Company Description
Over 60 years old, NNM serves over 500 students from toddlers to 8th Grade. Located near Wicker Park in Chicago, NNM is one of the largest Montessori schools in the nation. Highly regarded for its Montessori pedagogy and innovation, NNM hosts a rooftop garden, an innovation studio, a swimming pool, a playground, a rooftop urban farm, and a Sandwich Shoppe which is managed by students.
Learn more about us on our website: www.nnms.org
Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Director of Finance is responsible for setting the strategic fiscal direction of the school. Responsibilities include management of the business office to ensure that appropriate financial controls are effectively utilized and accurate reporting is assured. Staff areas of responsibility include finance, budgeting, planning, purchasing, collections, legal compliance, and risk management. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Director manages the Human Resources and Finance Offices. The position requires active interaction and teamwork with the Head of School, administrators, faculty, students, staff, parents, and Board of Directors. The Director of Finance works in close partnership with the Director of Operations and Strategic Priorities to ensure that financial objectives and operational objectives are in harmony.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is preferred
• MBA or CPA preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Prior direct experience as a Director of School Finance/ Chief Financial Officer is highly desirable

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED

• 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
• Significant experience with increasing responsibility supervising other personnel and managing multiple projects and programs
• Strong management, negotiation and project management skills
• Experience managing a budget
• An open and collaborative work style
• A positive outlook and a sense of humor
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic
• Discretion and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters appropriately
• State of the art computer skills; facility with Google applications including Google Docs, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Presentation, Google Spreadsheet; facility working with databases such as Blackbaud
• Ability to travel if needed, as well as attend events on evenings and weekends
• Flexibility with working evenings, weekends, & holidays as assigned
• 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
• Proficiency in Google Suite
  Additional Information
  The starting salary for this role is $120,000 annually based on skills and experience.
  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 School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, conditions, and privileges of employment

• The Director of Finance is a member of the leadership team that oversees the development and implementation of strategic goals that define the course of the school. The Director of Finance works closely with the Head of School to address the financial, investment, and business objectives of the school.
• Work with the Head of School, senior administrators, the faculty, staff, and the Board of Directors to provide strategic direction and implementation of the school’s educational mission that serves the students
• Provide financial information and planning that builds understanding and trust among the faculty, administration, staff, and Board of Directors.
• Manage and direct the annual operating budget. With the Controller, plan and prepare forecasts of financial condition of the school. Report to the Head of School, Board of Directors, and Finance Committee on the results of the present and future operations. This includes overseeing the on-going maintenance and updating of the ten-year financial model.
• In partnership with the Director of Operations, oversee the PPRRSM/Capital Reserve Fund to ensure that it is deployed to meet the strategic needs of the institution.
• Manage and direct the day-to-day operation of the business office to include payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accounting functions.
• Supervise the work of the business office personnel and use standard accounting (FASB) and bookkeeping procedures to keep an accurate and continuous record of cash and the financial position of Near North. Manage the financial operation of the school so that the institution remains financially stable in a greater context of sustainability. Communicate risks, opportunities, and trends via the collection of comparative data by creating or participating in school surveys.
• With the Controller, prepare operating statements for the Head of School and the Board of Directors and provide monthly reports of expenditures for use of each individual budget center within the school.
• In concert with the Finance Committee, establish a plan and schedule for the preparation of the annual budget that will permit the setting of the succeeding year’s tuition and compensation at a Board of Directors meeting early in the calendar year.
• With the Controller and Audit Committee, provide for the securing of an annual audit of the school’s financial records and financial positions.
• Oversee all the school purchasing and contracts, financial investments, banking activities, payroll, and benefits program.
• Oversee the school’s financial investments, including endowment. Implement the investment decisions of the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Provide staff/liaison support, in conjunction with the Head of School, to the Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees of the Board of Directors. Document all committee meetings
• Establish, review, revise, and ensure legal compliance and risk mitigation with regard to the following practices, procedures, and publications of the school.
• Pension documentation
• Health Insurance Information
• Employee Handbook
• Parent and Student Handbook
• Enrollment Agreements
• Employment Agreements
• Employment Policies
• Exempt/NonExempt Employee Status
• Nondiscrimination policies
• Fingerprinting requirements
• Truth in Lending Act (TILA) compliance
• Policy regarding tuition collections
• Data Security policies and procedures
• 990 policies
• Document retention and destruction policies and procedures
• Conflict of Interest policy
• Donor agreements
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues related to personnel, admissions, enrollment, and accommodations
• Medical policies and procedures
• Safe Harbor Act and rebuttable presumption
• Report and collect data to and from the school associations (NAIS, iSACS, INDEX etc.) and manage surveys of data from the benchmark groups.
• Assist the Head of School with decisions regarding salaries and benefits for all personnel, including the evaluation of support staff.
• Complete annual evaluations of all members of the Finance office
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Council & Senior Leadership Team
• Represent the school at various regional, state, and national associations relative to the role of the CFO/Business Manager. Act as the school’s liaison with appropriate local officials. Serve on committees, task forces, and study groups as needed.
• Support faculty, staff, and school leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School.
  Qualifications