Director of Finance and Operations – Immediate Opening

St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School is distinguished by 70 years of demonstrated success in preparing children for lives of learning and service in our ever-changing society. Renowned for its Episcopal identity, a core belief in the potential of our children and the sanctity of childhood, the school delivers an unparalleled, values-driven preparatory education. Hard work, faith, honesty, and a commitment to excellence allow our graduates to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.

Located in the heart of Tampa, St. John’s provides an exceptional education for 595 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The School’s Core Values and Episcopal identity focus on inclusivity, support, respect, and the shared values reflected in the school’s mission statement. Our students are Empowered to Lead, Inspired to Serve. A feeling of positive energy, inclusiveness, optimism, respect, and kindness permeates our campuses.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:  

The Director of Finance and Operations position is an integral part of the senior management team responsible for managing the financial and physical resources of the school. The position requires a hands-on officer who is skilled and knowledgeable in assessing and managing the financial, accounting, and operations of the school and managing school physical facilities in our multi-campus environment. The Director will report to the Head of School and work closely with the management team on overseeing the day-to-day needs of the school, as well as execute short-term and long-term goals established by the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. This position requires an individual to be multi-skilled. The Director will be responsible for all accounting, audit, tax, treasury, MIS, human resources, facilities, purchasing, and other administrative functions of the school.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard assets, protect confidential information, and ensure accurate financial reporting monthly.
• Manage school business functions, including tuition billing and collection, accounts payable, contracting, payroll, human resources, accounting and reporting, regulatory reporting and compliance, and other business administration activities.
• Conduct a month-end close process and reconcile discrepancies from the sub-ledger to the general ledger and provide financial reports to school leadership and the board.
• In conjunction with the Head of School, develop and administer the annual budget and multi-year forecasting process to align with the school’s goals and mission. Maintain account records related to the school’s budget.
• Participate in the implementation of the strategic plan, providing recommendations, financial analysis, projections, and other data to inform the process.
• Collaborate with and assist the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in meeting fiduciary responsibilities.
• Comfortably and knowledgeably make presentations, evaluate investment alternatives and conduct discussions with lenders and other potential funding sources including donors.
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees and Head of School on the development and implementation of the Master Plan.
• Serve as liaison with Ronin Security International, the School’s security partner.
• Work with the maintenance supervisor to oversee the buildings, grounds, and equipment.
• Effectively oversee the maintenance & facility staff, accounting staff, and contracted vendors.
• Work with the Head of School and fellow administrators to proactively lead school safety and security measures.
• Serve as the primary ‘owner’ of the Crisis Management Manual, ensuring it is current and updated, as needed.
• Understand the culture and climate of the school and the wider educational environment.
• Model and foster high ethical standards, integrity, and respect for colleagues, parents, and students in the conduct of the school’s business.
• Serve on the following Board Committees and provide information to the Board, as requested, and needed: Finance, Master Plan (Building), and Facilities.
• Communicate clearly and enthusiastically to all staff and stakeholders.
• Ensure that human resources policies and practices are clearly articulated, consistently applied, and conform to legal requirements.
• Remain current with business management trends and cultivate professional standards and development by reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and with the approval of the Head of School, participating in local, regional, and national professional organizations and educational opportunities.
• Oversee purchasing, inventory management, and labor productivity improvement.
• Supervise and support the Maintenance & Facility Supervisor and the Accounting Assistant.

Common Qualification Requirements 

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance is required.
• Masters of Accounting or Masters of Business Administration is preferred.
• Five years of experience in finance/accounting/operations.
• Strong initiative, ambition, and the desire to both lead and manage.
• Keen analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proven success in a senior administrative role, preferably working with a board in an independent school setting.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities – organizing and supervising people and processes.
• Prior experience with Veracross SIS is an advantage.
• High ethical standards.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with coworkers and other school community members.
• Respond to alarm calls, as needed, on a 24/7 basis.
• Work with outside service providers such as auditors, attorneys, lenders, and consultants.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR AND CHARACTERISTICS

Model daily the conduct we expect of our students and consistently exhibit the highest standards of professionalism. Ability to demonstrate initiative, leadership, collaboration, and independent thinking. Must possess strong people skills and emotional intelligence when dealing with students, parents, and colleagues, as well as a demonstrated understanding of and investment in the School.

St. John’s Episcopal School is an exceptional work environment with typically low employee turnover. The school goes above and beyond to take care of its employees. The position provides a truly outstanding individual with the opportunity to join Tampa’s premier K(4)-8 school and truly ‘make a difference’ in the lives of children and colleagues. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt, 12-month position that is accompanied by a highly competitive salary and benefits package. St. John’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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