Job Description

Santa Fe Preps next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will partner with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees to lead and enhance the school's financial management, employee support, operational efficiency and strategic planning. Additionally, the CFO supports Santa Fe Preps community-based organizations, Breakthrough Santa?Fe, and the Davis New Mexico Scholarship.

Key Areas of Responsibility

I. Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Strategic Planning: Serve as a strategic thought partner to school leadership. Develop and maintain short- and long-term strategic financial budgets and plans that align with institutional priorities.
• Budgeting & Reporting: Oversee the comprehensive annual budgeting process in collaboration with program leaders and division heads. Provide clear financial monitoring, budget updates, projections, and performance reports to the Head of School, Finance Committee, and the Board of Trustees.
• Community Organizations: Provide financial and strategic support to Santa Fe Prep's community organizations, the Davis New Mexico Scholarship and Breakthrough Santa?Fe.

II. Board, Investment, & Endowment Management

• Board Liaison: Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Boards Audit, Finance, Endowment, and Buildings and Grounds Committees.
• Endowment Administration: Support the Endowment Committee in the administration of the Schools endowment by executing the investment policy and implementing Endowment Committee decisions.

III. Operations Management

• Supervision: Oversee school operations, including Facilities, Campus Safety, Food Service, and Technology.
• Employee Administration and HR: Administer all employee benefit programs (health insurance, retirement) and oversee employee onboarding, payroll, and related financial processes.
• Tuition Assistance: Analyze, review, and approve tuition assistance awards in collaboration with the Head of School and the Director of Tuition Assistance.
• Physical Campus: Coordinate closely with the director of facilities on buildings and grounds maintenance, capital planning, and construction projects.
• Risk Mitigation: Manage all insurance programs (property, casualty, workers compensation).
• Compliance: Coordinate and assist outside firm in annual financial audits (including 403b) and ensure compliance with all financial and reporting requirements.

IV. Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Leadership Team: Serve as an active member of Santa Fe Preps seven-person administrative leadership Team.
• Team Management: Lead, manage, mentor, and provide professional development for the business office and operations teams.
• External Relations: Maintain relationships with banks, lenders, and external vendors.

Required Qualifications and Essential Attributes

• Experience: 5 years of senior-level experience in financial planning and management. Essential Skills & Attributes: Exceptional communication skills (written, verbal, presentation) to translate complex subjects for varied audiences.
• Education: Bachelor's degree required; MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced degree preferred. Essential Skills & Attributes: Proven experience in strategic decision-making analysis and the ability to think and plan strategically and creatively.

Preferred Experience includes independent schools, higher education, or other non-profit financial management; knowledge of endowment management; and experience with construction project planning and debt financing.

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