Crane Country Day School is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and experienced Director of Finance & Operations to serve as a key member of the senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Director provides leadership across finance, operations, Human Resources, Facilities, and Risk Management while helping ensure the long-term sustainability and mission alignment of the school.

The Director of Finance & Operations oversees the school’s financial strategy and daily business operations, leads operational planning and systems improvement initiatives, and partners closely with school leadership on budgeting, enrollment forecasting, compensation planning, and strategic decision-making. This role also works collaboratively with admissions, advancement, communications, and academic leadership to support the overall health and success of the school community. Additionally, the Director of Finance & Operations collaborates closely with the Board of Trustees Finance Committee Chair.

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful and solutions-oriented leader who communicates effectively with varied audiences, builds strong relationships across the community, and brings sound judgment, integrity, and operational excellence to the role.

Finance, Strategy, Planning & Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the school’s financial operations and long-range financial sustainability.
• Lead the development, administration, and monitoring of the annual operating budget and multi-year financial planning process.
• Prepare and present financial reports, forecasts, and cash flow analyses for the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee.
• Partner with school leadership on enrollment forecasting, tuition strategy, compensation planning, and other strategic initiatives.
• Oversee the administration of the school’s endowment; implement investment decisions of the investment committee; and coordinate with investment managers, ensuring effective endowment allocations, performance, and reporting.
• Lead the annual financial audit process and ensure timely completion of all tax filings and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Evaluate the business office’s strengths and weaknesses and develop goals and

systems that will improve department performance.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local financial and reporting requirements.
• Other duties as assigned

Human Resources

• Oversee the school’s human resources function, including employee benefits administration, compensation practices, policy development, compliance, and employee relations in partnership with school leadership.
• Collaborate with the Head of School and senior administrators on hiring, onboarding, performance management, organizational planning, and employment matters.
• Support the development of competitive and sustainable compensation and benefits programs aligned with the school’s philosophy and budget priorities.

Operations & Facilities

• Provide strategic oversight of campus operations, facilities planning, maintenance, safety initiatives, and vendor management.
• Lead the Business Office functions, including accounting, payroll, budgeting, financial modeling, risk management, and operational reporting.
• Partner with facilities and maintenance leadership to oversee the physical plant, campus infrastructure, capital improvement projects, and long-term maintenance planning.
• Support operational planning and systems that enhance the efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of the school environment.
• Oversee the administration of all insurance programs including property, casualty, medical, workers’ compensation, and D&O. 

Community Participation

• Serve on the school’s senior administrative team and lead or participate in several other Committees.
• Act as a staff liaison to Board committees, including Finance, Audit & Risk, Investment, and Building & Grounds.
• Prepare committee materials, present financial and operational updates, and partner closely with committee chairs and trustees.
• Collaborate effectively with admissions, development, communications, main office, and academic leadership to support institutional goals.
• Represent the school professionally and positively within the broader community and maintain collaborative relationships with local organizations, partners, and public agencies.   
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community and participate in ongoing professional development related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required, MBA or CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior-level experience in finance, operations, or business administration.
• Experience leading financial planning, budgeting, operational strategy, and organizational management initiatives.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, boards, and committees preferred.
• Independent school experience is preferred; however, candidates new to schools with strong financial and operational leadership experience are encouraged to apply. 
• Experience in human resource management, employee benefits, payroll, administration and employment compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial and operational information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of analysis for strategic decision-making such as key cost drivers, competitive analysis, market analysis, organizational strengths, and weaknesses.
• Knowledge of business and not-for-profit accounting policies, procedures, practices, and software programs.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong business and financial acumen.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop teams across multiple operational functions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and integrity in handling confidential and sensitive matters.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics with professionalism and emotional intelligence.
• Collaborative leadership style with a commitment to building strong relationships across the school community.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging practices.
• Ability to remain calm, adaptable, and solutions-oriented in a dynamic environment.

ABOUT CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL:

Crane is an independent K-8 day school located in Santa Barbara, California. Crane provides an innovative and rigorous curriculum in a student-centered, experiential, and creative environment. In keeping with its mission, “We thrive as a community that builds character and confidence, while celebrating the joy in learning,” the school’s programs support a student’s social and emotional growth as well as their academic progress. The school was founded in 1928 and our current community has approximately 275 students supported by 60 Staffulty members (Crane’s word to reflect the combined and cohesive team of teacher and administrators) on our 12-acre campus.

About Crane Country Day School

Crane Country Day School, ideally located in the small seaside village of Montecito, is just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles and 5 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Crane is the oldest independent school in the area, having just launched its 85th anniversary celebration. It is a co-educational day school serving 250 children. The Lower School (grades K-5) and the Upper School (grades 6-8) are both located on the same sprawling yet cozy 11-acre campus that is one of the school's best-known attributes. Honoring its founder's vision, Crane School is dedicated to providing an experiential education characterized by a thoughtful balance of academic challenge and creative expression. We thrive as a community that builds character and confidence, while celebrating the joy in learning.

Connections working at Crane Country Day School