Position and School Overview: 

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart seeks a Chief Financial and Operating Officer to oversee all aspects of the school’s financial functions, operations, human resources, facilities, and risk management.

Princeton Academy is an all-boys, Catholic, independent day school serving grades K-8.  Rooted in the more than 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart, the mission of Princeton Academy is to develop young men with active and creative minds, a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and the courage to act on their beliefs. Princeton Academy has established itself as an outstanding school for boys that educates the whole child: intellectually, spiritually, morally, socially, emotionally, and physically. 

The CFOO will join the Princeton Academy community at a pivotal time in the school’s evolution and will have the opportunity to impact the future of the institution significantly.  After announcing closure in October 2023, Princeton Academy’s incredible community came together to provide sufficient capital to continue operations.  A recently announced partnership with Ridgeview Conservancy provides further support for our financial stability and an exciting new opportunity to use our beautiful campus and adjacent 153-acre preserved forest to provide our boys with innovative environmental studies. But our work is just beginning.  We require an energetic, creative, visionary, and proactive candidate with strong financial acumen who can, in partnership with a devoted Head of School and Board of Trustees, work to convert Princeton Academy’s exceptional raw material into a successful enterprise with promising long-term prospects.    

The CFOO reports directly to and works in partnership with our Head of School, is an integral member of the Senior Leadership Team, and serves as a non-voting member of numerous Board committees, including the Finance, Audit, and Buildings & Grounds Committees.  

Functionally, the CFOO leads, supervises, and manages a seasoned Business Office support team.   The CFOO also oversees our Buildings & Grounds staff and is responsible for maintenance, custodial, and security functions.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, executive-level position located in Princeton, New Jersey.  Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.  Princeton Academy offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, 403b with matching contribution, life insurance, and long-term disability. 

Key Responsibilities

Executive Level:

• Oversee all non-academic operations of the school, including the close management of finance and accounting, audit, accounts payable and receivable, payroll and benefits, auxiliary programs, non-tuition sources of income, cash flow, short-term investing, debt financing, insurance, facilities, campus security, technology, human resources, and endowment.
• Partner with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee to set strategic vision for maintaining the school's financial sustainability.
• On request, report to the Board of Trustees on key topics of strategic concern, as well as the annual presentation for approval of the operating and capital budgets and setting of tuition for the upcoming fiscal year.
• Strengthen the Academy’s financial stability by developing, implementing, monitoring, and improving effective financial control and decision-making systems by applying sound business principles, new technology, and collaborative long-term strategic thinking.

Management and Supervision:

• Provide supervision, direction, evaluation, and leadership to all direct reports.
• Actively guide and oversee the work of team members by setting clear goals, expectations, and priorities while offering support, coaching, and feedback to ensure they are performing effectively and contributing to the overall team objectives.
• Work with:
• Senior Leadership Team members to develop divisional budgets and to address specific financial and facility issues as they arise.
• Director of Institutional Advancement on all gift and capital campaign planning and financial oversight.
• Director of Admission, Enrollment & Financial Aid to develop short- and long-term admission and financial aid goals.

Accounting:

• Provide appropriate governance and oversight of all financial processes, including treasury, payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
• Oversee daily and monthly accounting functions, ensuring accurate and timely financial data entry and the timely monthly close of accounts.  Oversee preparation of accounting reconciliations and journal entries, including payroll, fixed assets, and investment activity.
• In partnership with the Director of Institutional Advancement, review contributions and restrictions to ensure accurate presentation in the financials.
• Plan, coordinate and oversee the activities of the school’s independent auditors for the preparation of annual financial statements, ensuring audit timeliness and completeness. 

Budgeting and Financial Forecasting:

• Prepare and oversee the approval of the annual operating and capital budgets, including a detailed review of salaries and benefits costs and competitive positioning.
• Maintain a dynamic multi-year operating forecast model to align with the school’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Track and report on monthly operating and capital financials, ensuring budget managers are spending within their approved budgets. 
• Track and report on unrestricted operating cash flow, reserve accounts, restricted financial accounts, and liability accounts on a monthly basis.
• Track and report on annual salaries, headcount, and open roles.
• Maintain multi-year historical trending and reporting of financials, headcount, tuition, financial aid, and endowment.

Tuition Management:

• Prepare scenarios for and oversee the approval of annual tuition setting.
• Member of the Tuition Assistance Committee.  Support the management of tuition refund insurance.
• Oversee student billing invoices and parent communications regarding tuition accounts, escalating aged balances as necessary.

Human Resources:

• Prepare a detailed review of salaries, headcount, and benefit costs.
• Prepare employment agreements for faculty and staff.
• Responsible for managing all employee records in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Oversee employee trainings and certifications including but not limited to SchoolSafe and Red Cross First Aid and CPR. 
• Serve as the on-site consultant to all employees in matters related to human resources, such as reviewing payroll, overseeing the employee onboarding process, leave coordination, performance management documentation, employee terminations, etc.
• Oversee the benefits administration process, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, group life, short-term and long-term disability insurance policies, and flexible spending plans. 
• Oversee engagement with third-party benefit consultants for the administration and review of the school’s retirement investment options and plans and our healthcare plans.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and governmental filing requirements, e.g., the IRS, State of New Jersey
• Oversee the development and maintenance of the school’s personnel policies and procedures, employee handbook, job descriptions, and personnel forms and recommend changes to school administration.

Facilities:

• Oversee school operations related to facility, safety, waste management, and janitorial. 
• Oversee capital projects, existing and new construction, renovations, and develop deferred maintenance schedules.
• Ensure the school maintains and updates a 5-year strategic plan annually for expenditures in Technology, Buildings & Grounds, Security, and Maintenance.

Auxiliary Operations:

• Administer State and Federal Aid Programs (textbooks, technology, nursing services, transportation, etc.) and Universal E-Rate Funds.
• Identify and evaluate new auxiliary revenue opportunities. Prepare and present business cases for the school to consider.

Committees:

• Serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees’ Finance, Audit, and Buildings & Grounds Committees.
• Meet regularly with the Chair of the Finance Committee to set agendas and prepare materials for the monthly meetings of the Finance Committee, to develop and monitor annual operating and capital budgets, and to develop and implement long-term strategic planning.

Third-Party Engagement and Oversight:

• Manage relationships with external parties, including bank representatives, investment advisors, consultants, benefits administrators, lawyers, auditors, and other advisors, to assist in the organization’s financial and legal affairs.
• Partner with insurance brokers to annually review the school’s insurance contracts, control costs, and stay abreast of changing insurance needs, as well as ensure that adequate and comprehensive coverage is in place for all required insurance forms, including workers' compensation, property, liability, etc.

Risk:

• Maintain the school’s Overdue Account, Billing, and Refund Policies, as well as new policies as introduced.
• Manage the post-issuance compliance of any debt issuance or lending arrangements.
• Work to ensure that the school meets all relevant NAIS Principles of Good Practice and Middle States accreditation standards related to financial and operational matters.
• Ensure all technology applications used by the CFOO teams are upgraded as appropriate to maintain a high level of security.

Interested candidates are asked to submit: 

• A letter of interest 
• A current resume
• List of references 

Please submit materials electronically via email attachment to Interim Head of School, Kathleen Humora at khumora@princetonacademy.org.

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

The ideal candidate is a creative self-starter with a practical, solution-oriented mindset and a proven ability to take initiative and drive results.  The position also requires a detail-oriented, analytical, and strategic administrator with strong interpersonal skills.  In addition, the strongest candidates will bring the following qualifications:    

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 5 years of senior financial management experience.
• A strong background in financial systems and modeling, investment and risk management, support services administration, business services, human resource and benefit administration, and facilities management.
• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of the school community – administration, faculty, staff, students, trustees, parents/guardians, alumni, and friends of the School.
• A high level of integrity and an extraordinary work ethic.
• Creativity, a positive outlook, a proactive orientation, and a desire to be an engaged and visible member of a close-knit educational community.
• An appreciation of the values and spiritual foundation of a Sacred Heart school.

About Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, an independent all-boys Catholic school serving grades K-8, is committed to academic excellence within the context of a faith-based community. Our mission is to develop young men with active and creative minds, a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and the courage to act on their beliefs. We stress the total development of each child: spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical. Our philosophy is rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart, which educates children to become leaders of a just society by adhering to the following five goals: I. A personal and active faith in God. II. A deep respect for intellectual values. III. A social awareness that impels to action. IV. The building of community as a Christian value. V. Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

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