Chief Financial Officer

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Job Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Department:
Business Office
Reports to:
Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Head of School
FLSA Status:
Exempt
PDS Status:
Staff, full-time, benefited
This position is an exempt, salaried, 12-month position. Salary is commensurate with education and
experience.
Founded in 1970, Providence Day School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational college
preparatory school serving approximately 1,600 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th
grade. Committed to academic excellence, global diversity and character development, PDS seeks to
inspire in its students a passion for learning, a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to
personal integrity. Cited for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, the College Board
Advanced Placement Program and the National Council of Teachers of English, PDS provides a
challenging and diverse college preparatory curriculum.
In 2014 PDS was recognized for the 11th consecutive year as one of North Carolina’s 50 most familyfriendly employers by Carolina Parenting Inc. for its initiatives in helping N.C. parents balance work and
home life.
The Providence Day School community welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs who share
a commitment to respect one another and accept differences. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
with a policy of nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without
consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin,
disability, gender or gender identity.
Providence Day School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is a member of
ABC (A Better Chance), and holds memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools,
Southern Association of Independent Schools, North Carolina Association of Independent Schools,
Educational Records Bureau, National and Southern Associations for College Admission Counseling, the
Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the College Board.
Summary of Responsibilities: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a full-time, year round administrative
position and reports directly to the Head of School and serves as a member of the Administrative Team.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ensuring the financial integrity of the School,
strategically aligning the budget process with the mission of the School, cash flow analyses, the annual
audit and tax returns, risk management, investment, treasury management and banking activities.
While the CFO reports directly to the Head of school, he/she will also work closely with the Chairs of the
Finance, Investment, Audit and Building and Grounds Committees of the Board of Trustees on strategic
matters as they pertain to the advancement of the School overall.
Examples of Responsibilities (Illustrative, not exhaustive):
Financial Planning and Financial Management: The CFO is responsible for ensuring the short-term and
long-term financial sustainability of the School. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the
following:
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Working closely with the Head of School, Administrative Team, Business Office, and the
Finance, Investment, Audit and/or Buildings and Grounds Chairs of the Board of trustees to
assess the School’s financial needs as it pertains to the strategic priorities of the School in the
short and long term.
Preparing the annual budget, monthly financial reports, cash flow analyses, the annual audit,
and tax forms as needed.
Working closely with the entire business office, ensuring that proper internal transaction
processes and controls are in place and meet the standards of GAAP and as recommended
by our independent auditor.
Working closely with the School’s financial institutions to ensure the proper maintenance of
our daily accounts, the School’s debt, and endowment investments.
Facilities Management: The CFO shall be responsible for facility rentals, manages the school’s real
estate affairs, negotiates new leases or lease renewals. Other responsibilities include, but are not
limited to, the following:
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Works with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Director of Facilities and the Building and
Grounds Committee on developing annual and long-range plant renewal plans.
Works with the Head of School, the COO, Board Committees, and school constituencies on
the overall development of the School Plant. In particular, playing a key strategic role in the
evolution of major capital projects.
Works with the COO and the Director of Facilities on construction projects throughout the
year, ensuring that they remain on time and on budget.
Risk Management: The CFO will work with the Risk Management Committee and Director of Safety and
Security on the overall strategic approach to risk management to put the school in the best possible
position to support our students, parents, faculty, staff and Board of Trustees. This includes, but is not
limited to, the following:
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Working closely with the school’s insurance consultant and insurance companies to ensure
good oversight on policies and procedures.
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Work with the Head of School, COO, Safety Director, Deans of Students, Facilities Director
and various constituencies to maintain and advance our safety and security initiatives and to
ensure the School is in compliance with all regulations and best practices in this area.
Human Resources: The CFO will work closely with the COO in fully supporting our employees. This
includes, but is not limited, to the following:
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Working with the COO on annual salary and benefit budgets to ensure the school is offering
comprehensive employment packages to our employees.
Working with the COO on the annual renewal of benefits packages in consultation with the
School’s benefits consultant.
Supports the COO on the School’s Employee Handbook to ensure that the School is in
compliance with all laws, regulations and best practices.
Technology: The CFO will work closely with the Director of Technology and the Technology Team to fully
support the technological needs of the School. This includes, but is not limited, to the following:
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Working with the Director of Technology on an annual and long term technology plan.
Working with the appropriate constituencies to make sure the School is financially planning
for the full support of technology on campus and planning for the future of innovation.
Food Service Management: The CFO will work directly with the outside food vendor to provide a
nutritious and cost effective food program which also acts as a source of auxiliary income. This includes,
but is not limited to, the following:
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Working closely with the School’s third party vendor in providing and maintaining a quality
nutritional program for students and employees and generates revenue for the School.
Coordinate with staff to ensure compliance with state and local laws.
School Store Management: The CFO will oversee the School Store to ensure that it provides constituent
needs and acts as a source of auxiliary income. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Supervise School Store employees.
Ensures a strategy that supports School branding, provides for constituent needs and
generates revenue for the School.
Other Responsibilities: The CFO shall be responsible for other related duties, including, but not limited
to, the following:
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Responsible for 403(b), TDA and 457(b) compliance.
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Responsible for developing the Fiduciary Committee of the 403(b), TDA, and 457(b) plans
with CBIZ and shall be responsible for representing the School at consortium meetings.
Collaborates with the Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement to articulate
operating targets as part of the annual fund and/or capital campaign plans.
In collaboration with the Director of Enrollment Management and the Head of School,
develops recommendations to the Finance Committee for annual tuition increases, financial
aid budget and salary increases. Recommendations include relevant supporting data and
benchmarks.
Oversee the preparation of financial records for annual independent audit, the 403(b) audit,
the preparation of the Form 990 and any other required returns, including the Form 5500.
Responds to Auditor’s administrative recommendations in the management letter.
Works with insurance consultants to ensure that adequate, appropriate and cost effective
insurance is in force, including, but not limited to, liability, property and casualty, directors
and officers and workers’ compensation.
Ensure that the school has a long-range, strategic, financial plan adopted by the Board of
Trustees that reflects the School’s mission and guides the financial priorities of the School.
Hold overall supervisory responsibility for the entire accounting system, the preparation and
accuracy of financial statements, and the routine preparation and reporting of financial
results.
Review and maintain policies approved by the Board of Trustees related to financial aid,
tuition remission and/or alternative pricing models.
Mentor and develop direct reports in managing work allocation, training, problem resolution,
performance evaluation and the building of an effective dynamic team.
Represent the School at various regional, state and national associations relative to the role
of being the CFO.
Qualifications and Skills include, but are not limited to, the following:
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B.A. or B.S. degree required. M.B.A., C.P.A. or other advanced degree preferred.
Excellent interpersonal, communications, public speaking and presentation skills and the
ability to use sound judgment and work independently in a confidential manner.
Must be collaborative, resilient, flexible, diplomatic, patient and professional.
5 or more years of proven senior level management experience with an organization of
similar size and scope preferred. An independent school environment preferred.
Experience in a senior financial management role with a proven track record of partnering
with various constituencies on an organization’s priorities.
A proven record of strategic thinking and helping to lead and execute major projects.
The desire to live and espouse the values inherent in the Providence Day School mission and
overall culture.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
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Oversees, is responsible for, and supervises Business Office personnel, the School Store and
its personnel, as well as is the lead PDS administrator when working with the School’s Food
Service Vendor (Flik).
Application Process: Applicants should submit a cover letter of interest, current resume, college
transcript, three letters of recommendation, and a list of references with telephone numbers. Materials
should be sent to the provided email address.
[email protected]
This position is open until filled. Providence Day School is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).

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