Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School seeks a talented, experienced Chief Operating and Financial Officer to lead the School’s Business Office, strategically advance and manage school operations and finances, and work collaboratively with the Leadership Team and Board to support the educational mission of the School within the context of a pluralistic Jewish community.
ORGANIZATION HISTORY AND MISSION
Fostering the growth of confident, compassionate thinkers who engage the world through Jewish values, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) is a pluralistic JK-12 Jewish independent school with 865 enrolled students. From its beginnings in the basement of Chevy Chase’s Ohr Kodesh Congregation in 1965, today CESJDS is thriving across two campuses in Rockville, MD and living its mission to deliver an exemplary and inspiring general and Jewish education, anchored in Jewish values and academic rigor that also ensure the social, emotional, and physical well-being of every student.
EDUCATION PRACTICES
CESJDS engages in the best practices in education and demonstrates a proactive culture of emotional and social wellness for students and families, including the following:
Training and professional development, educational support and enrichment, and opportunities for advanced studies
An innovative middle school program aligned with developmental requirements including attention to social skills, executive planning, academic preparation, and multi-dimensional learning experiences that interact with the vibrant DC landscape.
A rigorous JK-12 curriculum that encourages individuality, honors diversity, and leverages collaboration and interdependence to nurture a resilient and compassionate community.
A broad and pluralistic approach to Judaic Studies that accommodates all Jewish students and their families, and the evolving practice of Judaism.
Educational support services to support diverse learners, provide enrichment opportunities and scaffold the development of social and language skills.
CESJDS is a learning community committed to diversity and inclusion which emanates from the School’s core values of K’dushah (Holiness), V’ahavta L’rei-akha (Loving your Neighbor), Kehillah (Community), and pluralism. Our community is intellectually and morally strengthened when many different voices, viewpoints, and backgrounds learn with and from each other. We facilitate experiences to educate students toward a richer understanding and appreciation of diversity so they are better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the diverse world in which we live.
Governed by a 21-member board of directors, CESJDS has an annual budget of $27+M, a $7+M tuition assistance budget, and engages over 250 talented and diverse faculty and staff. For more information, please visit https://cesjds.org/.
THE POSITION
Reporting to the Head of School, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for strategically directing, managing and overseeing the School’s business office, finances, and operations with a high degree of efficiency, effectiveness, ethics, integrity, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. As a senior leader at CESJDS, the CFO is expected to role model, promote professional practices, and embody the values and mission of the School within the context of a pluralistic Jewish community. This position supervises the Business Office with outsourced accounting, four Directors (Human Resources, Facilities and Security, Information Technology, Food Services) and the Security and Transportation Manager.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
In addition to the effective management of the School’s operations, the CFO will serve as a thought partner to the Head of School, collaborate with the Leadership Team, and support the Board of Directors in sustaining the mission of the School. Priorities include:
Assess systems and processes across operations, and recommend, implement, and evaluate improvements that generate efficiencies and effectiveness for staff and the School community.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of School and board/staff leadership in evaluating the School’s business model (tuition, financial aid, fundraising, campus investments, risk management/security, etc.), assessing new initiatives, and developing financial forecasting models to support strategic decision-making.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The CFO will lead a team that brings a passion for the school, our mission, and values. Responsibilities include and are not limited to:
Operations
Manage the daily operations of the Business Office (with accounting and payroll services currently outsourced).
Oversee operations including human resources, facilities, maintenance, security, dining services, and transportation.
Monitor and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Review and administer all contracts for the School.
Serve as the School’s primary risk assessment officer.
Planning
Engage in strategic planning for the School with the Head of School, members of the Leadership Team, and Board.
Prepare financial analyses to support planning for and implementation of long-term goals.
Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment and Tuition Assistance to support student recruitment and retention goals, maximizing tuition revenue and meeting sustainability goals.
Develop, implement, and monitor operating and capital budgets.
Prepare regular financial forecasts to project fiscal year operating results.
Oversee and monitor financial investments (endowment funds, invested operating funds, and Israel bonds).
Administer grants from regional, state, and local grantor agencies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
Hold primary responsibility for the outcome of the annual financial statement and pension plan audits.
Ensure effective financial policies, procedures, and operations in accordance with GAAP.
Relationships Management
Keep the Head of School apprised of all business, operational, and financial matters.
Work collaboratively with the Leadership Team to support the successful operation of the School.
Serve as staff liaison for and collaborate with board committees: Budget and Finance, Investment, Audit, and Pension committees; Facilities and Security Task Forces.
Serve as the primary liaison in banking relationships and with the School’s investment managers.
Maintain business relationships with consultants, vendors, and colleagues at other schools.
CESJDS uses a variety of tools in its finance and operations: the accounting platform Sage Intacct, BILL, and Paycom for payroll processing. They will be implementing Nexonia and Martus in the coming months. Additionally, the School uses the donor database Blackbaud RE NXT, FAST for financial aid processing, FACTS for tuition management, SchoolAdmin for student admission and enrollment, Zoom, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
Successful candidates will share a commitment to CESJDS’ mission and values and bring a variety of experiences and attributes to CESJDS, including:
5+ years of experience in a CFO, COO, or Business Manager role
Strong background in finance, budgeting, investing, and cash management
Previous supervisory experience
Outstanding communication skills; ability to communicate with employees, families, and members of the Board
Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ)
Advanced technology skills including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and database management software
Minimum of bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA or related advanced degree preferred
CPA professional accreditation and/or experience with non-profits or independent schools a plus
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Employees may be asked to perform their work responsibilities on campus and/or at home. In both settings, employees are required to maintain a professional environment.
In accordance with the School’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, the School has adopted a mandatory Vaccination Policy to safeguard the health of employees and their families and the community at large from infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and the flu, which may be reduced by annual vaccinations. This policy complies with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities, as applicable.
The salary range is $190k-200k for the position. CESJDS offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and the chance to work in an environment with professionals who love what they do.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without unlawful consideration of race, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The School encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, upload resume and cover letter by clicking here. For other inquiries, contact Adrienne O’Rourke. Resume review begins immediately.
