The Business Director is responsible for overseeing the administrative arm of the school in a manner that ensures and supports the delivery of its educational mission.
Responsibilities include:
Finance and Business Operations
- Provide oversight for business operations and ensure annual audit or review.
- Develop budget in conjunction with Pedagogical Chair and the Finance Committee in a timely manner and provide financial reporting, as needed.
- Oversee Tuition Adjustment (TA) process, conduct TA interviews in collaboration with TA Committee (TAC), liaison with TAC, maintain TA data, and provide reports as needed.
- Coordinate accurate and timely financial statements and the maintenance of industry standard financial records with the support of an outside accounting firm.
- Safeguard financial assets in collaboration with Finance Committee, and comply with the federal, state and local reporting requirements.
- Bring strategic financial issues to the Pedagogical Chair and the Finance Committee in a timely manner and provide financial reporting, as needed.
- Manage employee benefits policies and benefits related programs and procedures. Ensure ongoing compliance with employee training requirements.
- Support program development to encourage revenue growth, such as after school clubs, summer programs, and other revenue generating program opportunities.
- Ensure collection of accounts receivable and payment of accounts.
- Oversee the timely and accurate processing of payroll and benefits.
- Supervise marketing and fundraising efforts; aspects of admissions.
- Oversee accountability by ensuring compliance with state and federal labor law, and by updating our personnel policies, as needed.
Legal/Compliance/ Risk Management
- Ensure the school conducts its affairs in a manner congruent with its bylaws and state and federal statutes, including HR issues.
- Liaison with insurance companies and/or brokers as needed for claims, coverage questions, and renewals.
Governance
- Act as an Ex-Officio member of the Board to keep the Board fully informed to meet its responsibilities. This includes annual budget, tuition, enrollment and fundraising recommendations, long-term planning needs, and suggestions for board policy and institutional betterment.
- Provide information and reports in support of the Collegium, as needed.
- Support committees and task forces of the Board, including efforts to raise funds for the school.
Facilities
- Oversee grounds and maintenance.
- Direct maintenance and janitorial staff and serve as primary contact for the school’s security company.
- Ensure the safety and well-being of all students and employees under the school’s jurisdiction.
- Coordinate the rental and use of facilities with organizations both from within our community and outside of Highland Hall.
Security
- Oversee various security systems, the front gate, our information systems, student database, alarm systems, to ensure a safe campus and efficient systems.
Staff Management
- Supervise and support bookkeeping staff.
- Ensure performance reviews for assigned administrative staff.
- Define the administrative positions needed to support the school’s programs and ensure employment of personnel to fill positions with an ad hoc group.
Community
- Collaborate with external community partners.
- Monitor and address emergent safety school issues in a timely manner.
The position oversees the bookkeepers, Enrollment Manager, Marketing and Development Manager, Communications Manager, HR Coordinator, and Facilities Manager and reports to the Pedagogical Chair.
Benefits
- Tuition remission for children accepted for enrollment at the school.
- Medical and dental benefits for the employee and eligible family members.
Requirements
- Strong financial management skills.
- Proficiency in computer applications – accounting systems, payroll programs, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
- Strong interpersonal skills and excellent organizational skills.
- Effective project management from research to implementation.
- Attention to detail and thoroughness.
- Commitment to and experience with Waldorf pedagogy and administration is highly desirable.
- Managerial ability.
- Ability to promote the school and its mission creatively and effectively through marketing and fundraising is highly desirable.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent experience in accounting, business, finance or related fields.
- Experience in working in a Waldorf school, independent schools and/or nonprofit organizations.
- Strong interpersonal, presentation and written communication skills.
- Ability to generate creative solutions and meet challenges with resourcefulness.
- Enjoys working collaboratively; strives to continually build knowledge and skills.
