Job Title: Chief Financial Officer Reports to: Head of School
The Exceptional Opportunity Wolcott College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois seeks an inspiring Chief Financial Officer to join our team. The Chief Financial Officer reports directly to the Head of School and is an integral member of the senior administrative leadership team.
Wolcott College Prep, the only independent college prep high school in Chicago created specifically for students with learning differences, welcomed its inaugural class of students in Fall 2013. Wolcott enrollment will be limited to 150 students when at capacity.
Mission Statement Wolcott offers an exemplary high school program for students with learning differences, tailored to the strengths and aspirations of each student. Employing best practices, our expert faculty is dedicated to helping students gain self-awareness, confidence, and resilience as well as the academic, social, and communication skills to flourish in college and beyond. As valued members of our intentionally diverse and close-knit community, Wolcott students develop their sense of responsibility and purpose.
Wolcott Students Wolcott serves high school students of average to superior intelligence with learning differences who can contribute and flourish in our strength-based, collaborative community. Our students often have a specific learning disability or an executive functioning challenge and have yet to reach their potential in traditional educational programs. Our program is not designed to meet the needs of students with primary emotional or behavioral challenges.
Job Summary: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will work with the Head of School and the Board of Directors to create strategic and tactical plans to ensure the short- and long-term viability and prosperity of the School. Specifically, the CFO will design and manage the financials, human resources, facilities operations, and IT of the School. The position reports to the Head of School, works closely with the Board of Directors, and is a member of a collaborative senior management team.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Oversees the daily workflow of HR, purchasing, facilities management, accounting, and finance. Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations. Collaborates with administrative team and faculty. Duties/Responsibilities: 1- Finance and Accounting Financial management, including budget preparation, financial statements, fund accounting, investment management, and financial reporting Management of financial obligations such as leases, loans, contracts, and other transactions requiring a commitment of financial resources Design and implementation of financial, tuition-related, and other business-operational policies Act as lead for Wolcott vendors and maintain relationships with current and prospective vendors Manage Purchasing, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable Create and review an annual budget and a five-year plan in collaboration with finance committee Provide quarterly financial statements and present them to the finance committee Manage the annual financial statement audit in collaboration with and review Form 990 for legal and regulatory compliance Maintain tax-exempt status
2- Operations Broad-based operations and facilities management such as IT and safety procedures Compliance with city, state, and federal government regulations Support human resources, including employee agreements, payroll, 401k benefits, handbooks, policies, risk management, and employee benefits insurance Support human resources in statistical research and analysis for benchmarking, analysis, and planning purposes Work with admissions on enrollment tracking and enrollment agreements Work with parents through tuition assistance/FACTS Perform operational risk identification and assessment in Wolcott buildings. Implement a strategic plan to prevent, eliminate, and mitigate operational risks. Manage and maintain long-term vendor relations including cleaning services, network management, food services, transportation, and security
Other responsibilities as determined by the Head of School Required Skills/Abilities: Excellent verbal and written communication skills Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Strong supervisory and leadership skills Ability to function well in a high-paced environment Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, accounting software, or related software. Familiar with QuickBooks Comfortable using technology and open to learning new software
Wolcott College Prep does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or religion in the administration of its hiring policies.
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter with resume to:
Education and Experience: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or a related field Master’s degrees in business or accounting and finance are preferred Minimum of 5 years experience working in a finance or operations role and a minimum of 2 years in a management or leadership capacity
Physical Requirements: Working conditions include: Talking - Exchange ideas and information by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to others accurately. Visual & Hearing Activity – Use telephone and computer on a daily basis. Ability to receive detailed information through oral and written communication. Office Setting - Sedentary work in which exerting up to 10 pounds of force is occasional. On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time in front of a computer screen.
Wolcott School offers an exemplary high school program for students with learning differences, tailored to the strengths and aspirations of each student. Employing best practices, our expert faculty is dedicated to helping students gain self-awareness, confidence and resilience as well as the academic, social and communication skills to flourish in college and beyond. As valued members of our diverse and close-knit community, Wolcott students develop their sense of responsibility and purpose.