Website Childrens Day School

Childrens Day School

Children’s Day School (CDS) is a co-educational preschool through eighth-grade school serving over 475 students in the Mission Dolores neighborhood of San Francisco. Spanning two campuses, and home to a diverse community of students, faculty, and families, CDS is a vibrant learning community grounded in our newly adopted Mission, Beliefs and Values.  At Children’s Day School, what you learn and who you become are equally important.  CDS is a welcoming community in the big city, a farm and garden among urban streets, an advocate for responsibility to others as well as individual achievement, an independent school with down-to-earth values, always asking how can we do this better.

We strive for balance so students become both academically successful and grounded.
They leave CDS confident, with the humility to listen and the resolve to speak up for what they see as right.

Beliefs
Learning is Active, Differences Lift Us, Community Matters
Values
Be Just and Courageous, Share Kindness and Joy, Stay Grounded

To learn more about CDS, visit our website at www.cds-sf.org.

Job Summary

The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) is responsible for the overall internal
controls and management of the business and financial operations of Children’s Day
School including accounting, tax, budgeting, financial reporting and analysis, financial aid (sliding scale), payroll/human resources, risk management and facilities. This is a senior leadership position reporting directly to the Head of School.  The DFO is a strategic partner with the Head of School and supports various Board committees, including Finance, Audit, and Facilities.

Job Description
Finances
● Supervise and support the Controller and other business office staff in financial
accounting, reporting, cash management, and controls.
● Supervise compilation of financial data to provide audit trails and supporting
material in preparation for the annual audit and tax return.
● Lead relationship with the Audit Committee in reviewing and accepting annual
financial audit and tax returns.
● Develop and maintain relationships with Banks and other financial institutions,
Ensure reporting and adherence to financial covenants and other loan provisions, in
the administration of loans.
● Monitor cash in various accounts and invest in accordance with guidance provided
by the Finance Committee and based on reserve and investment policies.
● Review and ensure all disbursements made to vendors, contractors, employees,
parents, community partners, and others by the school are supported with
appropriate documentation and that approvals are made in accordance with school
procedures and BOT corporate resolution(s).
● Keep in touch with parents about general financial information and individual
account problems, including past-due accounts.
● Oversee the administration of the School’s endowment. Work with the Controller to
monitor the endowment’s performance. Implement investment decisions ensuring
adherence to Investment Policy.
● Stay abreast of all federal, state and local tax and bond financing laws as they affect
the school to insure compliance with the law.

Risk Management
● Engage and work with legal counsel, financial advisors, auditors, brokers, and other
professional service firms as needed.
● Review contract terms with key contractors, vendors, service providers, consulting
with legal counsel as necessary, and secure changes and approvals as needed.
● Support Admissions in the issuance of enrollment agreements.
● Support and provide strategic and financial recommendations in the issuance of
employment agreements in collaboration with Head of School.
● Work with school’s insurance broker with input from the Finance Committee to
arrange a suite of appropriate levels for property, liability, umbrella, workers
compensation, directors and officers, cyber, fiduciary liability, international travel,
and other coverage pertaining to schools.
● Develop and implement a business continuity plan with CDS security vendor.

Budgeting
● Prepare and present the school’s annual operating budget in collaboration with the
Head of School and Finance Committee utilizing benchmarks derived from independent school surveys for tuition, salaries and flexible tuition and calling for input from Department Heads and Administration for Finance Committee and BOT approval.

● Report monthly to the Finance Committee on performance against operating budget
and an executive summary of cash, investments, reserves, debt, and restricted
revenues.
● Prepare or review budgets such as capital improvements, service/educational trips,
multi-year technology/facilities budgets in collaboration with responsible faculty
and staff.
● Work closely with the Finance Committee and the Head of School to enhance,
monitor, analyze and update its long-range financial model and plan for the school
for review and approval by the BOT.
● Utilize industry statistics and data trends to inform and provide strategic financial guidance to HOS and BOT.

Sliding Scale Tuition
● Head the review of tax returns/applicant files and calculate amounts of support,
setting and ensuring adherence to policies and procedures in collaboration with the
Director of Admissions and Head of School.
● Meet with families to discuss questions raised about flexible tuition decisions at
enrollment time and changes in family financial situations throughout the school
year.  Develop and recommend the budget to the Finance Committee for BOT
approval in line with strategic initiatives.
● Advise and support the Finance Committee’s subcommittee and Head of School on
the sustainability of a robust flexible tuition program.

Payroll, Benefits and Human Resources
● Supervise and support the Manager of Human Resources in the development and
administration of payroll, recruitment, benefits, employee relations, safety, and
other personnel policies and programs for the School.
● Review and recommend benefit plans which will provide benefits tailored to the
needs of faculty and staff and that are also competitive and affordable.
● Conduct an annual review of wages and salaries based on benchmarking and other
measurements and make recommendations to Head of School on the cost of living
and other adjustments for faculty and staff in line with board-approved budgets.
● Serve as the plan administrator for the School’s retirement plans and
● Engage auditor firm and coordinate with staff, record keeper and third party
administrator preparations for annual 403(b) audit.
● Stay informed of workplace safety, employment law, government regulations, and compliance issues.

Facilities and Plant
● Supervise and support the Facilities Director in the management of the
maintenance, custodial and security for the school campus and other school
properties.
● Assist the Director of Facilities with the planning, request for proposal (RFP)
generation and contract review for major repairs beyond the scope of the School’s
maintenance resources as well as the construction of new or renovated facilities.
● Manage and budget for the execution of the Facilities Master Plan including
overseeing facilities renovations and new construction projects.
● Participate as a member of the Emergency Preparedness Team developing and
reviewing fire, earthquake and security plans and drills for the school.
● In collaboration with the Head of School coordinate use of school facilities by
outside community organizations, ensuring alignment with the school’s mission,
priorities and needs.
● Ensure that appropriate facilities use contracts and insurance coverage are in place.
Experience
● A minimum of 10 years of experience in senior finance and administrative positions
with an independent school, small college, nonprofit, or for-profit organization.
● A track record of advising at the highest level and participating in major strategic
decisions that have profound long-term implications for an organization.
● Demonstrated success in establishing and maintaining financial policies, procedures,
and controls within the context of a complex institution.
● Expertise in the use of financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and strategic
planning and analysis.
● Experience managing debt to ensure that necessary cash is available, covenants are
kept, the balance sheet is healthy, and the educational program thrives.
● A career that includes broad operational responsibility including Finance, Human
Resources, Facilities, Purchasing, and general administrative duties.
● Excellent oral and written communication skills
● A proven commitment to working in and nurturing a diverse, inclusive community.

Education
● Bachelor’s degree required;
● MBA and/or CPA preferred

Physical Qualifications
● Work at a desk and computer screen
● Regularly sit, talk, hear, and visually interact with students/staff
● Regularly use close and distance vision
● Work in a traditional climate controlled office environment

Compensation
Salary will be based on qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits offered including medical, dental and vision insurance and an employer match 403 (b) retirement plan. CDS is an equal opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff.

To apply for this job please visit careers.cds-sf.org.