Director of Finance and Operations
hace 2 días
Santa Monica
Job Description Director of Finance & Operations Growing Place | Santa Monica, California Position Summary The Director of Finance & Operations is a senior administrative leader responsible for the financial health, operational effectiveness, and organizational infrastructure of Growing Place, a Santa Monica nonprofit early childhood learning community serving children and families across three campuses: Marine Park, Ocean Park, and the Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School. Growing Place is one school with three campuses, connected by a common mission, vision, pedagogy, and professional development culture. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Finance & Operations provides strategic leadership for finance, budgeting, forecasting, human resources, payroll, benefits administration, risk management, compliance, and key operational systems. This role serves as a trusted thought partner to the Executive Director and works closely with the Director of Advancement, Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, Campus Directors, and outside partners to ensure sound stewardship and long-term sustainability. The ideal candidate is an experienced, mission-aligned nonprofit leader who combines strong financial and operational expertise with honesty, discretion, sound judgment, and high emotional intelligence. This person understands how to support a complex school organization with multiple campuses, tuition-based revenue, fundraising dependency, tuition assistance, and a people-centered culture. Growing Place’s mission is “to create a better future by helping children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers,” and its philosophy emphasizes collaborative inquiry, strong relationships, and intentional environments. The Director of Finance & Operations plays a vital role in ensuring that the organization’s business systems, people practices, and operational planning support that mission every day. Essential Duties Financial Leadership & Strategy • Provide strategic financial leadership in partnership with the Executive Director, Director of Advancement, and Board finance leadership., • Oversee the financial operations of the organization, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting oversight, cash flow monitoring, internal controls, and financial reporting., • Develop and maintain annual and multi-year financial models to support enrollment planning, staffing decisions, compensation planning, capital needs, and long-term sustainability., • Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including variance analyses and dashboard summaries for leadership and the Board., • Lead the annual budget development process in collaboration with the Executive Director, Campus Directors, and Institutional Leadership., • Partner with the Executive Director on long-range financial strategy, scenario planning, and institutional decision-making., • Support stewardship of tuition revenue, enrollment-related financial planning, and philanthropic income assumptions, including coordination with admissions and development functions as appropriate., • Oversee audit preparation, tax filings, and relationships with external auditors, accountants, banks, lenders, and other financial service providers., • Ensure responsible management of organizational reserves, debt, investments, restricted funds, and capital expenditures, as applicable., • Lead day-to-day business and operational functions across the organization in ways that support excellence, efficiency, and continuity across all three campuses., • Oversee operational systems and services, which may include vendor management, procurement, facilities coordination, information technology, security, and campus operations., • Support the Executive Director in identifying and implementing process improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and service to children, families, and the professional community., • Develop and maintain operational policies, systems, calendars, and workflows that promote consistency, accountability, and strong internal communication., • Oversee facilities-related planning and operational support, including maintenance coordination, capital projects, lease or property-related logistics, and vendor relationships., • Ensure that operational practices reflect the needs of a high-quality early childhood environment and support uninterrupted school functioning. Human Resources, Payroll & Benefits • Oversee payroll administration and ensure accurate and timely processing of compensation for all employees., • Lead or supervise benefits administration, including health insurance, retirement plans, leave administration, workers’ compensation, and employee support programs., • Partner with the Executive Director on compensation philosophy, salary benchmarking, workforce planning, and annual compensation review processes., • Support recruitment, onboarding, employment agreements, personnel files, and offboarding procedures., • Ensure compliance with HR policies, wage and hour requirements, employment regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local labor laws., • Serve as a knowledgeable and trusted resource on human resources matters, employee relations, confidentiality, and policy interpretation., • Help strengthen systems that support employee experience, clarity, accountability, and legal compliance. Risk Management, Compliance & Governance • Oversee organizational insurance programs, including property, liability, health, workers’ compensation, and other coverage as needed., • Ensure compliance with nonprofit, financial, employment, and operational regulations., • Maintain custody and organization of key business records, contracts, policies, insurance documentation, and other legal and financial instruments., • Partner with legal counsel and external advisors on institutional matters as needed., • Support the Executive Director and Board with policy review, reporting, and organizational compliance obligations., • Serve as a strategic and visionary thought partner to the Executive Director in shaping organizational priorities, growth planning, and sustainable infrastructure., • Translate mission-driven goals into practical financial and operational plans that support Growing Place’s children, families, and educators., • Help leadership make informed decisions by providing clear analysis, realistic guardrails, and forward-looking recommendations., • Contribute to organizational planning that reflects Growing Place’s unique model as a nonprofit, community-supported early childhood school with tuition revenue, fundraising needs, and tuition assistance commitments., • Foster a culture of integrity, collaboration, responsiveness, and service across administrative functions., • Reports directly to the Executive Director., • Works in close partnership with the Director of Advancement, Campus Directors, administrative leaders and program leadership., • Serves as a key staff liaison to the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee, and attends Board meetings as appropriate., • Supervises business and operations staff and oversees external consultants, vendors, and service providers as assigned., • Collaborates closely with Executive Director and Campus Directors on admissions, development, revenue planning, compensation, and organizational strategy. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree required in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field., • MBA, CPA, CMA, SHRM credential, or other relevant advanced credential preferred., • Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in finance and operations., • Significant experience in nonprofit finance and administration required; independent school or early childhood education experience strongly preferred., • Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit coordination, internal controls, and cash flow management., • Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, fund accounting concepts, and financial compliance requirements., • Experience overseeing or partnering closely on payroll, benefits administration, compensation planning, HR compliance, and employee records management., • Experience working with boards, finance committees, auditors, legal counsel, and external vendors., • Strong systems orientation, with the ability to improve processes, build infrastructure, and manage multiple priorities effectively., • Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills., • High level of integrity, honesty, discretion, and sound judgment., • Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to work collaboratively and diplomatically with a wide range of constituents., • Ability to think strategically and act operationally., • Commitment to the mission and values of Growing Place and to supporting a warm, inclusive, and community-centered school culture. Physical Requirements • Ability to work on-site in a school and office environment across multiple campuses in Santa Monica., • Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer and attending meetings., • Ability to move throughout campus environments, including offices, classrooms, and outdoor areas., • Ability to bend, reach, carry files or materials, and lift up to approximately 25 pounds on an occasional basis., • Ability to manage the pace, interruptions, and activity level of a dynamic school environment. Benefits • 100% Employer paid health, dental and vision insurance., • 403b retirement plan with employer match., • FSA - Health., • Dependent Care Savings Account., • 72 hours paid sick leave - frontloaded annually at the start of the school year., • 4 weeks of paid time off during synchronized school closure (Winter, Spring and Summer). Compensation details: 125000-145000 Yearly Salary PI60d17f1dae90-25405-40560018