Finance Director / Controller
Are you an experienced, imaginative, and collaborative professional who believes in progressive gifted education? Do you enjoy creating meaningful learning experiences, and being part of a diverse, supportive and talented community? If so, please consider joining our team at Tessellations. We are currently accepting applications for a Finance Director / Controller. Successful applicant starts in fall 2024-2025. Competitive salary and full benefits available.
Tessellations is a progressive PreK-12 non-profit school for gifted learners based in Cupertino, CA. Our mission is to provide challenging experiential education that recognizes and nurtures the individual strengths of gifted learners, empowering them to confidently express who they are and pursue a meaningful life. At Tessellations, community is a core value, as it is the reason our small and mighty school was able to form and thrive despite the global pandemic. Our team consists of passionate, qualified and dedicated staff from diverse backgrounds and includes nationally renowned gifted experts. Our first year was online only. In our second year, we quadrupled in size, and we also added our Nature Campus. We’re in our fourth year with excellent staff and student retention, and extremely high family satisfaction. We moved to a larger campus to house our growing population, and in Fall 2024 we will launch our high school. The Finance Director / Controller will manage a team of that oversees accounting, finance, HR and payroll functions.
If you join our team you will help us scale our school by partnering closely with the Head of School and the Board to provide strategic financial direction, implement appropriate financial control and ensure overall financial health of the school. You will be heard, respected, and celebrated for your talents and efforts. You will work with students who love to learn, engaged parents who are grateful for your work, and supportive colleagues that will help bring out your best.
Primary Responsibilities
- Partner with the school leadership to oversee the development, administration, and reporting on the operating budget to the School’s Board.
- Provide strategic direction and implementation of all matters relating to finance, accounting, HR and payroll.
- Review and implement improvements to the current accounting, finance, payroll and HR process to support the school’s growth.
- Ensure safekeeping of the School’s assets and the integrity of its accounting records, and provide accurate and timely financial information to the Head of the School and the Board, as well as analysis of the actual financial results vs. budget.
- Assure up-to-date and equitable policies and procedural plans for salaries, wages, benefits, and all conditions of employment for School employees.
- Oversee the annual financial statement audit and tax return process, as well as other financial and payroll compliance reporting.
- Oversee the School’s investment of excess cash, monitor and review investment decisions with the Board.
- Organize and coordinate agendas and meeting material for the Finance Committee.
Requirements
- A strong background in financial management and modeling, investment and risk management, support services administration, business services, human resource and benefit administration, and facilities management.
- An open, collaborative, and sophisticated management leadership skill set, a team player. Ability to lead, motivate, and manage a high-quality staff, and hire new talent.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
- Knowledge and experience in setting up effective financial controls
- Commitment to diversity and inclusivity and possession of the skills necessary to lead in a diverse community and support the implementation of the school’s plan for diversity.
- Effective negotiation skills in developing contracts with external vendors.
- Creativity, analytical skills, project development, and management skills.
- An effective financial and business manager, capable of earning the respect and attention of the faculty, administration, staff, families, and the Board of Trustees.
- 8+ years work experience in a financial and business leadership position.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (finance, accounting or business administration)
Bonus Points
- Experience in an independent school setting
- M.B.A. and/or a master’s degree in a related field
- Experience managing a financial statement audit
- Non-profit organization tax knowledge
- Knowledge and experience with various school administration and accounting software tools
Compensation
Salary range: $140,000 - $162,000
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k), flexible spending account, paid time off, holidays, and school breaks.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume. For more information about our school, visit http://www.tessellations.school.
Tessellations is an Equal Opportunity Employer — we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, or reproductive health decision making.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $140,000.00 - $162,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Work Location: In person