Director of Finance & Operations

Job description

Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS) is seeking a resourceful full-time Director of Finance & Operations (DFO). JCHS is a unique college preparatory high school committed to integrating deep learning, universal wisdom, and Jewish values. We empower each student to embrace their Jewish identity, generate empathy and compassion, delight in lifelong education, and improve the world. Reporting to the Head of School and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the DFO will oversee the school’s financial planning, operations, and management practices. The DFO will work directly with the Head of School and support the Board of Directors and its Finance Committee, providing administrative leadership, counsel, and strategic financial vision for the school’s future. The DFO leads a Business Office team that will include a full-time Business Office & Operations Manager (who oversees food service, educational technology, and day-to-day operational vendors), a part-time off-site Controller, and a part-time off-site HR Manager. The school’s Facilities Manager, who manages security and maintenance, currently reports to the Head of School; that reporting line will shift to the new DFO. Job Summary The Director of Finance & Operations will oversee the school’s financial planning, operations, and management practices, working directly with the Head of School and supporting the Board and its Finance Committee. Primary Responsibilities Assist the Head of School and Board in long-range strategic financial planning and provide primary staffing for the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees. Oversee all financial aspects of the school including operating and capital budgeting, financial reporting, investments, cash management, and annual audit and tax filing processes. Lead and manage the organization's annual audit in partnership with an external accounting firm, serving as the primary liaison to auditors while coordinating timelines, compiling financial reports, and ensuring all documentation is complete, accurate, and delivered on schedule. Supervise Business Office staff, including the Business Office & Operations Manager and a part-time bookkeeper. Coordinate with the part-time HR Manager on personnel-related financial matters. Oversee all aspects of human resources in partnership with the HR Manager, including employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll, and employee handbooks. Manage risk through maintaining crisis management plans and administering appropriate liability policies, including general liability, D&O, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and coverage for equipment and school property. Manage the tuition assistance budget in collaboration with the Director of Enrollment Management. The school uses a specialized outside firm to assess family capacity to pay; the DFO oversees the financial parameters of the program, including budgeting, award amounts, and reporting. Serve as the school’s primary liaison with the landlord’s property management firm on facilities matters. Supervise the Facilities Manager. What Success Looks Like This is an exceptional moment to join JCHS in this role. The Head of School has been serving as interim Director of Finance for the past two years, building a stable, well-documented financial operation — and is now ready to return full-time to academic and institutional leadership. The incoming DFO steps into a functioning, organized office with strong institutional knowledge to draw upon and a ready partner in the Head of School for onboarding and transition. In the first year, the DFO will: complete a full annual audit cycle as primary liaison to external auditors; build trusted relationships with the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees; develop a deep understanding of JCHS’s financial rhythms, tuition assistance program, and operational structure; and establish themselves as an indispensable strategic partner to the Head of School and Board. This is a role for someone who is energized by institutional complexity and wants to make a genuine, lasting impact in a mission-driven community. The incoming DFO will onboard in close partnership with the current Head of School – who will transition to retirement at the end of the 2026/2027 school year making this an ideal moment to build foundational relationships with the Board, Finance Committee, and incoming Head of School before that leadership transition occurs. Throughout, the DFO will be supported by a seasoned Finance Committee that includes two past presidents of the JCHS Board of Directors and other experienced volunteer leaders who bring deep institutional knowledge and genuine commitment to the school’s financial health. Qualifications 7+ years of progressive financial and administrative experience; experience in an educational institution or nonprofit organization preferred. Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or related field. Master’s degree or CPA preferred. Proficiency with QuickBooks and standard office and financial software tools. Experience in human resources desired. Superior organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously. Must be able to work independently and collaboratively, adapt to changing priorities, manage time, and meet deadlines. Proven ability to work in a team environment, develop effective interpersonal relationships, provide excellent service, and communicate effectively. A good sense of humor and perspective are a plus. Compensation & Benefits At JCHS, salaries are one component of a compensation package that includes retirement contributions, daily kosher lunch, on-site parking, health, dental, vision, and life/AD&D insurance. The anticipated full-time annual base salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for the position of Director of Finance & Operations is $170,000 to $195,000 — a range dependent on factors such as the candidate’s years of professional experience, advanced training, and progressive educational leadership experience. Start date: October 1, 2026 (negotiable for the right candidate) Our Community As a pluralistic Jewish high school, JCHS students represent the diversity of Jewish practice and identity in the Bay Area. Faculty commitment to the mission of the school is essential, but religious affiliation is not a factor in hiring. We believe our students learn best from a diverse faculty and extended professional community and welcome people of any race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and marital status to come work at JCHS.