Chief Financial Officer
About The Position
Albany Academy seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Chief Financial Officer to lead the school's financial enterprise and help shape its future. Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the senior leadership team, the CFO will advise the Head of School and Board of Trustees on significant financial and strategic decisions. The role combines rigorous financial stewardship with strategic planning, capital strategy, business development, institutional partnerships, resource allocation, and long-term financial sustainability. The CFO will oversee the existing finance and business operation while identifying opportunities to create value, develop revenue, use institutional assets effectively, and fund the school's future. The position provides financial and strategic leadership across budgeting, forecasting, capital investment, enrollment and tuition strategy, workforce investment, facilities, technology, risk management, and organizational development. The CFO will lead and develop the finance, facilities, and business team, empowering experienced functional leaders to manage day-to-day operations.
Responsibilities
- Advise the Head of School, senior leadership team, and Board of Trustees on strategic financial decisions.
- Develop and execute long-term financial strategy aligned with the school's mission, priorities, and 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 institutional decisions through financial, operational, strategic, and mission-related perspectives; identify financial risks and opportunities.
- Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, business models, strategic partnerships, and alternative uses of institutional assets.
- Develop business cases and financial models 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, Board, Advancement leadership, and facilities leadership on funding strategies for major capital needs and investments.
- Assess capital-project funding options, develop investment scenarios, and integrate capital decisions with the broader financial strategy.
- Oversee financial reporting, budgeting, accounting, audit, treasury, cash management, compliance, financial controls, and risk-management practices through Business Office leadership.
- Manage relationships with auditors, financial advisors, banking partners, insurers, and other professional service providers.
- Ensure the Board and Finance Committee receive clear, timely, meaningful financial information.
- Partner with the Head of School, Admissions, and senior leadership to assess enrollment strategy, tuition pricing, financial aid, affordability, and revenue.
- Analyze compensation, benefits, salary structures, and workforce investments; support long-term workforce planning and financially sustainable practices.
- Oversee the Director of Site and Support Services, who reports to the CFO, and partner on capital planning, major projects, asset management, and long-term campus strategy.
- Evaluate the financial implications and opportunities associated with the school's physical assets, contracts, infrastructure, and other resources.
- Support insurance, risk mitigation, emergency preparedness, and continuity planning.
- Oversee the school's technology function, including financial and strategic oversight of technology investments, cybersecurity, data governance, systems, and technology-related risks.
- Lead and develop the finance, facilities, and business team, fostering accountability, service, collaboration, sound judgment, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, families, vendors, and external organizations.
- Communicate complex financial and business concepts clearly and translate them into actionable choices for varied audiences.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
