British Columbia, Canada
New York, New York
Stony Brook, New York
Centreville, Maryland
Posted: 26-Mar-25
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Preferred Education:
The Opportunity
Tower Hill School is seeking a dynamic and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide financial expertise, operational leadership, and a forward-thinking approach to the overall administration of the school. The CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the school by ensuring that the financial infrastructure and resources are in place to support and sustain the high-quality educational experience that Tower Hill is known for. This role requires a leader who can align financial and operational strategies with the school’s core values and mission.
The CFO works directly with the Head of School, the Business Office team, and the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees to ensure financial and operational objectives are achieved. With the mandate to create the conditions for a successful learning environment and a resilient community, the CFO builds strong relationships, anticipates needs, and drives data-informed decision-making across the organization.
Engaging across all of the School's essential activities, this person directly manages a team of people who execute the accounting and finance functions. The CFO retains responsibility for legal affairs, compliance, and risk management. As part of an intentional transition from the incumbent to a new CFO, the person in this role will manage a network of vendor relationships executing on key functions including financial investments, certain bookkeeping functions, payables processing, billing, and other coordinated outsourced functions.
In support of the governance and fiduciary responsibilities of the Tower Hill Board of Trustees, the CFO provides timely and accurate analysis and reporting as well as financial forecasts. This person serves as a staff liaison to three highly engaged board committees. The CFO works directly with the Head of School and Director of Finance to craft and execute the school’s operating budget and strategic financial planning. The CFO provides the Head of School direct leadership and support in envisioning and executing on the organizational structure, administrative tools and systems, and business decision-making.
The Candidate
The successful candidate will take a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the work, building relationships and implementing best practices in the systems that support efficient school operations. This position requires superb management and organizational skills. The successful candidate will be a team player who is happy and effective leading in a workplace infused by the school’s core beliefs and focused on delivering an exceptional education and student and family experience. The CFO will demonstrate personal accountability and operate with integrity and humility.
Essential Responsibilities Include:
Fiscal Management and Accounting
- Manage the school's financial resources in partnership with the Head of School.
- Supervise Business Office personnel and oversee the full spectrum of accounting functions, ensuring smooth, accurate, and efficient operations.
- In collaboration with the Director of Finance, lead the development, refinement, and implementation of the annual operating budget, gathering input from all relevant stakeholders.
- Prepare long-term financial forecasts and projections, including maintaining the school’s financial model to provide actionable financial insights to the Head of School and Board of Trustees in evaluating and supporting strategic initiatives.
- Coordinate with the Director of Advancement and Director of Enrollment Management to establish and regularly assess fundraising and enrollment revenue goals.
- Ensure the preparation of accurate and timely financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, for internal and external stakeholders.
- Serve as the staff liaison to the school’s investment fund manager, and the finance, investment, and audit board committees.
- Ensure that the school's business and financial policies position the school to mitigate and reduce enterprise risk.
- Oversee cash, investments, loans, credit facilities, and asset management, with direct treasury management responsibility.
- Maintain proper cash reserves, managing endowment funds and operational cash flow in line with established financial expectations.
- Establish a regular process for review, update, and consistent application of appropriate internal controls, policies, and financial procedures.
- In close collaboration with the Director of Security and Operations, coordinate the planning, execution, and financing of major construction projects.
- Develop and execute financial contingency plans for various crisis scenarios to ensure business continuity.
- Oversee the annual financial audit and 403(b) audit processes, ensuring full compliance with applicable regulations.
- Ensure timely and accurate submission of all required financial reports and compliance filings, including the annual Form 990 and 5500.
Personnel Management
- In coordination with outside counsel, the Assistant Head of School, and the Director of Human Resources, ensure that the school's personnel policies support its programs and that the school's actions regarding hiring, compensation, training, promotion, and separation conform with state and federal requirements, and are in line with the school's strategic goals.
- In close collaboration with the Director of Human Resources, ensure that the retirement plans, health and disability insurance,and other benefit programs are brokered, designed, and funded in alignment with the school’s financial priorities.
- Develop policies to ensure that Human Resources information is secured and limited to the appropriate stakeholders.
- Provide appropriate and timely information to the Head of School for salary comparisons, both internal and external, including the coordination of the preparation of employment contracts.
Risk Management, Physical Plant & Operations
- Oversee all campus and work safety issues, regulatory and environmental compliance, and any legal matters in consultation with the Head of School.
- Lead initiatives to ensure financial data security and implement robust protections and protocols for protecting sensitive information handled by the business office and vendors.
- In collaboration with the Director of Security and Operations, ensure the resources and coordinated planning are in place to undertake facilities maintenance and special projects, including major infrastructure investments.
- Serve as a resource to help the Director of Security and Operations mitigate liability exposure through policies, procedures, training, audits, investigations, and engineered solutions.
- Maintain the school's insurance coverage, liability, and risk-related policies and controls. Work with insurance advisors and brokers to ensure adequate, appropriate, and cost-effective insurance is in place.
- Partner with the food services vendor leadership to enable the required staffing, procurement process, catering and event support, and vendor solutions are in place to sustain a positive overall dining experience, including oversight of menu planning.
- Serve as liaison with the school attorneys and local municipal government offices and services.
- Keep informed about emerging financial risks and regulatory changes affecting the educational sector.
The salary range for this role starts at $220,000 and is dependent upon relevant experience. The School’s comprehensive benefits include health, dental, and vision services coverage, as well as a 403(b) retirement matching program, paid time off, and eligibility for generous tuition remission that applies to employee dependents enrolled at the school.
Tower Hill School is an equal opportunity employer.
Interested candidates, please contact Narwhal Talent Partners:
Peter G. Hamilton | (617) 620-9268
Christian G. Henry | (857) 285-3364
All inquiries are treated as confidential.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be an experienced executive and a team player who possesses:
- Education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field.
- Experience in or knowledge of independent schools is beneficial.
- At least five years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer or Business Officer, with significant managerial experience is strongly preferred.
- Advanced Excel and analysis skills, prior experience working across technology platforms, and a strong working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and financial software programs preferred.
- Demonstrated effectiveness working with trustees, employees, and external constituents, including the negotiation of contracts and management of vendors, suppliers, and project managers.
- Experience working with external auditors, implementing internal controls, and managing compliance-related issues.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and execute all duties through an accessible and collaborative approach that supports the comprehensive needs of the school’s leadership, governance, employees, and stakeholders.