Careers

Director of Finance and Operations

Reports to: Head of School

Start date: October 1, 2022

Mission Statement: Sayre School provides an innovative and inclusive learning environment that empowers students to achieve academic excellence, embrace challenge, and cultivate integrity in order to lead purposeful lives in an ever-changing world.

Job Description: Sayre School, located in Lexington’s historic district, seeks candidates for the position of Director of Finance and Operations (DFO).  The DFO reports to the Head of School, is a member of the Leadership Team, and works closely with the Board of Trustees. This person is responsible for managing the school’s financial, operational, and physical resources, and oversees the following key areas: finance, facilities, human resources, health and safety, risk management, and food services.  A three-member Business Office team, the Director of Buildings and Grounds, and the Director of Food Services report to the DFO. This position is designed for the new hire to overlap for three months with the retiring DFO.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic leadership team that values candor, collaboration, and humor while enjoying all that life in the Bluegrass has to offer.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage all Business Office operations, including development and approval of the annual operating budget, accounting functions, financial modeling and analysis, payroll, human resources, risk management, and benefits.
• Oversee all financial reporting, including the periodic reports of operating results compared to the budget, and periodic bank covenant review.
• Oversee School operations including personnel, maintenance, transportation, food services, health services, and other outside vendors.
• Oversee the annual financial and 403b plan audits and filing of 990 tax returns.
• Serve as chief staff liaison to the Board’s Finance and Investment Committees. Work closely with the Committee chair to organize agendas and meeting materials and present at meetings.
• Prepare compensation and tuition analysis, financial analysis, and financial modeling for the School’s annual operating budget for discussion and approval by the Board of Trustees
• Work closely with the Director of Buildings and Grounds to ensure stewardship of the campus and strategically plan for capital expenditures.
• Collaborate effectively with and provide support for Advancement, Admissions, Financial Aid, and other departments.
• Negotiate with lenders when necessary to ensure that funding is secured for needs of the school and ensure compliance with loan terms.
• Ensure that the school is in compliance with all local and state reporting requirements.
• Provide sound and consistent employment policies, adequate staffing levels, compensation, and appropriate benefits programs for all facets of school operations.
• Help implement and administer all employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement, worker’s compensation, life insurance, wellness programs, and other related plans.
• Manage and make decisions regarding insurance programs: property, casualty, medical, and workers’ compensation.
• Manage relationships with all operations vendors and custodial services.
• Maintain purchasing and vendor contracts/insurance records.
• Implement legally compliant safety procedures and drills for fire, evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in, etc.; oversee compliance with staff CPR and AED training and certification.
• Maintain and retain all corporate documents, including deeds, master plan, articles of incorporation, and all documents required for effective running of the school.
• Use standard accounting and bookkeeping procedures with accounting software to keep an accurate continuous record of the cash and financial position of the school.
• Review and analyze major contractual obligations of the School, such as construction and professional services and contracts and grant proposals.
• Provide benchmarking data for NAIS, DASL, and NBOA.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA and/or CPA preferred.
• 5 years of experience in an educational or nonprofit business office setting, a professional accounting environment, or comparable experience.
• Experience with and ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Suite.
• Experience with Blackbaud preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with multiple constituencies, such as faculty, administrators, parents, students, and volunteers.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and provide perspective on complex organizations.
• A strategic thinker, capable of providing positive and proactive solutions to complex issues.

Benefits:

Sayre School offers its employees a competitive benefits package including paid time off, medical, vision, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, and daily lunch.

Sayre School is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit sayreschool.org to learn more about the school and culture.

To complete an application please send the following documents in PDF or Word format by July 25, 2022:

• A letter of interest explaining the candidate’s explicit interest in the Director of Finance and Operations position and in Sayre School
• Current resume or CV
• The names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and affiliation to the candidate of five (5) professional references
• Reference letters are welcome but not required

Candidates should direct all inquiries and send documents via email to

Stephen Manella, Head of School: smanella@sayreschool.org

 Sayre School actively seeks qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds and talents who will make a positive contribution to school life. Sayre School does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, uniform service member status, religion, handicap or disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all federal, state, or local law. This applies to its educational policies, employment policies, admissions policies, financial-aid policies, athletics, and other after-school programs.