Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, located in Newton, Massachusetts, is seeking an experienced, energetic, strategically oriented collaborative professional with exceptional financial and analytical skills and deep-rooted experience in business and finance matters for the position of Chief Financial Officer. The CFO monitors and is responsible for leadership of both day-to-day business operations and enabling Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart to achieve long-term strategic goals. The position reports directly to Jessica Hooper P’28, Head of School. To learn more about NCDS please visit www.newtonsh.org

Founded in 1880, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, Independent, preparatory day school for girls in grades 5 – 12. Newton Country Day is dedicated to innovation, continually revitalizing our academic and cocurricular programs to empower young women to act with integrity, think critically, analyze deeply, communicate clearly, and foster their intellectual curiosity and creativity.

The School has a current enrollment of 370 students matriculating from 50+ communities, 32% of whom receive financial aid, 29% who identify as students of color, 63% who identify as Catholic, 57 seniors, 100% of whom enroll in college, 90% of the faculty hold advanced degrees with an average class size at NCDS of 11. The annual operating budget for NCDS is $24,486,000 with a current endowment (endowed funds and quasi-endowed funds included) of approximately $74 million.   

The position requires interaction and teamwork with the Head of School, senior administrators, local community members, faculty members, staff, vendors and the Board of Trustees. The successful candidate will manage a team of three professionals and work closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees. The new hire will have the opportunity to structure the office as they determine necessary over time. This opportunity is available in July of 2026, and will be filled following a comprehensive national search and the candidate of choice identified.  

A full search description of the duties, responsibilities, skill sets and academic credentials required may be viewed at: https://deerfieldassociates.com/newton-country-day-school-of-the-sacred-heart-chief-financial-officer/

The CFO position at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart offers an exciting and supportive work environment, a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical and dental plans, a pension plan, tuition remission, and paid vacation. The position includes 20 days of vacation annually, 16 paid holidays, 9 Summer Friday’s, and 10 sick days. Benefits PDF

The target hiring salary range for this position is $250k - $275k, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications. 

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability or genetics, and any other characteristic or status protected by law. For the candidate of choice, a thorough background check including a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment. 

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart has retained the search firm of DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES to assist with this search. To explore this career opportunity on a confidential basis, please send your resume, a letter of interest articulating your interest, skill sets and work experiences for this opportunity, and a list of five (5) references (which will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to: Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant, DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc. 572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA  02482  
Telephone: 781-237-2800 Email: jobs@deerfieldassociates.com

Job Description

SCOPE and SUMMARY 

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the Head of the School’s strategic business partner, providing fiscal and operational analysis and support. The CFO works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure the School’s finance and operations functions support its mission, core values, and strategic plans.   The CFO leads the finance function at Newton Country Day School. Reporting to the Head of School, the CFO collaborates with the Board of Trustees, Finance, Investment, and Facilities committees to allocate resources in alignment with strategic and financial goals.  Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations, the CFO educates and manages staff to adhere to GAAP, internal controls, and best practices to maintain the integrity and accuracy of financial processes and records.    

RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE CFO

The CFO supervises and manages all aspects of the school’s financial operation, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.  Serving the Head of the School and the Board of Trustees, the CFO helps meet fiduciary responsibilities to achieve the school's goals and support its mission.  

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise employee payroll/benefits, accounts receivable, accounts payable, vendor selection, general ledger, annual budget, annual external audit processes, endowment administration, and rental properties.
• Oversee the physical operation of the school, collaborating with Director-Facilities,  including building and grounds maintenance, housekeeping, and capital expenditures.
• Manage auxiliary programs, including food service. 
• Oversee the risk management program and ensuring compliance with all government regulations.  
• Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and as Treasurer of the Boston Academy of the Sacred Heart Corporation.
• Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment Management in overseeing tuition assistance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Accounting and Audit

• Establishes overall accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting systems, policies, and procedures.
• Analyzes reports and project trends, and interprets operational results to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and committees.
• Evaluate and develop appropriate accounting software programs to ensure clarity, accuracy of reports and efficiency.  
• Oversees the accurate and consistent recording and reporting of financial and accounting data processed by the Controller and the AP/AR Manager.  

Budget and Financial Reports

• Oversees annual budgeting, including:
• Preparing the yearly budget and meeting with the Executive & Senior Leadership Teams.
• Assist instructional and administrative departments with forms, assumptions, projections, and consultations, 
• Generating projections for income and expense accounts;
• Coordinating capital expenditures;
• Developing recommendations for tuition and fee scales and salary and benefits ranges.
• Presents the annual budget to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and committees with observations and recommendations.
• Direct the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for departments, the Head of the School, the Board of Trustees, and committees.

Human Resources

• Support the Head of School in the strategic development of an employee benefit package that attracts and retains employees while managing expenses.  
• Streamline and standardize human resource practices to negotiate benefits that provide a competitive benefits package for employees. 
• Ensure that human resource policies and practices are clearly articulated, consistently applied, and in compliance with legal requirements.  
• Manage and address employee matters as necessary. 

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all financial regulations and standards.  
• Oversee internal controls and audit processes to safeguard school assets and minimize institutional risks.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize risks, applying resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of adverse events.

Building Relationships

• Collaborate with the Executive & Senior Leadership Teams to set viable enrollment goals at the beginning of each fiscal year. 
• Implement sound financial practices to ensure the sustainability and growth of Catholic education in the community.
• Serve as a member of our school’s leadership team, managing accounting functions, budget preparation, financial reporting, fiscal compliance, cash flow, and overseeing the Finance staff.
• Maintain and secure banking vendor and credit relationships.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or greater in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• 10+ years in a senior financial leadership role within an educational institution or equivalent not-for-profit environment.
• Organizational and managerial skills and the ability to ensure systems and procedures are effective, efficient, principled, and equitable.  
• High cultural competency and emotional intelligence, passionate about girls’ education and leadership.  
• Progressive, intrinsically motivated, planful yet action-oriented, knowledgeable about best practices as they relate to finance and operations, strategic, and highly relational.

• Bachelor’s degree or greater experience in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration required. Master’s degree in a related field preferred but not required.
• 10+ years in a senior financial leadership role within an educational institution or equivalent not-for-profit environment.
• Organizational and managerial skills and the ability to ensure systems and procedures are effective, efficient, principled, and equitable.
• High cultural competency and emotional intelligence, passionate about girls’ education and leadership.
• Progressive, intrinsically motivated, planful yet action-oriented, knowledgeable about best practices as they relate to finance and operations, strategic, and highly relational.
• The ability to serve as a critical business thinker, capable of providing positive and proactive solutions to business issues.

About Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Newton Country Day is an academically rigorous school for girls in Grades 5-12, located just outside of Boston. NCDS is a member of the International Network of Sacred Heart Schools, which are located in over 40 countries and in more than 20 locations in the United States.

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