Job Title: Director of Finance and Operations

Reports to: Head of School

Job Category: Full-time Exempt, 1.0 FTE, Twelve Months

The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) manages the Valley School’s finances, resources, and daily operations, including HR, to ensure the continued development of our rich, child-centered educational program. The DFO reports to the Head of School; is a member of the Leadership Team; supervises the Facilities Manager, and the Extended Day & Summer Camps Manager; and manages the outsourcing of key external functions, including IT, retirement plan and custodial services. The DFO also works closely with the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and faculty in fulfilling our mission to create educational experiences whereby “students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community.” In all areas, the DFO will be guided by Valley’s Mission and Values.

The Director of Finance and Operations is responsible for:

• Ensuring the long-term financial strength and sustainability of The Valley School
• Providing counsel and support to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and faculty on matters relating to finances and operations
• Leading the preparation of the annual operating budget and Five-Year Financial Plan and managing the budget upon its approval by the Board
• Directing and/or executing day-to-day accounting and finance activities and refining policies and procedures that ensure cost-effective and efficient operations, including:
• Accounts Receivable: Entering student charges, enter payment receipts, creating ACH and check deposits
• Accounts Payable: Entering vendor bills, related bill payments and credit card transactions
• Payroll processing
• Monthly and periodic reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statements
• Maintaining files, communication and organization related to all tasks
• Other related duties, including but not limited to, calculating prorations, etc.
• Developing financial models and projections for long-range and strategic planning that balance the school’s current realities with our aspirations
• Establishing financial aid goals, policies, and objectives and assisting with the calculation and distribution of financial aid awards to families
• Manage compliance with all restricted funding and grant requirements
• Overseeing bank relationships, cash and debt management, and investment of operating cash, reserve funds, and endowment
• Coordinating and managing a regular external audit of school finances
• Administering and maintaining all property, casualty, and liability insurance for the school
• Overseeing and selecting investment accounts and investment managers in collaboration with the Board Finance Committee
• Preparing financial dashboards and reports for Board meetings, internal management use, and external requirements
• Developing and maintaining all legal contracts and agreements
• Developing and maintaining historical management information systems for school records, including documents, reports, and databases
• Supervising the Facilities Manager and Auxiliary Programs Manager
• Contributing to regular administrative meetings and sessions of the Board of Trustees and presenting information as requested and appropriate
• Communicating with parents about financial issues
• Managing all aspects of human resources, including assisting with employee hiring, preparing employment agreements for all faculty, and maintaining relations with benefits administrators
• Collaborating with appropriate administrators, trustees, teachers, and parents in communicating about and managing various capital, school promotion, facility, financial, and organizational projects
• Overseeing all risk management dimensions of school operations
• Contributing fully to the life of the School by participating in activities such as front desk coverage, playground duty, and any other duties as assigned by the Head of School

Competencies

• Quick study: Learns and follow the school’s established processes, initiates improvements to current processes and procedures
• Time Management Skills: Able to manage many tasks and projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines
• Organizational Skills:  Creates action plans to meet goals and objectives timely and effectively; coordinates with others to create systems that ensure success
• Growth oriented: Conducts periodic self-reviews of progress and measures against goals; asks questions to better understand priorities; boldly confronts areas of weakness and seeks support through consultants or professional development
• Communications Skills: Effectively communicates accounting, financial and service issues that are complex in nature. Maintains open communications channels with peers, administrators, and customers at the school. Ability to maintain positive camaraderie within the community; Effectively communicates verbally and in writing
• Problem Solving Skills: Considers a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems; Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues 
• Flexibility: Able to adapt quickly to changes; understands that schools are a dynamic work environment, which can involve interruptions and unexpected events
• Leadership skills: Able to supervise several people with varying job responsibilities; Works collaboratively with leadership to put the interests of children and the school at the fore

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required
• Accounting/finance and/or CPA preferred 
• Five years’ experience in relevant industry in accrual-based accounting
• Working knowledge of nonprofit accounting is required, school-specific experience a plus
• Strong proficiency and experience with Quickbooks required
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Suite, especially Excel, required
• Familiarity with BigSis, Bamboo HR and/or ability to learn an online program quickly
• Clear fingerprint background check

About The Valley School

The Valley School is a progressive, pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, independent school that carefully attends to the individual development of children through intellectual exploration, community, and play. We believe childhood is to be celebrated rather than rushed. It is a special time of exploration, unsuppressed creativity, friendship, and wonder. By understanding and respecting childhood, children — brimming with curiosity and imagination—grow into whole-hearted learners, practiced in thoughtful inquiry and critical thinking. Our Mission and Values At The Valley School, we ignite children’s natural passion for learning. Our students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community. Our school values include: celebration of childhood, collaboration, creativity, equity and inclusion, kindness, and respect for individuality. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) Statement The Valley School honors diversity, practices inclusion, and invites courageous conversations. We strive to create a community where each individual is valued, respected, and included. Though the journ...ey can be muddy – much like our playground – we aim to give every child the tools necessary to flourish.

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