Director of Finance and Operations

Position: Director of Finance and Operations

Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI

Job Id: 355

# of Openings: 1

Director of Finance and Operations

The Roeper School, PK3-12 th Grade, is the oldest school in the country serving students with exceptional abilities. As we celebrate our 85 th anniversary, Roeper remains the leader of best practices to support gifted students’ self-actualization and freedom to pursue areas of study with guidance of a qualified, caring faculty. In short, Roeper is where gifted students discover the best in themselves and love to learn. At Roeper, outstanding educators, teachers, and professionals nurture students’ growth and encourage lifelong learning. Faculty lead in and out of the classroom and guide our students to discover ways to use their abilities, knowledge, and ethical commitments to help others in a lively, collaborative learning environment.

The Roeper Institute, an affiliated and separate non-profit organization, leads outreach, education, and teacher training to reach and identify more students who deserve to be recognized with educational opportunities.

Position Summary

The Roeper School seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) to provide leadership and oversight of the School’s financial, business, and operational functions. The DFO is responsible for the planning, implementation, management, and control of the School’s financial and business activities while providing leadership for its daily operations.

Reporting to the Head of School and serving as a member of the Leadership Team, the DFO balances high-level institutional planning with effective execution of daily operations. The position provides strategic and operational leadership in financial planning, budgeting, accounting, risk management, facilities, technology, human resources, transportation, and vendor management.

The DFO directly supervises or provides management oversight to the Business Office, Accounting Manager, Accounts Payable and Transportation Supervisor, Human Resources Manager, Payroll and Benefits Associate, Maintenance Supervisor, Director of Technology and Innovation, and food service vendor, as well as related functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, benefits, transportation, facilities, and grounds.

The DFO works closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, Finance, Investment, and Risk Committee, Retirement Committee, Financial Aid Committee, Facilities/Safety Committee, faculty, staff, vendors, financial institutions, insurance advisors, and legal counsel to promote the School’s financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, legal compliance, and strategic priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Management and Strategy

• Develops and implements short- and long-term financial strategies that support the School’s overall financial sustainability and strategic plan.
• Develops, prepares, and presents the annual operating budget, financial forecasts, internal reports, periodic financial statements, and financial models.
• Provides financial analysis and recommendations to support institutional decision-making and the Board of Trustees’ strategic initiatives.
• Prepares and reviews financial and budget statements, investment reports, capital project reports, and other financial disclosures.
• Ensures that financial reports and disclosures are accurate, complete, timely, and appropriate for the Head of School, Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and other constituencies.
• Ensures expenditures are consistent with the approved budget and established financial controls.
• Manages and monitors cash flow, cash accounts, banking relationships, and endowment funds.
• Oversees the investment of endowment funds in accordance with approved investment policies.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate procedures, internal controls, and financial systems consistent with current accounting and regulatory standards.
• Oversees the maintenance of accurate financial records in accordance with applicable requirements, including nonprofit GAAP.
• Manages Business Office activities, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, payroll, benefits administration, and banking.
• Manages all aspects of the accounts receivable process, including oversight and collection of aged receivables.
• In collaboration with the Financial Aid Committee, analyzes, reviews, and approves individual financial aid awards.
• Serves as the primary liaison with banks and other financial institutions.
• Evaluates and implements business initiatives and explores creative financing options when appropriate.

Audit, Tax, and Regulatory Compliance

• Plans and manages the annual external financial audit, including preparation of financial statements, footnotes, work papers, documentation, and supporting materials.
• Coordinates the annual external audit of the School’s 403(b) retirement plan.
• Manages required Form 990 IRS filings for The Roeper School and The Roeper Institute, both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
• Compiles and files reports and applications necessary to maintain the School’s tax-exempt and nonprofit status.
• Ensures financial and operational practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.

Human Resources and Employee Benefits

• Oversees the administration of employee compensation and benefit programs, including salaries, 403(b) retirement savings and matching plans, Section 125 cafeteria plans, employee welfare benefit programs, and the required Form 5500 filings.
• Establishes and evaluates employee benefit programs and implements changes as needed to enhance benefits, improve employee offerings, and/or reduce costs.
• Ensures personnel policies and practices support the School’s programs and comply with applicable state and federal requirements.
• Provides the Head of School with internal and external salary comparisons and related compensation analysis.
• Prepares and/or reviews employment contracts and coordinates distribution of employment contracts each spring and when necessary for off-cycle hires.
• Oversees the secure maintenance and confidentiality of employee personnel files.
• Supervises the daily execution of payroll and benefits administration.
• Advises the Head of School regarding employment-related matters and potential legal or regulatory concerns.

Risk Management, Legal, and Insurance

• With the Head of School, develops and implements comprehensive institutional risk management practices.
• Works with insurance advisors and brokers to secure appropriate and cost-effective liability, property, workers’ compensation, and other insurance coverage.
• Serves as a liaison with the School’s attorney on employment, contractual, business, and operational matters.
• Researches, evaluates, and analyzes complex operational and business concerns and obtains assistance from legal counsel or other appropriate resources when necessary.
• Advises the Head of School of situations that may create legal, financial, regulatory, or operational risks for the School.
• Reviews, negotiates, and approves vendors and other business contracts.

Facilities, Technology, and Operations

• Oversees the daily operations of facilities and maintenance, technology, telecommunications, campus safety, transportation, and school grounds.
• Provides leadership and oversight to the Maintenance Supervisor and the Director of Technology and Innovation.
• Coordinates planning for the preservation, safety, maintenance, renewal, and improvement of the School’s physical plant, grounds, technology infrastructure, and network infrastructure.
• Oversees scheduled maintenance, campus repairs, and capital improvement projects.
• Works with the Finance, Investment, and Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees, Maintenance Supervisor and the Head of School to plan and finance major capital improvements and investments.
• Monitors contractor selection, project schedules, cash-flow projections, budgets, and construction expenditures.
• Evaluates the need for ongoing or additional operational services, solicits competitive bids, and negotiates favorable terms with third-party vendors, including dining services, insurance, maintenance, technology, and other service providers.
• Oversees the School’s food service vendor and other contracted operational services.
• Ensures that operational resources and services effectively support the School’s educational mission and strategic priorities.

Leadership, Governance, and Collaboration

• Serves as a member of the Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership across financial and operational functions.
• Provides direction, supervision, mentorship, coaching, professional development, administrative support, and performance oversight to assigned staff.
• Facilitates effective collaboration among the Business Office, Human Resources, facilities, technology, academic departments, faculty, and other School constituencies.
• Serves as a central liaison between the Finance , Investment, and Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees and academic and administrative departments regarding budgets, human resources, and operational matters.
• Participates actively in committees that support the School’s objectives, including the Leadership Team, Facilities/Safety Committee, Financial Aid Committee, Finance, Investment, and Risk Committee, and Retirement Committee.
• Represents the School in appropriate regional and professional networks, including AIMS (Detroit Area Business Officers), MWBM (Midwest Business Managers Group), NBOA, and the ISACS Self Study Committee.
• Serves as Acting Head of School when authorized or necessitated by the absence of the Head of School.
• Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Accounting, Business Management, or a comparable discipline, with at least five years of relevant professional experience, including supervisory responsibility; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• CPA/CFA designation is a requirement, and a graduate degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Management, or another appropriate field is preferred.
• Experience in nonprofit organizations, preferably an independent school or other non-profit or educational institution.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and nonprofit accounting under GAAP.
• Advanced knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, and organizational management principles.
• Experience developing budgets, financial models, forecasts, financial reports, and strategic financial analyses.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills, including the ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff.
• Experience with financial and accounting software; knowledge of Blackbaud is a plus.
• Strong technical proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of independent and/or public school operations is preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse school constituencies while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Strong strategic-thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative working relationships and facilitate successful project completion.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and to advancing The Roeper School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• A collegial approach and congenial temperament consistent with Roeper’s collaborative culture, diversity, and teamwork.
• Successful completion of a criminal records background check.

• Lower School Campus, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan