Chief Financial Officer

Albany Academy•Albany, NY

24d

About The Position

Albany Academy seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Chief Financial Officer to lead the school's financial enterprise and help shape its next chapter. Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the senior leadership team, the CFO will act as a trusted thought partner to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on consequential financial and strategic decisions. The role combines rigorous financial judgment with business acumen and curiosity to identify creative ways to advance the institution. The CFO will oversee an established finance and business operation while focusing on strategic planning, capital strategy, business development, institutional partnerships, resource allocation, and long-term financial sustainability. The role extends beyond stewardship of the existing financial model to helping the Academy create value, develop revenue opportunities, use its assets effectively, and fund its future. The CFO will lead strategic financial planning and analysis; explore new business models, revenue opportunities, and partnerships; guide capital strategy and investment; oversee financial stewardship, accounting, and risk management; and collaborate on enrollment, tuition, financial aid, compensation, and workforce investment. The CFO will oversee the Director of Site and Support Services and the school's technology function, while empowering experienced leaders to manage day-to-day operations. The CFO will lead and develop a strong finance, facilities, and business team and communicate complex financial and business concepts clearly to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Head of School, senior leadership team, and Board of Trustees.
Develop and execute a long-term financial strategy aligned with the Academy's mission, strategic priorities, and institutional goals.
Lead annual budgeting, multi-year forecasting, scenario planning, and long-range financial modeling.
Provide decision-oriented financial analysis and recommendations to school leadership, the Finance Committee, and the Board.
Evaluate major institutional decisions from financial, operational, strategic, and mission-related perspectives; identify financial risks and opportunities and advise on resource deployment.
Identify and develop revenue opportunities, business models, strategic partnerships, and alternative uses of institutional assets.
Develop financial models and business cases for potential partnerships, investments, operating agreements, and other strategic initiatives.
Evaluate opportunities involving athletics, transportation, facilities, programming, and other institutional assets.
Structure and help negotiate partnerships and long-term agreements, balancing financial return, risk, mission alignment, operational feasibility, brand protection, and community benefit.
Partner with the Head of School and Board to evaluate opportunities that could strengthen the Academy's financial position while advancing its mission and protecting its brand and program standards.
Partner with the Head of School, Board, Advancement leadership, and facilities leadership to develop strategies for funding major capital needs and investments.
Evaluate capital-project funding approaches, including philanthropy, financing, strategic partnerships, operating arrangements, and other mechanisms.
Develop financial models and scenario analyses to inform the timing, scope, funding, and sequencing of major capital investments.
Assess the long-term financial implications of capital commitments and integrate capital decisions into the broader financial strategy.
Provide financial leadership as the Academy prepares for and potentially undertakes significant capital fundraising and investment.
Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting and controls; oversee budgeting, accounting, audit, treasury, cash management, compliance, and reporting through Business Office leadership.
Maintain appropriate financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and risk-management practices.
Manage relationships with auditors, financial advisors, banking partners, insurers, and other professional service providers.
Ensure the Board and Finance Committee receive clear, timely, and meaningful financial information.
Partner with the Head of School, Admissions, and senior leadership to assess the financial implications of enrollment strategy, tuition pricing, financial aid, and affordability.
Develop financial models to assess enrollment scenarios, tuition strategies, financial aid policies, and other revenue sources; explain tradeoffs involving enrollment, affordability, program quality, and financial sustainability.
Partner with the Head of School, Human Resources, and senior leadership on compensation strategy, benefits, salary structures, and workforce investments.
Provide financial analysis for compensation and benefits decisions and support competitive, financially sustainable workforce investment and long-term workforce planning.
Oversee the Director of Site and Support Services, who reports to the CFO, and partner with that director and operational leaders on capital planning, major projects, asset management, and long-term campus strategy.
Provide financial analysis and oversight for capital investments while empowering functional leaders to manage day-to-day facilities operations.
Evaluate the financial implications and opportunities associated with physical assets, contracts, infrastructure, and other institutional resources.
Support insurance, risk mitigation, emergency preparedness, and continuity planning.
Oversee the school's technology function and ensure technology investments, cybersecurity, data governance, systems, and technology-related risks are evaluated and aligned with institutional priorities.
Empower technology leadership to manage day-to-day operations while providing financial, strategic, and risk oversight.
Lead and develop the finance, facilities, and business team, establishing clear accountability and empowering experienced functional leaders.
Foster a culture of service, accountability, collaboration, sound judgment, and continuous improvement.
Partner effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, families, vendors, and external organizations.
Translate complex financial and business concepts into clear, accessible information and actionable choices for varied audiences.