
Chief Financial Officer & Business Manager
Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center, Boston, MA
The CFO is responsible for all areas of the accounting function, including developing and overseeing appropriate financial procedures and controls, financial reporting, development of and monitoring annual budget, and completion of annual audit.
The CFO Business Office operations and oversees all aspects of HR and benefits administration. They are also responsible for long-range financial and facilities planning, managing capital projects, overseeing all insurance programs, and are responsible for risk assessment and management.
In collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer, the CFO supports the office of Advancement and fundraising initiatives through financial guidance and administrative support. The CFO regularly attends Finance Committee meetings, Investment Committee Meetings and Board meetings .
Chief Financial Officer
- Establish an effective financial modeling system for strategic planning to aid the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in making strategic decisions.
- Provide monthly operating reports to the Head of School and provide timely and accurate budget vs. actual reports highlighting budget variances and potential issues
- Maintain collaborative relationships with the Board of Trustees Finance Committee through regular attendance at Investment (Fiducient) and Finance Committee meetings
- Reports out quarterly to the Head of School, Finance Committee Chair, Board Treasurer and Chief Advancement Officer on the present and future operating budget and the fiscal health of the school
- In conjunction with the Finance Committee Chair and Board of Trustees, oversee the school’s financial investments, including the endowment.
- Prepare annual operating budget in conjunction with the Head of School and Chief Advancement Officer; present the final budget to Finance Committee for recommendation to the Board of Trustees
- Work with external auditors and provide all financial documentation as needed and required as part of the annual audit of the school’s finances and preparation of the school’s tax returns. Report findings to the Head of School and Finance Committee
- Review and file tax forms prepared by auditors (Form 990 & Form PC)
- Prepare and file all annual forms including 3ABC (town of Federal Form 720 (PCORI reporting), ACA forms 1094 and 1095
- In concert with the Associate Director of Advancement, ensure proper receipt, accounting and spending of financial donations and gifts
- Establish written financial procedures, maintain internal controls as necessary, and maintain all financial records
- Establish and maintain electronic and paperless filing systems of all financial records
- Work with Board of Trustees and the IT Vendor to execute an internal Board Management tool by leveraging existing software such as Google Suite
- Serve as chief advisor and thought partner to the Head of School on all financial and HR matters
- Maintain positive relationships with vendors, auditors, renters and legal team
Human Resources
- Oversee all management of human resources functions, including employee relations, benefits and compensation and safety for employees including but not limited to:
- Process biweekly payroll and FSA, HSA and Dependent Care employee claims and approved expense reimbursements biweekly
- Prepare new employee and annual employment agreements; Responsible for onboarding new employees and offboarding departing employees
- Coordinate open annual enrollment period for all MCA employees
- Develop a system to t rack employee paid time off, sick days and approved leave of absences, addressing employee relations matters
- Support MCA employees by ensuring proper administration of personnel policies and employee benefits (including but not limited medical, dental, flex savings plan and 403b retirement programs) and comply with internal and external requirements
- Stay abreast of federal and state rules and regulations for employees (e.g., background checks). Process all CORI/SORI background checks on new employees, board of trustee members and volunteers.
- Stay abreast of all federal and state laws concerning human resource management, benefits, payroll, wage and hour, and personnel (including but not limited to ACA, FLSA, FMLA, PFMLA).
- In collaboration with the Head of School and Principal, establish and maintain a salary tier and performance management system and schedule for all MCA faculty and staff.
- Work collaboratively with the legal team on employee relation issues
Business Office
- Oversee the operation of the business office, including but not limited to accounts payable and accounts receivable, general ledger, monthly and annual reporting.
Supervise the work of the business office to ensure compliance with all applicable accounting procedures and standards per Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the rules of the Financial Accounting Services Board (FASB) - In collaboration with the Director of Admissions and Summer Camp Partnerships process all new and returning student enrollment contracts and enrollment fees. Manage all student financial accounts
- Build positive relationships with families through timely review of their financial information and clear communication regarding all financial aspects of school enrollment and deadlines
- Review and negotiate vendor contracts and establish bid procedures
- Review and oversee all purchasing and contracts, banking activities and monitor purchases of third party vendors.
- Develop policies and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations
- Serve as member of the Leadership Team and collaborate with other administrators on meeting school-wide goals
Facilities Management
- In collaboration with the Facilities Coordinator, oversee the maintenance and upkeep of school building
- Work with the Head of School to prioritize capital projects and larger maintenance needs and projects
- Work with the Head of School and third party vendors to evaluate and administer all revenue-saving programs such as grants, tax savings and rebate programs
- Manage all facilities rental contracts and payments and all third party maintenance vendor relationships
- Evaluate safety and security risks and research and implement mitigating solutions
Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s Degree in or equivalent Financial anagement experience is required; Masters Degree in Finance or MBA preferred.
7-10 years of financial management experience at a senior level is required. - Proven track record in preparing annual operating school budgets, developing and executing cross-functional operational plans
- Ability to lead strategic initiatives to completion while anticipating issues and identifying practical solutions across the school.
- Experience with collaborating on long-range capital campaign and fundraising initiatives
- Experience in gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing data to provide metrics key to guiding prudent decision making.
- Exceptional written/verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to distill complex topics and then communicate them effectively to varied audiences.
- Significant experience supervising other personnel and managing multiple projects and programs.
- Highly organized and detail oriented with the ability to think proactively and outside of the box
- Successful multi-tasker who thrives when managing concurrent projects under tight deadlines.
- Excellent communicator with students, families, MCA Leadership Team and external partners from diverse backgrounds.
- Receptive to feedback and unafraid to take proactive steps to find solutions or make improvements
- Previous experience working in a non-profit independent school is a plus
Additional Requirements:
- Proficiency with G-suite, Excel and Quickbooks; eagerness to learn the School’s Fundraising management technologies
- Self-motivated with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous, and complex projects
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent collaboration skills and a desire to lead a school as a member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Represent the school in the larger community in a positive manner that reflects the values of the school
- Experience in stewardship, cultivation, and generation of non-tuition revenue and capital funding preferred
Traits and Qualities:
At MCA, we believe that an excellent staff member does the following:
- Believes that all of us can and will learn and creates a positive learning environment with high expectations for all students and staff throughout the school;
- Thrives as part of a team-oriented, mission-driven culture;
- Exudes joy and a love of learning every single day;
- Demonstrates a growth mindset and a desire to continually improve through feedback, coaching, and professional development;
- Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community.
- Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove what is possible for students.
- Willing and able to play different roles at the school to meet the varied and constant needs of the students and staff at MCA.
- Models positive and healthy character traits and habits, as well as the values of MCA.
- Willing to do whatever it takes to help our students achieve academic excellence.
- Constantly assesses progress, communicates results clearly, and uses data to inform decisions and set ambitious goals.
- Has a strong work ethic and commits to ensuring students excel, including committing to an occasional extended work day while sustaining a safe, supportive environment for students, their families, and school staff and remaining available to colleagues, students, and families outside of school hours.
Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center
