Chief Financial Officer

Job Title: Chief Financial Officer

Department: General Administration

Reports to: Head of School

Start date: December 2025

Friends Community School (FCS), founded in 1986, is a progressive, co-ed Quaker K-8 day school serving a diverse student body from the greater Washington, D.C. area. FCS’s LEED-certified building is situated on 17 acres surrounded by Greenbelt National Park, nine minutes from the University of Maryland, College Park, and thirty minutes from Washington, D.C.

Educators at FCS nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk takers, and joyous peacemakers through the expression of our commitments to Quakerism, Progressive Education, equity, and inclusion. Our progressive pedagogical approach emphasizes depth over breadth, creativity and innovation over memorization, and hands-on collaborative projects over rote schoolwork. Our curriculum engages students in the exploration of values rooted in our Quaker Heritage – simplicity, peaceful conflict resolution, integrity, community, equality/equity, and stewardship – from a range of perspectives.

Job Summary

The Chief Financial Officer works closely with the Head of School, the Board of Trustees, and other key administrators to provide financial leadership and management of business activities informing strategic decision-making around finances, budgets, investments, capital expenditures, tuition and revenue, financial aid, audit, and other key business aspects of the School.Specifically, the Chief Financial Officer manages and coordinates long-term financial planning, annual budget preparation, business reporting and filings, risk management, human resources administration, payroll, purchasing and contracting, financial aid management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash and investment management, and audit preparation. The Chief Financial Officer staffs the Finance Committee and other Board subcommittees as the need arises.

In addition to the responsibilities listed below other duties or projects may be added by mutual agreement between the Head and Chief Financial Officer.

The Chief Financial Officer is expected to be familiar with Quaker processes and values. Employees are expected to participate actively in our community which is dedicated to the care and nurture of each individual.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Finance, Accounting and Budgeting

• Plan, organize and manage the Business Office.
• Establish policies, procedures, standards and strategies for areas of responsibility and maintain internal controls.
• Collaborate with the Head of School in long-term financial planning and preparation of the annual budget.
• Prepare periodic financial statements for the Head of School, the Board, and the corporate annual meeting.
• As a member of the Finance Committee and other committees as needed, provide financial reports and whatever other expertise is needed to enable those committees to meet their responsibilities.
• Oversee all accounting and general ledger activity, including monthly bank and other
• reconciliations. Review all accounts payable and process disbursements, and ensure cohesion with the approved budget. Ensure that the fixed asset and depreciation schedules are accurately maintained.
• Act as liaison between the School and the auditing firm and work with the Controller to prepare appropriate work papers for the annual audit.
• Prepare and submit data for annual surveys and compliance reports.
• Maintain property, casualty, liability, and other forms of insurance for the school.
• Manage banking, borrowing, investing, and construction-financing activities, and the School’s relationships with those entities.
• Collaborate with the Advancement office to appropriately process/document gift revenue; maintain records of net asset restrictions.

Enrollment

• Assist Admissions when needed to develop and implement systems for issuing enrollment contracts, manage the financial aid process, and ensure that all third-party and internal systems are appropriately reconciled.
• Develop systems and procedures for billing and collections, including billing for ancillary services, and ensure the appropriate reconciliations, both third-party and internal.
• Provide appropriate communications to ensure that families are knowledgeable about their financial obligations to the school.
• Actively monitor and manage accounts in arrears.

Human Resources

• Collaborate with the Head of School to develop the School’s policies and procedures pertaining to employment policies, conditions of employment, policies regarding pay scales, work practices, and employee benefits. Write and/or revise the Employee Handbook as needed.
• Develop and oversee the execution of all new-hire and termination procedures.
• Working in conjunction with the Human Resources Coordinator, oversee employee benefits, retirement plan, and personnel issues
• Develop and oversee the administration of all elective and required employee benefit programs, including claims-processing for disability and worker’s compensation, and including maintaining employee leave records.
• Ensure regulatory compliance for labor and pay matters, including ensuring accurate W2 and 1099 reporting.
• Ensure that the personnel records are properly maintained.
• Develop procedures for and ensure prompt processing of all aspects of payroll.
• Prepare annual employee contracts.
• Consult with faculty and classified employee representatives on matters related to compensation and benefits
• Stay current on new developments, practices, regulations and legislation in the human resources field and liaises with School’s attorney on legal matters.

Risk Management

• Manage the Risk Management Operations
• Determine and ensure that appropriate insurance coverage is in place
• Recommend and develop procedures to limit liability exposure and risks to students, employees and campus guests
• Oversee the school’s training for employees to mitigate both physical and legal risk.
• Ensure appropriate screening and documentation for volunteers, chaperones, drivers and other visitors.
• Review contracts to ensure that appropriate risk-management measures are considered.

Qualifications Desired and/or Required

• BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university, finance preferred
• Master’s degree and/or CPA preferred
• Seven to ten years of experience in the field of finance or accounting, with several years in a decision-making and leadership role in the financial field for a school of comparable size or not for profit entity
• Experienced in strategic planning, knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles including GAAP in the non-profit sector
• Excellent leadership skills to motivate and inspire co-workers to produce quality reporting within scheduled timeframes
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills. Excellent written and public speaking ability
• Ability to set and meet goals in a timely manner
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite ( specifically Excel, Word and PowerPoint) and working knowledge of QuickBooks Online is a plus
• Able to exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action for all financial matters
• Self-starter who is driven to learn and to improve professional skills, modernize internal systems and implement best practices
• Friendly disposition and great sense of humor.
• Commitment to diversity and positively valuing others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Commitment to Diversity

FCS is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.

Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact information of three professional references to anam@friendscommunityschool.org.