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Blue Ridge School is a college-preparatory boarding high school for young men on a 750-acre campus lying along the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains 20 miles northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. The school is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accredited with the Virginia Association for Independent Schools.
The Director of Finance leads the daily operations of the school’s Business Office and in that regard oversees the school’s $9M operating budget. The Director of Finance’s primary duties include supervising and providing guidance to the Business Office staff, preparing and maintaining the school’s annual operating budget, supporting the school’s annual close and audit prep processes, managing the school’s cashflow, and various ad-hoc strategic projects as assigned by the Headmaster. The Director of Finance oversees the school’s relationship with its banker, food service vendor, legal counsel, and audit and tax advisory firm. The Director of Finance also works closely with the Associate Head for External Affairs and his team on the financial aspects of Admission, Institutional Advancement, and the school’s summer camps and other Special Programs offerings.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or similar field of study; CPA or MBA preferred
4 years of related experience, including 2 years of leadership and supervisory experience
Experience working in Microsoft Excel and general ledger systems
Ability to organize and analyze financial data
Experience with budget preparation and fiscal management
Outstanding oral and written communication skills
Ability to run meetings and develop and deliver effective presentations
Professional attitude, demeanor, and discretion
Preferred Qualifications
6 to 8 years of related experience, with previous experience working in a school business office, including 3 to 4 years of leadership and supervisory experience
Experience working with Blackbaud’s Financial Edge NXT general ledger software
Strong background in Microsoft Excel with experience working with vlookups, sumifs, concatenate, text-to-columns, and if functions
Familiarity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, especially those that focus on non-profit organizations
Duties and Responsibilities
Budgeting
Prepare and maintain the school’s annual operating budget
Engage in periodic budget variance analysis
Reporting
Publish monthly reporting package to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees
Leadership
Demonstrate continued professional curiosity and growth
Supervise the Business Office staff, and support them in their duties, which include primarily:
Accounts payable
Accounts receivable and collections
Student billing
Monthly, quarterly, and annual close process
Financial aid administration
Manage the school’s cashflow
Ensure internal controls of Business Office are followed on a daily basis
Facilitate the annual financial statement audit
Lead the initial planning and budgeting for all capital projects
Conduct periodic RFPs for services and purchases
Communication
Manage delinquent accounts with discretion and care in accordance with school policy
Serve as primary liaison to the school’s Fniance Committee of the Board of Trustees
Engage in regular, open communication with the Board of Trustees on important school aspects as necessary
Manage all supplier and vendor contracts, and act as the primary point of contact for the school’s banker, food service vendor, legal counsel, and audit and tax advisory firm relationships
Community Partnership
Collaborate and coordinate with Advancement Office to ensure proper recording of gifts and pledges
Assist Enrollment Office with enrollment contract process
Coach one season of sports or serve as an advisor
Participate in dorm duty occasionally throughout the school year
Perform various ad-hoc strategic projects as assigned by the Headmaster
Supervisory Responsibilities
Accounting Manager
Accounting Clerk
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some climbing and balancing; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 70% sitting, 20% walking, and 10% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and under conditions with some exposure to risk of injury and/or illness.