Director of Finance and Operations

SUMMARY

Since 1970, Turning Point has been graduating students who are confident in their abilities, masterful in their achievements, and empathic in their worldview. Located in Culver City, CA, Turning Point serves approximately 300 students in preschool through 8th grade. The school’s “positive equation for achievement” is based on scientific research and positive psychology, and encompasses the intellectual, social, physical, ethical, and emotional elements that drive each student’s experience and growth from the very first day of preschool until eighth grade graduation. The school is committed to a program that produces talented, capable students who are not only ready to take on the challenges of high school, but are proud to have already made the world a better place.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the director of finance and operations (DFO) oversees the school’s financial management, in addition to key operational areas: facilities, human resources, security and safety, and information technology. The DFO supervises two positions in the business office (a controller and an HR manager, the latter of which is currently unfilled), and facilities. The DFO partners closely with other senior administrators across multiple divisions and departments, including: academic, admissions, development, and DEI. An ideal candidate is someone who can provide day-to-day, hands-on leadership for finance and operations, but still offer strategic guidance to the head of school, senior leadership team, and board of trustees on long-term financial strategy. Culver City is a vibrant and rapidly transforming part of Los Angeles that offers many opportunities for growth, yet it is also a highly competitive market that requires creative approaches to resource management and financial planning. The DFO reports directly to the head of school and will be warmly welcomed to the community in the late spring or early summer.

12M & Ed Tech Recruiting is running the search on behalf of Turning Point School. Applications received by March 28 will receive priority review. For application instructions and the full job opportunity statement, please visit:

www.12MRecruiting.com/jobs/TPS/DFO

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Priority Deadline: March 28, 2025

Remote Semifinal Round: Mid-April

On-site Final Round: Late April

Decision Announced: May 9, 2025

Start Date: Late Spring / Early Summer

Salary Range: $200,000 – $220,000

Reports To: Head of School

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

DUTIES

Financial & Operational Leadership

• Oversee the school’s finances and primary operational units including facilities, human resources, purchasing, safety and security, and technology and systems administration.
• Provide direction for appropriate and maximum use of financial resources to achieve the school’s strategic priorities prioritizing long-term health and sustainability of the institution.
• Build multi-year operating and capital budget models and forecasts and develop key performance indicators to achieve the school’s strategic priorities for its operating budgets, debt management, and investments.
• Partner with the director of athletics, safety, and security to monitor and mitigate risk management, and serve as a member of the school safety committee.

Compliance & Reporting

• Prepare and maintain reports for the head of school and board of trustees on financial planning, charitable giving, external reporting, industry benchmarking and analysis, and debt management.
• Supervise the controller and HR manager to ensure timely submission of appropriate reports and tax forms, annual audit, and payroll processing.
• Ensure that the school is in compliance with all local and state reporting requirements.
• Oversee and ensure the successful completion of the annual independent audit.

General Administration

• Serve as lead liaison for the finance, audit, and building and grounds committees of the board of directors, and provide effective communication, presentations, and updates to the full board.
• Directly supervise a team of four comprising a controller; facilities coordinator; IT manager; and human resources manager, once hired.
• Provide counsel and guidance on financial and operational matters to other members of the senior leadership team.
• Report to the head of school, participate as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team, and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred
• 5+ years of management-level experience in areas of finance and business operations, preferably in an educational, not-for-profit, or mission-aligned organization
• A comprehensive skill set for oversight of financial reporting, budgets, investment and endowment strategy, accounting, facilities, HR, technology, and risk management
• Experience in setting up and maintaining financial and operational policies, procedures, controls, and standards, and preparing GAAP financial statements

Personal and Leadership Qualities

• A relational and customer-service mindset for working within a collaborative school community
• Capacity to collaborate effectively with a wide range of constituencies, including parents, faculty and staff, trustees, members of the neighborhood community, and vendors
• An analytical and organized approach toward financial management and decision making
• Exceptional attention to detail and integrity
• Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills in support of projecting, developing, and managing nonprofit operating budgets
• Outstanding communication, both written and verbal
• A personal and professional commitment to diversity and inclusion practices including the ability to represent multiple perspectives
• An eagerness to communicate and collaborate with a diverse and broad spectrum of individuals

TO APPLY

For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.

www.12MRecruiting.com/jobs/TPS/DFO