Chief Financial Officer

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, The Opportunity Lancaster Country Day School is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide financial expertise, operational excellence, and a forward-thinking strategic approach as a partner to the Head of School. The CFO will play a key role in shaping the future of the school by bringing a genuine curiosity to the work of ensuring that the financial model matches the institution’s structures and priorities, and that the operational systems and procedures are built to sustain the well-rounded educational experience for which LCDS is known. The CFO reports to the Head of School, collaborates with the school’s leadership team, and directly manages the business office team of three and two other professionals across non-academic operations. The CFO provides the Head of School with direct support in envisioning and executing on the organizational structure, administrative tools and systems, business decision-making, and other strategic priorities. The CFO works directly with the Head of School to craft and execute the school’s operating budget and strategic financial planning. The successful candidate will carry expertise as a thought partner to the Head of School, bringing fresh ideas and acting as a reliable and trustworthy confidant across the organization. As the staff representative to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, the CFO retains responsibility for producing timely consistent reporting, analysis, and financial forecasts. Legal affairs, audit, compliance, and risk management reside with the CFO. The Candidate The successful candidate will take a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the work, building relationships and modeling collaboration. This person will assess, plan, and implement best practices in the systems, procedures, and controls that support effective school operations. The person in this role requires superb management and organizational skills to anticipate needs and drive decision-making across the organization. The successful candidate will be a team player who is happy and effective leading in a workplace delivering a comprehensive education and student and family experience. The successful candidate will bring the warmth, accessibility, and emotional intelligence required to manage community expectations and navigate change smoothly. The CFO must demonstrate personal accountability and operate with integrity and humility. Essential Responsibilities Include: Fiscal Management and Accounting ● Serve as the chief financial and operational advisor to the Head of School and Board of Trustees, providing strategic counsel on matters affecting the financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and long-term health of the institution. ● Lead the development and execution of the school's long-term financial strategy, including multi-year financial modeling, enrollment-based scenario planning, capital planning, and financial forecasting to support strategic decision-making. ● Oversee all financial functions of the institution, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, treasury, cash management, banking relationships, investments, debt administration, purchasing, audit, tax compliance, risk management, insurance, internal controls, and auxiliary enterprises. ● Manage relationships with the school's banking partners, bond counsel, including the administration of tax-exempt bond financing, debt compliance, liquidity management, and other treasury activities. ● Ensure the integrity, transparency, and timeliness of all financial reporting. Present comprehensive financial analyses, operating results, forecasts, and key performance indicators to the Head of School, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees. ● Oversee the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of the institution's annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources and alignment with institutional priorities. ● Articulate long-range funding strategies that advance the school's mission, academic vision, and strategic plan while ensuring long-term financial sustainability. ● Serve as a visible and engaged leader across campus, working closely with colleagues in Advancement, Enrollment, and Academics to ensure that financial stewardship meaningfully supports institutional priorities. Partner with enrollment and academic leaders to provide sound financial forecasting and sustainable practices. ● Direct the annual independent audit process and all related financial reporting, coordinating with external auditors and administrative leadership to ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, legal requirements, compliance filings including the Form 990 and 5500, and fiduciary responsibilities. Personnel Management ● Direct and oversee the hiring, development, performance management, and evaluation of leaders responsible for Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Facilities & Grounds and Campus Safety, Dining Services, and Administrative Operations, fostering a collaborative, high-performing administrative team. ● Lead and develop a dedicated Business Office team, ensuring strong financial operations, disciplined audit processes and effective oversight of HR functions - including compliance, insurance, benefits, and compensation administration. ● Supervise the Human Resources staff and ensure that the school's personnel policies support its programs and that the school's actions regarding hiring, compensation, payroll processing, training, promotion, and separation conform with state and federal requirements, and are in line with the school's strategic goals. ● Ensure that the retirement plans, health and disability insurance,and other benefit programs are brokered, designed, and funded in alignment with the school’s financial priorities. ● Develop policies to ensure that Human Resources information is secure and accessible only to the appropriate stakeholders. ● Provide appropriate and timely information to the Head of School for salary comparisons, both internal and external, including the coordination of the preparation of employment offers in partnership with the Head of School and other school leaders. Risk Management & Operations ● Provide timely relevant data for various stakeholders across the school and ensure administrative conversations apply multi-angled, objective analysis as part of an effective decisionmaking framework. ● Manage relationships with the school's legal counsel, insurance providers, government agencies, investment managers, and other external partners as appropriate. ● Increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of financial and administrative operations through process improvement, technology initiatives, workflow redesign, and continuous assessment of internal controls and business practices. ● Provide strategic oversight of the school's information technology function, ensuring technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, business continuity, and administrative systems support the educational mission and operational excellence of the institution. ● Lead the ongoing implementation, optimization, and continuous improvement of enterprise administrative systems including Veracross, by introducing new modules and workflows that improve operational efficiency, reporting capabilities, data integrity, and user experience. ● Partner with the director of facilities on the management and maintenance of the school's physical campus and infrastructure including several school owned off-campus rental properties to provide a safe, secure, well-maintained, and sustainable environment that supports teaching, learning, and community life. ● Oversee facilities operations and ensure comprehensive programs for preventive maintenance, deferred maintenance, capital renewal, environmental health and safety, emergency preparedness, regulatory compliance, and campus security. ● Partner with architects, engineers, consultants, and contractors to plan and execute capital improvement projects, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and consistent with the school's quality and sustainability objectives. ● Oversee enterprise risk management, including insurance programs, regulatory compliance, business continuity planning, cybersecurity governance, and institutional risk mitigation strategies. ● Direct the operation of key administrative services, outsourced dining services program, contracted transportation services, and supporting the planning and logistical coordination of internal institutional events. ● Serve as the primary administrative liaison to the Board's Finance and other assigned committees, preparing agendas, presenting recommendations, and implementing Board-approved initiatives. Qualifications The ideal candidate will be an experienced executive and a team player who possesses: ● Education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field. ● Experience in, knowledge of, and/or appreciation for independent schools or not-for-profit organizations is beneficial. ● Eight or more years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer or Business Officer strongly preferred. Significant managerial experience required. Experience in public accounting would be beneficial. ● Advanced Excel and analysis skills, prior experience working across technology platforms, and a strong working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and financial software programs preferred. ● Demonstrated effectiveness working with Trustees, employees, and external constituents, including the negotiation of contracts and management of vendors, suppliers, and project managers. ● Experience working with external auditors, implementing internal controls, and managing compliance- related issues. ● Demonstrated ability to manage and execute all duties through an accessible and collaborative approach that supports the comprehensive needs of the school’s leadership, governance, employees, and stakeholders. Compensation for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. A comprehensive suite of full time employment benefits includes such elements as: Health, Vision, Dental, Life, Disability, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Relocation, Educational Assistance, Professional Development, Tuition Remission, Fitness Center Use, Lunch Account, Paid Time Off, Employee Assistance Program, and Travel Assistance. Lancaster Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer.