Chief Financial Officer
Located at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Waterford School, with an enrollment of 1,100 is Utah’s premier liberal arts, college preparatory independent school for students in Preschool through High School. Waterford School’s liberal arts program provides a strong academic foundation, and the campus culture prepares students to pursue lives of meaning and purpose. Since its founding, the School has instilled habits of independent thought, critical thinking, responsibility, passionate learning, and service to others. Waterford delivers a world-class education distinguished by a rich curriculum, an outstanding faculty, a deep commitment to student growth, and a learning environment that is caring, nurturing, and inspiring.
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) oversees all aspects of financial operations within the school, reports directly to the Head of School, and is a member of the senior leadership team. This position works in close and regular collaboration with the Head, Board of Trustees, and administrators to ensure adequate resources—human, financial, and operational—are available to support the excellence of Waterford’s liberal arts program and its people, providing strategic direction and overseeing all matters related to finance, budget, facilities, life/safety, legal affairs, risk management, and related policies and procedures.
Direct reports to the CFO include the Director of Safety & Operations; Accounts Payable; Student Billing; Purchasing; the Accounting Manager; and outsourced Dining Services.
The CFO is responsible for the financial integrity of the school and for the management of the financial operations, business contracts, procurement. The CFO serves as a sounding board to the Head of School as well as the Board of Trustees and is expected to explore non-traditional revenue streams for the school. The CFO directs the preparation of all fiscal reports and prepares, presents, and interprets reports for the Head of School, the Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees.
The CFO must be a strategic thinker and effective leader who can manage information, people, and processes in service of Waterford’s mission. As such, she/he must be skillful in dealing effectively with a wide variety of issues, situations, and problems in collaboration with leadership, the Board, employees, and parents. The CFO must be able to produce consistently high-quality work, inspire, and motivate others to work toward school goals. This position includes balancing significant professional acumen with effectively managing interpersonal relationships.
Essential Functions
- Serve as a strategic partner to the Head of School, shaping vision, driving innovation and growth, and maximizing resources to advance the School’s mission.
- Work closely with the Head of School and other senior staff in short-term and long-term strategic financial planning; establish and maintain strong relationships with staff to identify their needs and seek a full range of business solutions.
- Partnering with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to develop financial strategy and scenarios, the annual operating budget, and maintain long-range financial model.
- Partnering with the Board Finance Committee and Investment Committee; work closely with Board committees and provide them with independent perspective on the organization’s finances, facility needs, budgeting, and strategic planning.
- Attend Board meetings and prepare financial reports for Finance and Board meetings. Active participation in the planning and staffing of these meetings is required.
- Evaluate long-range economic trends and develop projections for future enrollment; research and provide analysis of opportunities for the best use of campus, possible campus expansion, and alternative revenue strategies to strategically enhance financial performance.
- Administrative control and supervision of all business and financial operations of the school. Develop, plan, and recommend procedures for proper financial and operational controls.
- Directly manage cash flow and banking relationships including negotiation and utilization of credit facilities and cash management processes.
- Operate and supervise the Business Office, building and grounds, food services, the school store; serving a key role in the employee and vendor contract processes as well as in legal matters, insurance, and employee benefits.
- Work closely with Enrollment/Admissions Management to develop and implement financial aid strategy and funding.
- Manage the preparation of monthly and annual financial reports, including the annual audit.
- Serve as a liaison in connection with construction projects in process; assist in planning and managing all future capital improvement projects. Serve as liaison to public agencies, city, county, and state for issues of institutional concern.
- Lead the financial audit.
- Assume other assignments as determined by the Head of School.
Competencies and Skills Preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
- CPA and MBA are helpful/preferred
- Seasoned and mature leader with at least 10 plus years of broad finance and operations related experience; background in an educational institution or not-for-profit is preferred
- Public accounting experience is preferred
- Creative, strategic, and forward thinker with experience in major institutional capital improvement projects highly desirable; ability to provide sound financial expertise so as to position the school for continued growth
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong organizational ability. Assured public presence and comfort level with faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, parents, and high-level donors. Ability to communicate the case for support in lay terms to trustees and other stakeholders
- Demonstrated leadership ability, team management, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical/problem solving skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses
- Demonstrated ability to deal with unexpected events, uncertainty, and change management; ability to manage multiple projects across functions and timely resolution of issues
- Excellent budgeting and financial reporting background; knowledge of not-for-profit accounting and regulatory reporting
- Commitment to a mission driven organization
- Strong management skills and the ability to work closely with diverse groups of people, including employees at all levels, vendors, suppliers, and other outside professionals with whom the organization deals with on a regular basis.
- Strong work ethic, sense of humor and a high level of integrity, dependability, thoughtfulness, and sound judgment
The successful candidate will be able to develop a healthy rapport with alumni and will embrace Waterford School’s mission, vision, and values in curriculum, teaching, and membership in the community. The Waterford campus is set on 45 acres at the foot of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in Sandy Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Waterford is proximate to one of North America’s premier outdoor and recreational areas. Utah boasts a growing and vibrant culture, featuring a lively arts scene, diverse cuisine, and a thriving sports entertainment industry that enriches the community. The school offers an outstanding working environment. The atmosphere is collegial; both families and faculty show a genuine commitment to learning. Benefits include medical, dental, 403(b).
For more information about the school, please go to www.waterfordschool.org. Qualified candidates should forward a résumé and letter of interest, by email, or fax, to recruiting@waterfordschool.org. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.
