Director of Finance & Operations

About Northern Light School:

Northern Light School (NLS) is an independent school in Oakland, CA serving students in Pre-K to 8th grade. NLS is committed to providing an empowering education for children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Our faculty and staff create an atmosphere where every child can excel – as learners, leaders, and engaged human beings. Our focus is on academic excellence as well as non-violence, acceptance of differences, respect for the environment, and the moral advancement of humanity—so that the children develop an understanding that they have a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Head of School and a key member of the School’s Administrative Leadership Team, the Director of Finance and Operations provides professional leadership and fiscal expertise that guides the financial stewardship of the School. The Director of Finance and Operations directs the financial management, business operations, human resources, information technology, and facilities teams in the organization.

Start Date:

November 2024

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and oversee policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard assets, protect confidential information
• Administer and review school business functions, including tuition billing and collection, accounts payable, contracting, payroll, human resources, accounting and reporting, regulatory reporting and compliance, and other business administration activities
• Oversee facilities
• Supply information and administer the adherence to the annual budget and participate in multi-year forecasting process(es) to align with the school's goals and mission and maintain account records related to the school’s budget.
• Model and foster high ethical standards, integrity, and respect for colleagues, alumni/ae, parents, and students in the conduct of the school’s business
• Manage all human resources policies and practices and ensure that they are clearly articulated, consistently applied, and conform to legal requirements
• Responsible for all risk management; review of all business insurance and related policies ensure appropriate coverage(s) are in place
• Responsible for all IT infrastructure projects, software, hardware, upgrades, and maintenance
• Remain current with business management trends and cultivate professional standards and development by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in local, regional, and national professional organizations
• Create budget for School in Spring for Board approval in June
• Assist Development efforts with grants, event planning and day of event support
• Manage emergency response plan, procedures and monthly drills for faculty and students
• Understand the culture and climate of the school and the wider educational environment.
• Serve as member of schools Leadership and Admin Teams

Qualifications and Qualities:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA and/or CPA preferred
• 10-plus years of financial and business management and leadership in a non-profit or for-profit organization
• Experience in an independent school management role preferred
• Working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and software programs
• Experience in budget development ($5M to $10M), expense management and variance analytics
• Experience in human resources management, employee benefits and policy creation, and administration
• Demonstrated ability to think and plan strategically and creatively
• Ability to supervise and manage multiple staff, functions, and activities
• Strong communications skills (both written and verbal); ability to communicate well with varied audiences

Salary Range:

• The salary range for this position is $85,000-$110,000. The position comes with full benefits, including:
  • 100% employer paid health care
  • Dental and Vision Coverage
  • 403B Retirement and Employer Match

To Apply:

To apply for this position, or for additional information on the opportunity, please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter to HR@nlsoakland.com.

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statement: Northern Light School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, and breastfeeding), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

DEI Statement: At Northern Light School (NLS) we believe a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school community is critical for preparing passionate learners and engaged citizens. Inspired by the core ideals of the civil rights movement, NLS is deeply committed to advancing the cause of social justice through culturally responsive programming that affirms the diversity of our community and gives young people the tools to “promote the moral advancement of humanity,” as our mission powerfully states. We encourage all stakeholders – supporters, families, faculty, and most of all, students – to embrace differences, honor identity and value full membership and belonging for all.