St. Michael’s Episcopal Day School (SMEDS), a co-educational Episcopal school serving 245 students in grades Preschool through 8, located in Carmichael, California, seeks an experienced leader and strategic thinker to serve as its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Reporting to the Head of School, the CFO will oversee the school’s finances and human resources operations and serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. The CFO is a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

We anticipate a start date of July 1, 2026, but will consider an earlier start date for the best-fit candidate. 

Core Responsibilities:

Annual Finance, Accounting, and Budgeting

• Organize and manage the Business Office.
• Oversee policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Collaborate with the Head of School on annual budget preparations.
• Prepare reports for the Head of School, Finance Committee, and Board.
• Oversee all accounting and general ledger activity, in alignment with the annual budget.
• Maintain fixed asset and depreciation schedules.
• Prepare compliance reports, data for reaccreditation, and yearly audits/reviews.
• Manage relationships and activities with the school’s financial institutions.

Strategic Financial Planning

• Attend all Board of Trustees and Finance Committee meetings.
• Collaborate with the Head of School and Board on long-range financial modeling.
• Serve as a resource to the Head of School, Director of Advancement, and Board for future considerations of endowment development, capital campaigns, master planning, and overall financial sustainability.
• In partnership with the Head of School, liaise with the Church and Vestry on shared spaces.

Human Resources

• Ensure prompt payroll processing.
• Ensure personnel records are properly maintained.
• Prepare annual employee contracts.
• In partnership with the Head of School, develop hiring and termination procedures.
• Ensure regulatory compliance; liaise with the School’s attorney on relevant matters.
• Review all employee benefits programs; liaise with external benefits managers.
• Further develop employment policies and the employee handbook.

Risk Management

• Manage risk management operations.
• Maintain all forms of insurance for the School.
• Recommend and develop procedures to limit the School's liability exposure.
• Oversee employee trainings to mitigate risk.
• Ensure appropriate screening of volunteers, chaperones, drivers, and visitors.

In partnership with other Senior Administrators

• With Operations, review current contracted services and vendors.
• With Advancement, process/document gift revenue; maintain records of net asset restrictions.
• With Enrollment and Systems Management, assist with production of family contracts.
• With Systems Management, ensure families know their financial obligations.
• With the Head of School, determine Financial Assistance allocations.

Qualifications/Attributes:

• Appreciation of and commitment to St. Michael’s core values: Compassion, Diligence, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility
• Master’s degree in Finance and/or CPA preferred
• Seven to ten years’ experience in finance or accounting leadership roles
• Experience in independent schools and/or higher education
• Experience with long-range modeling
• Strategic partnership experience with non-profit CEOs, and/or Boards
• Experience with NBOA/NAIS best practices
• Knowledge of QuickBooks
• Knowledge of FACTS management
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to set and meet goals in a timely manner
• Exceptional judgement 
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others

To apply for this position, please send the following materials to cfosearch@smeds.com:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Contact information for four references (References will not be contacted without the applicant’s permission.)

About St. Michael's Episcopal Day School

St. Michael's Episcopal Day School is a fully-accredited independent school located in Carmichael, California. St. Michael's is one of Northern California's top private schools, serving students in grades PreSchool-8 from the Greater Sacramento region since 1963. Known for our excellence in academics, we offer a structured environment with small class sizes and stellar high school placement and preparation. It is the Mission of St. Michael’s Episcopal Day School to provide a learning environment where students are inspired to think critically, act responsibly, lead compassionately, and innovate wisely. Guided by the Core Values of Compassion, Diligence, Integrity, Respect, and Responsibility, St. Michael’s seeks to discover and nurture the gifts of each student; to deepen each student’s understanding of the complexities of the world; and to inspire each student to realize their full potential.

Connections working at St. Michael's Episcopal Day School