Director of Finance

OPPORTUNITIES RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD

Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a trusted advisor to the Board on financial and strategic matters the Director of Finance holds the following responsibilities and opportunities for leadership:

Strategic Partnership with the Head of School: Serve as a trusted advisor to Angela Garcia providing financial insight and direction to inform decision-making guide planning conversations and strengthen organizational alignment around priorities and trade-offs. This partnership is essential to shaping the schools next chapter.

Financial Strategy and Oversight: Build and manage robust financial systems including multi-year forecasting annual budgeting cash flow planning investment management and risk mitigation.

Finance Office and HR Leadership: Lead and develop a small but dedicated Finance Office team improving office functions and overseeing HR functions including compliance benefits and compensation administrationwith a focus on professionalism clear communication and trust.

Board Committee Support and Partnership: Provide Board committees (especially the Finance Committee) with timely accurate thoughtfully designed reports and information that support their strategic work and fiduciary role. The Director of Finance will have regular interaction with trustees on financial matters and strategy and take a leadership role in participating in Finance Committee meetings.

Compensation Strategy and Transparency: Partner with the Head of School and Board to review implement and communicate a compensation strategy that is competitive equitable and mission-aligned. This is an endorsed area of focus for both leadership and governance.

Evaluating Benefits Strategy and Self-Insurance Model: Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the current self-insurance structure and explore alternative models that ensure financial sustainability while maintaining competitive and mission-aligned benefits.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Be a visible engaged presence across campusworking closely with the senior team especially in Advancement Enrollment Operations and Academicsto ensure that financial stewardship supports broader institutional goals.

Budgeting and Community Education: Lead the development of annual and long-term budgets and help bring more clarity around the school finance model and its key drivers. issues to non-finance professionals. Educate staff trustees and the broader community on how financial decisions are made and what underpins them.

Customer Service and Internal Culture: Enhance the Finance Offices responsiveness and accessibility to families faculty and staffdelivering timely clear and respectful service that reinforces a culture of professionalism and belonging.

Compensation and Benefits Infrastructure: Partner with HR to evaluate and improve processes and systems related to payroll compliance performance management and benefits.

Enrollment and Retention Support: With full enrollment and healthy interest in the school collaborate with Enrollment and Academic leaders to ensure sound financial modeling and sustainable practices that support retention and long-term programmatic strength.

Fundraising Finance Partnership: Support the Advancement Office with improved accounting reconciliation and collection procedures. Provide guidance as the school continues to celebrate and build on two consecutive record-breaking years of fundraising.

Facilities and Capital Planning Insight: Partner with the Director of Operations and the Boards Buildings & Grounds Committee to review deferred maintenance planning and help evaluate future capital priorities from a financial perspective.

This is a multifaceted leadership opportunity for a strategic collaborative finance executive who enjoys building systems educating partners and serving a mission they believe in. The successful candidate will bring not only technical skill but also clarity warmth and a genuine commitment to community

Qualifications :

Skills and Attributes of the Next Director of Finance

Near North Montessori seeks a strategic relational and operationally savvy finance executive to serve as its next Director of Finance. The school values integrity professionalism community and mission alignmentand seeks a leader who shares these commitments and brings strong financial acumen to a dynamic educational environment. The successful candidate will be energized by the opportunity to shape systems educate colleagues and help drive the schools long-term sustainability in close partnership with the Head of School and other members of the senior leadership team. The ideal candidate will demonstrate many of the following qualifications skills and attributes:

Bachelors Degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is preferred; MBA or CPA preferred

At least 810 years of progressively responsible experience in financial leadership roles; prior experience in an independent school or mission-driven nonprofit is strongly preferred

Ability to integrate effectively into the culture of not-for-profit independent schools while implementing strategies and tactics necessary for successful operations of the business

Operational orientation with an ability to assess and improve processes for efficiency clarity and service

Significant experience with increasing responsibility supervising other personnel and managing multiple projects and programs

Ability to lead and manage multiple priorities while maintaining precision and attention to detail

Strong management negotiation and project management skills

Experience managing a budget

Strategic thinker with demonstrated experience in budgeting forecasting cash flow planning investment oversight audit compliance and risk management

Strong working knowledge of accounting principles (GAAP) and nonprofit/fund accounting

Comfort with leading compensation strategy and analysis; ability to support the Board and Head of School in aligning compensation practices with school values and resources

Experience educating non-finance professionals about budgeting principles and financial decision-making

Outstanding verbal written and interpersonal communication skills; ability to convey complex financial information clearly and transparently

High emotional intelligence and ability to engage respectfully and productively with staff trustees families and external vendors

An open and collaborative work style; Collaborative mindset and leadership style; ability to partner across departments including Enrollment Advancement Operations and Academics

A positive outlook and a sense of humor

A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic; Integrity sound judgment and commitment to confidentiality and fiduciary responsibility

Discretion and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters appropriately

State of the art computer skills; Proficiency in Google Suite: familiarity with Google applications including Google Docs Google Calendar Gmail Google Presentation Google Spreadsheet; facility working with databases such as Blackbaud and FACTS

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Word PowerPoint and Excel as well as Canva and Constant Contact or willingness to quickly learn and become intimately familiar with these platforms

Ability to travel if needed as well as attend events on evenings and weekends

Flexibility with working evenings weekends and holidays as assigned A complete detailed job description is available to candidates upon their application for this position

Additional Information :

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed when they are received. Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single merged PDF document in the order listed:

EC Candidate Summary

Letter of interest addressed to the Head of School

Current rsum

A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses)

Disclosure (youll be asked to make a copy upon opening)

Please send applications and address inquiries to:

George Sanderson Partner Educators Collaborative

Carol Santos Partner Educators Collaborative

Near North Montessori believes that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity without regard to race color religion gender national origin age disability genetic information sexual orientation ancestry veteran status or any other characteristic protected under federal state or local anti-discrimination laws. The Schools equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment hiring selection compensation benefits transfer conditions and privileges of employment.