Job description

French American International School and International High School

San Francisco, CA 94102

Chief Finance & Operations Officer

Appointment: 7/1/2023

Overview

French American International School and International High School in San Francisco is one of the nation’s leading bilingual immersion programs and international schools. Founded in 1962, French American and International serves 1,081 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, offering a highly engaging bilingual immersion program in French and English through Grade 8, and both the French Baccalauréat and International Baccalaureate (IB) program in English in the high school years. The school’s focus for more than 60 years has been on building a multilingual, multinational community of well-educated students. A true international school, it has the faculty, global travel programming, and curriculum to prove it.

The school brings together people from many backgrounds. Community members strive to create a shared culture that develops compassionate, confident, and principled people who will make the world a better place. The school bases its community on its five core values of respect, integrity, inclusion, collaboration, and curiosity. The school is also deeply committed to diversity, multiculturalism, and community. This commitment is manifested in its inclusive mission, committed DEI leadership, recruitment and support for BIPOC and international teachers and families, and programs that support and engage all students.

The school seeks a dynamic leader as its next Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations (CFO) starting July 2023 (or earlier by mutual agreement). The successful candidate will be a highly strategic, engaged, dedicated, and creative leader who is inspired and guided by the school’s mission and values. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a dynamic at an extraordinary and distinctive institution in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

The School

Since its founding nearly 60 years ago, the French American and International community has prepared students to navigate the world with confidence, command, empathy, and joy. The school achieves this through rigorous bilingual and international education programs and a vibrant school culture strengthened by multilingual, multinational educators and families. “We wanted to find a community for our children where they were surrounded by all nationalities and cultures and felt embraced,” shared a current parent.

The community includes French American International School (Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8) and International High School (Grades 9 through 12). Students in grades PK-8 experience a bilingual program in English and French that prepares them well for International High School, where students have their choice of programs in English or French and follow the International Baccalaureate diploma program or the French Bac. Graduates go on to highly selective colleges and universities in the U.S. and across the globe.

Diversity has been part of the school’s mission since its founding, and inclusion is one of the school’s five core values. The school honors the variety of beliefs and backgrounds reflected in its diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and parents, and is committed to working toward an equitable and inclusive experience for all members of the community. “We know why we’re here,” reflected one faculty member. “The mission brings us together.” The school’s Mission, Values, and Commitment to Equity establish the principles that guide the community. “I love the range of diversity,“ commented one faculty member. “There’s so much complexity, and the beauty of the school is that families are from 40 different countries and from all over the U.S…It’s like being an expat in your own city. I just love our community!”

French American International School and International High School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools, the Council of International Schools, the French Ministry of Education, the International Baccalaureate Organization, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Major Responsibilities of the CFO

Financial Accounting and Reporting

· Oversees the preparation of the annual budget and guides the Head and Leadership Team in the creation of an annual budget that meets both program and fiscal objectives. The CFO develops recommendations for tuition levels based upon external market data and internal operating objectives. The CFO collaborates with the Director of Advancement in the development of fundraising revenue projections and also collaborates with the Director of After School Programs and Global Travel Coordinator to ensure viability of financial planning processes for those programs.

· Based upon trended analyses, the CFO performs monthly/quarterly forecasts to ensure funding of expenditures and to make accurate recommendations to the Head and/or Finance Committee concerning the feasibility and impact of unplanned or additional projects and expenditures. The CFO oversees the monthly budget variance reporting at the cost center level, monitoring problem areas and reporting to the Head on these.

· Based upon need, the CFO designs management reports that provide the Head of School, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees the data needed to make informed decisions in all financial and human resource matters. The CFO ensures preparation of reports required by Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as the French government. The CFO is responsible for annual financial and other audit processes as well preparation of Form 990 IRS reporting.

· The CFO oversees purchasing to ensure that budgetary parameters are respected and that maximum value is obtained on resource acquisition. The CFO develops effective business relationships with the audit firm, banks, vendors and other agencies to ensure sound management of financial resources.

· This leader also oversees student billing and accounts receivable systems and practices to ensure production of timely and accurate statements and timely collections of accounts. The CFO develops appropriate policies with families regarding timely tuition payments.

· The CFO also manages the financial aid and scholarship programs to ensure appropriate allocation of resources and adherence to established budgets and policy, practices and procedures.

Desired Qualities and Qualifications

Education and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred;

· CPA, or five years of accounting experience;

· MBA, or five years of strategic planning experience;

· Five years of team leadership experience, including supervising diverse teams;

· High proficiency using technology for financial analysis, operations management, modeling, and reporting; experience with Blackbaud’s Financial Edge desired but not required.

Competencies and Qualities

· Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work with board members and school leaders, to contribute positively to organizational morale and to coach others through change and complexity;

· Excellent operational management skills, including experience with contracting, purchasing, and project management;

· Broad-based analytical, problem-solving and leadership capabilities, and an ability to contribute strategically in areas beyond finance and operations;

· A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an understanding of diverse cultures and experiences and an awareness of implicit bias;

· An ability to create and maintain positive, supportive, and trusting relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and positions;

· Effective meeting facilitation skills, with an ability to monitor interpersonal interactions, foster collaboration, inspire productivity, and design clear decision-making processes;

· Drive and self-motivation, an ability to multitask, and exceptional business judgment;

· A desire to work at a mission-aligned PK-12 school in service of a diverse community, including students, families, faculty, and staff.

· Working environment, physical requirements, and schedule.

o Work is in person, in an office setting, and requires mobility to traverse the campus to attend meetings and events.

o This job requires attending off-campus events, as well as occasional out-of-town travel.

o This is a full-time, 12-month senior leadership position. The CFO must be available to represent the School at community-wide events and board-related meetings, which may take place on evenings and weekends.

· Proficiency in French is not required, but is an asset.

· Due to visa restrictions, candidates must already be legally authorized to live and work in the U.S.

The full position description can be found at https://www.carneysandoe.com/leadership-search/current-searches#french-american-international-school-and-international-high-school.

To Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents: 1) a cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position, and 2) a current résumé.

Gregory G. Britton

Carney, Sandoe & Associates

ggb(at)carneysandoe.com

617.542.0260

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $250,000.00 - $300,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• team leadership: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location

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