Chief Operating and Financial Officer

Job Description

Reports To: President

Compensation: $130,000 - $190,000 with benefits, commensurate with experience

Position Overview:
The Chief Operating and Financial Officer (COFO) oversees the school's finances and accounting, business operations, risk management, human resources, and governance areas. The COFO ensures the institution's long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency, supporting its mission to provide a rigorous and faith-filled Catholic education. This position is regular, full-time, exempt, and reports to and is evaluated by the President.

Candidate Profile:
The COFO must be a Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church, who assents to the Church's teachings on all matters, with particular care for those concerning the nature of the human person, sexual ethics, and sexual identity. The candidate shall possess a zeal for the Lord, living the faith in all aspects of life, with an ability to speak comfortably and competently to the JPG team and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:
Financial Management:
Strategic Financial Planning: Develop and implement long-term financial strategies to ensure financial sustainability, aligned with the school's mission and goals.

Cash Flow Analysis and Management: Analyze operating and capital cash flow requirements, manage cash and investments, and optimize financial resources.

Accounting and Financial Reporting: Oversee the day-to-day transactional accounting (AP, expenses, collections, etc). Manage our third-party bookkeeping and financial reporting provider (St. Joseph Financial Services). Help prepare, review, and present quarterly financial reporting packages to the Board of Trustees.

Budgeting: Lead the annual budgeting process, working closely with department heads to ensure accurate forecasting, and prepare and present to the Board of Trustees for approval. Assist with monitoring and encouraging accountability with departments' budgets to actuals throughout the year.

Audit Readiness: Oversee proper use of GAAP in financial reporting and other financial compliance matters, ensure appropriate internal controls, and enhance finance policies.

School Operations Oversight:
Facilities and maintenance: Oversee the team leading the facilities maintenance and school safety. This includes attention to lease compliance matters.

Human resources: Oversee the HR functions and matters of employment, ensuring proper collaboration with benefit administrators, payroll administrators, legal counsel, and School Leadership, as necessary.

Busing and transportation: Oversee transportation logistics and compliance matters and ensure adequate bus staffing.
Technology and Infrastructure: Oversee proper functioning and resourcing of the school's IT systems, infrastructure, and related resources to support academic and administrative functions.
Vendor and Contract Management: Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality services, prioritizing when School Leadership should consider new bids or quotes for services.

Risk Management:
Risk mitigation in operations: Lead efforts to ensure proper risk management across all departments, including areas such as security protocols, transportation protocols, extracurricular activities, and athletics. Ensure compliance with applicable policies and laws.

Insurance: Lead annual insurance policy assessment and renewal, including completion of surveys and intakes, and working directly with our insurance partners. Ensure adequacy of coverage based on Board preferences for operations and capital projects.

Capital project: Support the Real Estate Committee on matters impacting finance and risk management, as specific to construction.

Stewardship and Strategic Vision: Partner with the President on financial and operational strategic initiatives, including an understanding of the market, competitors, and areas of opportunity to become more efficient.

Board Relations: Interact with the Board of Trustees through involvement on selected Committees of the Board, with an expectation to prepare and present financial materials and other operational updates in Board meetings.

Governance matters: Serve as a leader in understanding and carrying out governance in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws and other authoritative documents. Assist the President, Governance Subcommittee, and outside legal counsel in annual review of governing documents and other such matters.

Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field is required; CPA preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years of senior financial and operational leadership experience, preferably in a non-profit setting.

Skills:
Strong financial acumen, analytical skills, and strategic planning.
Competencies with legal and compliance matters.
Excellent leadership and decision-making abilities.
Superior communication and presentation skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Proficiency with QuickBooks is preferred.
Familiarity with FACTS, Virtuous, and Gusto platforms is helpful.

Personal attributes:
Demonstrates high ethical and professional standards and sound judgment. Self-motivated to tackle a wide array of business matters.
Committed to the mission and values of the School.
Works well with others in a team environment.
Open to new ideas and approaches for continuous improvement.

Central Denver Classical High School, dba St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School, admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs

About the Employer

St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School exists to form disciples of Jesus Christ. Rooted in truth and joy, we will graduate men and women prepared to witness to the truth and equipped to lead virtuous lives at the service of the Church, our country, and the common good.