Director of Finance

About The Bishop’s School

Founded in 1909 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, The Bishop’s School is an independent, all-gender college-preparatory day school for 800 students in grades six through twelve located on a historic campus in the heart of La Jolla, just 10 miles north of downtown San Diego. With a student-teacher ratio of approximately 9 to 1, Bishop’s is known for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence while celebrating character development, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Last year’s applicant pool drew from 72 zip codes and 168 middle and high schools throughout San Diego County and beyond. Fifty-one percent of the student population self-identify as students of color. Additionally, over $4 million in need-based grants is awarded annually.

Anticipated Annualized Base Compensation: $180,000 - $210,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO), the Director of Finance works closely with the CFOO in overseeing the School’s financial operations. The role assists the CFOO in assessing the financial performance of the School, identifies potential risks, and furthers day-to-day financial best practices by driving the future direction of the finance department. The Director provides leadership for the finance department team of approximately 5+ professionals in fulfilling the responsibilities of the department and providing outstanding customer service to the School leadership, employees, and other key stakeholders.

This position is an integral member of the team working on important strategic initiatives including, financial forecasting, formulating debt and investment policies, budgets, comprehensive campaigns, gift acceptance protocols, and capital projects. The Director oversees and manages the preparation of the 5-year budget and quarterly financial forecasting, prepares financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of historical and future income and expenses.

The incumbent is an experienced professional with broad knowledge of accounting, finance, and business principles, a strategic thinker, and an effective leader committed to the practice of sound financial stewardship. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to lead change, innovate, and sustain strong working relationships.

Essential Functions and Specific Duties:

• Assist the CFOO and manage all aspects of the financial planning, budget forecast process, and cash flow management.
• Analyze trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred to predict future revenues and costs.
• In close collaboration with the CFOO proactively mitigate financial risks.
• Identify, develop and implement financial policies and procedures.
• Oversee accounting systems and protocols, ensuring best practices and procedures and use of the General Ledger System (Blackbaud Financial Edge) and other automated methods of commerce to equip the School and all constituencies with paperless and innovative processes.
• Supervise the effective functioning of the finance team.
• Oversee, manage and evaluate monthly financial statements, other financial reports, and budget to actual reports for the CFOO, Head of School, and Board of Trustees, including financial analysis and reconciliations.
• Attend and prepare board materials for board and board committee meetings, specifically for the Finance Committee, but also other committees as appropriate.
• Develop and manage comprehensive account reconciliation procedures fully utilizing technology and software.
• Oversee all functions of cash management, endowment, and investment accounting, including planned giving and split-interest agreements.
• Oversee debt agreements and capacity, ensuring that all covenants are fulfilled in a timely manner, including various reports to the Finance Committee.
• Oversee all audit and internal controls operations, annual government filings, etc.
• Oversee with the assistance of the Controller daily accounts payable, collections, cash receipts, and general ledger transactions.
• Oversee the approval process of all financial reconciliations prepared by the finance department.
• Ensure that all activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing the business and financial operations.
• Set targets with the Controller for workflow to ensure timely, accurate processing of accounting functions.
• Liaising with the Technology team to ensure that new financial systems in the pipeline are moving forward, and to spearhead new systems for other financial areas as needed.
• Assist the CFOO in preparing all recurring surveys and reports for the School’s professional organization, e.g. NAIS, NBOA, etc.
• Conduct research, analysis, and forecasts proactively and as needed.
• Perform other projects, initiatives, and duties as necessary and assigned.

An Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Master’s degree in Business/Accounting and 7-10 years of related work experience including supervision, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of GAAP accounting standards, audit, and internal control protocols, all applicable federal and state statues
• CPA or CMA certification is preferred
• Experience in independent schools or higher education is preferred
• A financial executive whose experience, force of intellect and character, technical knowledge, and expertise engender support and trust among others
• Experience working effectively with multiple constituencies such as faculty, staff, trustees, and volunteers, who may have competing interests
• Demonstrated success in financial management, including business processes, internal controls, and process improvement
• A history of establishing and maintaining financial policies, procedures, controls, and standards
• Strong technology skills, especially demonstrating excellence in Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Blackbaud products, and other relevant software
• Experience with capital projects accounting, planned giving, and endowment management highly preferred
• Proven success of working collaboratively and efficiently on a creative, diverse, and goal-oriented team.
• Self-motivated, ability to manage multiple projects, a go-getter attitude when important deadlines cause greater than normal departmental pressures
• Demonstrate the highest level of integrity and competence in thought, word, and action
• Able to make informed decisions, take initiative, effectively consult with others, and prioritize tasks
• The ability to implement and communicate best practices, implement digital processes and platforms with an innovative approach
• A strong ability to set priorities, analyze data, and make solid decisions, or meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced detailed-oriented environment is a must for this role
• Fostering positive relationships with team members and various stakeholders
• Motivating and leading your team to achieve goals while ensuring you are creating a positive environment which encourages collaboration and accountability;
• Encouraging your team to pursue professional development opportunities to help enhance their skill set and grow professionally and personally

Core Competencies:

• Uphold the School’s Core Values.
• Demonstrate professionalism, tack and an unwavering positive attitude.
• Stay up to date on industry standards, trends, developments and legal updates.
• Make timely and ethical decisions both systematically and under pressure.
• Comply with School’s reporting policies and procedures.
• Maintain a clean, safe and organized work area.

Role Specific Competencies:

• Attention to Detail & Accuracy
• Excellent Communications Skills
• Information Management
• Problem Identification & Analysis
• Judgment
• Problem-Solving
• Teamwork
• Deadline-Driven
• Accounting & Reporting
• Strategic Thinker
• Innovation

Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Please do not contact the school directly.

EEO

The Bishop's School is an equal opportunity employer. We are a diverse community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the San Diego area and the United States at large. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. The Bishop's School takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates.