SUMMARY
Located just north of Seattle in Shoreline, Washington, The Evergreen School has been educating highly capable, creative learners for nearly 60 years. Our students love to ask questions, and our teachers use that natural curiosity to craft engaging lessons and spark thought-provoking conversations. Evergreen’s program infuses challenging academics with foundational support for social skills, emotional well-being and empathy for others. Our students think deeply, take intellectual risks, and tackle complex problems. They learn how to self-advocate, collaborate with others and understand differences. Evergreen graduates move on to high school and beyond with confidence, ready to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world.
Evergreen currently enjoys an outstanding financial position due to prudent decision-making and thoughtful leadership. The incoming CFO will continue this legacy, working as a strategic partner with the head of school and board leadership, providing modeling, financial forecasting, and cost/benefit analyses for both operational and strategic initiatives. The role requires a forward-thinking, data-driven leader with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team. In addition, the successful candidate must have a commitment to our mission as an independent school for highly capable students as well as a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Evergreen is seeking a highly-skilled, mission-driven, and experienced financial professional to become its new chief financial officer. The CFO reports directly to the head of school, serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, and supervises direct reports in five departments: Business Office, Facilities, Health/Safety, Auxiliary Programs, and IT. Primary responsibilities include development and management of the operating budget, oversight of all accounting and payroll functions, long-term financial planning, legal and risk management, human resources, financial aid, and operations involving facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Programs.
For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.
www.12MRecruiting.com/jobs/evergreen
IMPORTANT DATES
Post Date: March 1, 2022
Application Deadline: March 28, 2022 at 5:00pm PST
Remote Semifinal Round: Week of April 4
On-site Final Round: Week of April 18
Decision Announced: April 30, 2022
Start Date: July 1, 2022, or earlier by mutual agreement
SPECIFIC DUTIES
General leadership, strategic direction and financial management
- Report to the head of school, participate as a collaborative member of the leadership team, and serve as a trusted advisor to the head, leadership team, and Board of Trustees.
- Oversee multi-year initiatives and areas of critical importance to Evergreen, including: large-scale borrowing, plant redesign and construction, endowment, and investment.
- Provide strategic direction for appropriate and maximum use of financial resources, build multi-year budget models and forecasts, and develop key performance indicators—all to achieve the school’s strategic priorities and maintain long-term health of the institution.
- Oversee several important operational units and major programs, most of which are led by directors or managers: auxiliary programs, facilities, financial aid, health/safety, human resources, and information technology.
- Serve as lead liaison for the Finance, Investment, and Facility Committees and provide effective communication, presentations, and updates to the full Board of Trustees.
- Publicly represent the school in a positive and proactive way, collaborating with other school administrators, neighbors, and public officials.
Compliance, risk management and reporting
- Oversee internal controls, cash management, banking relationships, and asset management, and maintain accurate and timely continuous records on the financial position of the school.
- 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.
- Monitor and mitigate risk with a comprehensive risk management and insurance program.
- Provide transparent financial reporting and planning that build trust among administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and trustees.
Operational management and oversight
- Collaborate with the head of school and other senior administrators to provide leadership regarding employee compensation and benefits.
- Oversee the business office and its core operations, including: AP, billing and collections, credit card management, cash receipts, payroll, and GL accounting.
- Develop processes and systems that provide clarity—and flexibility when necessary.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
EVERGREEN IS LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO CAN DEMONSTRATE
Professional Qualifications:
- Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field, which is a minimum requirement; an MBA or graduate degree highly preferred
- 5+ years of management-level experience in areas of finance and operations, preferably in an educational, not-for-profit, or mission-aligned organization
- Previous supervisory and governance experience, 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, construction and project management, HR, technology, and risk management.
Desired Experience, Skills and Mindsets:
- Cabinet-level leadership
- A strategic decision maker able to analyze complex situations, work under pressure, and effectively plan and delegate
- A systems mindset committed to delivering outstanding project management
- An excitement about working with a new head of school and highly talented leadership team, many of whom are relatively new to their respective roles
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Cultural competency
- Demonstrated cultural competence skills that allows for successful collaboration across diverse cultures and backgrounds
- An open-mind that asks questions, learns from others, and brings a collaborative and respectful approach to problem solving
- An ability to build relationships and trust with constituents from diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Experience looking at decisions or problems with a diversity, equity, and inclusion perspective that leads to increased access and inclusion
- Community partner
- Alignment to the mission and values of Evergreen
- A love of education, and a willingness to support innovative teaching and learning at an early childhood to grade eight independent school
- Authentic empathy, warmth, and collegiality
- A cooperative and growth-oriented mindset ready to build consensus.
TO APPLY
For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.