Vice President of Finance

Description

Who We Are

Eastside Catholic School is a Catholic, faith-based educational community serving grades six through twelve on a 50-acre campus in Sammamish, Washington. Founded by parents in 1980 as the only seven-year, coeducational Catholic school on the Eastside, we are rooted in the charism of St. Francis of Assisi and guided by three Touchstones: Academic Excellence, Relationships, and Servant Leadership, that shape how we form students in mind, heart, and spirit.

Eastside Catholic today enrolls 816 students (45% Catholic, 45% students of color, drawn from 88 zip codes across the region) on an annual operating budget of approximately $25 million. One hundred percent of our 2025 graduates were accepted to four-year colleges, and roughly a third of our students receive need-based financial aid. We are governed by an elected Board of Trustees and supported by a community of more than 5,900 alumni.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Finance serves as a key strategic leader at Eastside Catholic School, advancing the school’s Catholic mission and vision through sound financial stewardship and operational excellence. As a member of the Leadership Team, the VP Finance oversees all aspects of the school’s financial operations, including accounting, tuition administration, investment management, and payroll, while guiding the school’s financial planning and ensuring alignment with its strategic priorities.

This is a hands-on financial leadership role with a specific, time-bound mandate in its first year: Eastside carries $28.3M in bond debt and did not meet its debt service coverage covenant at the close of FY2026, operating currently under a lender waiver. The VP Finance will own the school’s relationship with its lender and the board through the next covenant test and will be expected to bring credible, hands-on experience managing institutional debt under real constraint, not only steady-state financial operations.

This is an in-office position with an anticipated start date of November 30, 2026, with flexibility based on the selected candidate’s availability. Candidates must submit the following:

• Letter of interest that is specific to Eastside Catholic School
• Current resume with all appropriate dates included
• List of five professional references with name, relationship, email address and phone number

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interviews will begin in October.

Budgeting & Strategic Financial Planning

Lead financial planning efforts to align with operational needs and long-term goals.

• Lead the development of the annual budget, engaging Leadership Team members, Department Chairs, and Managers in the process.
• Present budget recommendations to the Finance Committee and Board of Trustees.
• Maintain and update the long-term financial forecast, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and realistic tuition, enrollment, and discount-rate assumptions.
• Oversee the school’s capital budget and compensation strategies, integrating financial planning with school priorities and facilities reserve requirements.

Financial Management, Debt & Risk Mitigation

Ensure financial stability by managing resources, banking relationships, debt covenant compliance, and risk.

• Develop cash forecasts and manage liquidity strategies.
• Own the school’s relationship with its bond lender, including ongoing debt service coverage covenant testing, required financial reporting under the loan agreement, and any waiver, amendment, or restructuring negotiations.
• Report proactively and candidly to the President, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees on covenant status and financial risk, well ahead of compliance testing dates, not after.
• Oversee risk management policies, including insurance coverages, funding sources, and financial reserves, including the facilities reserve.
• Negotiate and maintain debt agreements, ensuring compliance with all financial covenants.

Team Leadership & Organizational Collaboration

Foster a culture of financial stewardship, service, and excellence within the Finance Team and the school community.

• Lead and mentor the VP Finance Office staff, including the Senior Accountant, Tuition Assistance Administrator and Business Office Associate.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and professional development within the department.
• Collaborate with school departments, including Advancement, Admissions, Athletics, Registrar, and the Leadership Team, to support school-wide initiatives and financial planning.

Investment Management

Oversee investment and endowment fund management to ensure financial sustainability.

• Develop and manage budgets and projections for endowment and other invested assets.
• Prepare and present quarterly investment reports to the Board of Trustees (or its designated Finance/Investment Committee).
• Ensure accurate classification of contributions and adherence to donor restrictions, including named and restricted endowment funds.
• Manage investment distributions and oversee adherence to the Investment Policy Statement in coordination with the Board of Trustees.
• Work with external investment managers and monitor portfolio performance.
• Oversee and file any required tax forms related to invested funds.

Accounting & Financial Reporting

Ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance to support strategic decision-making and steward financial resources.

• Establish, implement, and oversee accounting policies that safeguard the school’s financial integrity and ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit regulations, and best practices.
• Oversee all accounting functions, including accounts payable, cash disbursements, cash receipts, fixed assets, and restricted fund accounting.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial reports for school leadership, the Board of Trustees, and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity in financial data and emerging trends, including a clear, non-adjusted (GAAP) view of operating results alongside any supplemental metrics presented to the board.
• Manage external financial audits and coordinate with the CPA firm for the annual financial statement audit.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of all required state and federal tax filings.

Payroll & Human Resources Coordination

Oversee payroll administration and partner closely with Human Resources, which reports to the President.

• Oversee payroll processing, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll tax filings.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Serve as fiduciary trustee for the 401(k) plan, ensuring compliance and proper administration.
• Partner with the Human Resources Manager on compensation structures, benefits budgeting, and staffing plans, ensuring HR policy and practice remain aligned with the school’s financial plan, mission, and regulatory requirements.

Tuition Administration & Financial Aid

Manage the school’s tuition program to balance affordability for families while ensuring sustainable revenue for the school.

• Oversee tuition and financial aid administration processes in collaboration with the Tuition Assistance Administrator, Admissions Office, and Registrar.
• Monitor the tuition discount rate against budget and long-term sustainability targets, and report trends to the President and Board.
• Develop and update communication materials for tuition policies, including written and online resources.

The position will provide leadership for the areas outlined above, with the potential for additional departments or functions to be added to its scope of responsibility as the organization’s needs evolve.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required.
• CPA license or master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in a senior financial leadership role, with direct P&L or balance-sheet accountability, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing institutional debt, lender relationships, or covenant compliance — experience navigating a waiver, amendment, restructuring, or turnaround is strongly preferred given the school’s current debt covenant posture.
• Working knowledge of non-profit fund accounting standards, restricted gifts, and endowment management.
• Experience in payroll management preferred.
• Strong commitment to the mission and values of Eastside Catholic School as a Catholic, college preparatory institution.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial risk clearly and candidly to a governing board, faculty, and families.
• Strategic thinker and problem-solver, capable of driving financial discipline and organizational efficiency under real constraint, not only in steady-state conditions.
• While the ideal candidate will possess all of the above, we encourage applications from any candidate who believes they would be a strong fit.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $175,000 – $230,000, commensurate with experience. Classification: Exempt, full-time, 1.0 FTE, 12-month position.

• Medical: choice of three Kaiser Permanente plans; the Basic (HMO) plan is provided at no cost to the employee. Coverage begins the first of the month following hire.

• Dental, vision, long-term disability, and $50,000 basic life insurance through UNUM, fully employer-paid for the employee.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a Safe Harbor match: 100% of the employee’s deferral up to 3% of compensation, plus 50% of deferrals from 3–5% of compensation — immediately 100% vested.

• Tuition discount for employees’ dependent children, beginning in the employee’s third year (25%) and rising on a defined schedule to 85% by the eighth year and beyond.

• 10 accrued sick days per year, paid holidays, and personal and bereavement leave in addition to regular school closures.

• Complimentary lunch on school days, employer-paid parking, and employer-funded Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave premium.

Full benefit terms are governed by the applicable plan documents and the current Employee Handbook, which control in the event of any conflict with this summary.