonstrated record of generating positive return on institutional investments.
• Familiarity with financial and business systems software.
• Track record of leading, motivating, developing, and establishing trust with high performance teams.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills with all levels.
• Strong problem solving, analytical, and mathematical skills to reason, estimate, analyze, and recommend.
• Ability to think ahead and plan over a one-to-five year time span.
• Consistently exercises discretion and good judgment.
• Models and fosters high ethical standards, integrity, and respect for colleagues, alumni/ae, parents, and students in the conduct of the School’s business.
• Eagerness to engage in all aspects of the Westmark community while promoting the School’s mission, vision, and values.

About Westmark School

Westmark School is a creative and supportive college preparatory school dedicated to educating, empowering and celebrating students with distinct learning styles, providing the tools necessary to achieve successful and fulfilling futures. Located in Encino, CA, Westmark offers competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. We seek talented professionals committed to excellence.

Connections working at Westmark School