Director Of Finance And Facilities

Silverwood School is looking for a qualified and experienced Director of Finance and Facilities to join our educational family! The Director of Finance and Facilities reports to the Head of School and, working with assigned Board committees, manages the resources of Silverwood School in support of the students, parents, faculty, and staff. This person is responsible for the planning, control, accounting and reporting of income, expenses, contributed, and invested funds of the school. This person manages all activities designated as Business Office responsibilities including physical plant and grounds, risk management and insurance, employee compensation and personnel policies, facilities leasing, and all city, state, and federal government compliance.

Responsibilities:

Finance

• Prepares and reviews financial and budget statements, investment, and capital project reports. Make presentations to the Head of School, Board, and committees as appropriate. Keeps Head and Board informed as to the financial condition of the school.
• Coordinates planning, execution, and financing of major construction projects at direction of the Head of School and Board committees.
• Monitors all loans and indebtedness, including inter-fund loans and transfers.

Budget

• Assembles preliminary annual budget from Board, faculty and staff requests and estimates operating expense and income.
• Works with the Head of School to prioritize budget needs.
• Collaborates with the Development Committee to articulate fundraising goals as part of the annual budget.
• Works with the Head of School to make recommendations to the Finance Committee for annual tuition increases, financial aid budget and faculty/staff compensation in consultation with the Head of School.
• Prepares annual budget proposal for Finance Committee review and approval.
• Ensures that all expenditures are consistent with the approved budget or that deviation from the budget is approved in advance by the Head of School and/or the Board.
• Administers and manages the budget to ensure that expenditures are in line with the budget.

Accounting

• Responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate procedures and internal controls for all financial systems.
• Conducts business office activities including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, financial aid, fund accounting, accrual accounting, journal entries, general ledger, use of reserved and restricted funds, purchasing, employee benefit administration, quarterly and annual state and federal payroll tax returns, state and federal reporting requirements, and other non-profit accounting systems.
• Coordinates independent audit once every four years in compliance with NWAIS accreditation standards.
• Coordinates relationship with the school’s independent auditors and prepares work papers for independent audit. Responds to auditor’s administrative recommendations in management letter.
• Prepares work papers for CPA to prepare annual Form 990.
• Ensures compliance with all government regulations including ADA, OSHA, IRS reporting, hazardous materials, fire, health, and building inspections.

Personnel Management

• Establishes and implements the administration of personnel programs and policies as they relate to hiring and termination procedures, paid and unpaid leave, Workers’ Compensation, safety, training, and compensation.
• Provides information to the Head of School regarding employee compensation, including preparing employment agreements.
• Conducts background searches on new hires.
• Ensures maintenance and security of personnel records.
• Assists the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in establishing appropriate employee benefit programs. Recommends changes to enhance benefits and/or reduce costs.
• Administers employee benefit programs.
• Ensures that the school’s personnel policies support its programs and that the school’s actions regarding hiring, compensation, training, and separation conform with state and federal requirements.

Student Enrollment, Financial Aid and Tuition Billing

• Administers accounts receivable, tuition assistance, and student enrollment agreements.
• Responsible for collection of past due accounts.
• Works with parents on financial issues relevant to their children’s enrollment at the school.
• In collaboration with the Head of School, reviews and analyzes family financial aid applications and makes decisions regarding financial aid grants.

Facilities

• Establishes and maintains standards of facility housekeeping, maintenance, and repairs within established budget parameters to ensure preservation, safety, and quality of the facility.
• Establishes priorities and schedule for timely completion of work.
• Coordinates and schedules use of the facility for both school activities and non-school groups and organizations. Arranges for services to be provided and fees to be collected.
• Coordinates arrangements for major school events.
• Serves as the school liaison and coordinates planners, architects, engineers, and contractors for campus master planning and major new construction or remodeling projects.
• Identifies and manages preventative maintenance and capital project initiatives including buildings, mechanical systems, and equipment.
• Coordinates purchase and maintenance of office furniture, equipment, supplies and systems to support the administrative and educational needs of the school, including telephone, mail, copier equipment, fax equipment, computer hardware and software systems and office supplies.

Safety and Insurance

• Works with insurance advisors and brokers to ensure that adequate, appropriate, and cost-effective insurance is in force, including public liability, property and casualty, directors and officers, and Workers’ Compensation.
• Coordinates with various government and insurance inspectors to ensure that the school is operating in compliance with health and safety codes.  Ensures that violations are corrected in a reasonable period and that necessary reports are filed in a timely manner.
• Maintains vigilance for situations that could pose a safety or health hazard and recommends appropriate remedial action.
• Ensures that all safety and security systems are fully maintained and annually inspected.
• Advises the Head of School of any situations that might have adverse safety or legal consequences for the school.

Other Responsibilities

• Other duties may be assigned by the Head of School.

Qualifications:

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or general management; or a minimum of five years’ equivalent experience.
• Independent school or nonprofit financial management experience.

Essential Skills

• Essential skills for working at Silverwood School in this role include integrity, honesty, loyalty, meticulous attention to detail, flexibility, kindness, compassion, respect, and patience.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a team member while being an excellent self-starter able to work independently.
• Ability to diligently manage the school’s budget while being deeply committed to serving the needs of the school’s students, faculty, and staff.
• Respectfully maintains confidentiality and integrity while showing professionalism and building constructive working relationships.
• Report to work at the scheduled time and seldom be absent.
• First Aid and CPR certification.
• Ability to communicate accurately and effectively both orally and in writing, demonstrating the proper use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Possess effective human relations skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision; organize and prioritize work; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff, students, and the community.
• Completes work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner.
• Is comfortable using Microsoft Teams, and Office 365.
• Can lift 35 pounds and walk and stand for long periods of time.

ABOUT SILVERWOOD SCHOOL

Our Story

Silverwood was founded in 1984 when a group of parents from The Farm Montessori dreamed of continuing the educational experience, they received in their preschool Montessori experience. After a few moves, in 1995 Silverwood School arrived at its current 17-acre campus - an old farm on Central Valley Road Northwest.

Silverwood was founded on the belief that children thrive when they are motivated by curiosity, spend significant time outdoors, engage the world with their hands, build teamwork through project-based learning, and are nurtured by compassionate, caring teachers. We believe our small class sizes and large, wooded campus provide the backdrop for these core values. At Silverwood, our Mission and Belief Statements guide our work today and our plans for the future.

Our Mission

At Silverwood School, we challenge our students to become confident, compassionate citizens and skilled, life-long learners – literate, motivated, and intellectually adventurous.

We, the community of Silverwood, believe in the potential and curiosity of every child. Rooted in the relationships of teachers to students and the school to its families, Silverwood strives for a balance of structure and spontaneity, responsibility and opportunity, and discipline and discovery. With active family support for the child, faculty, and program, we prepare our students for their secondary education, to participate in and contribute to a richly diverse world, and to be stewards of our natural heritage. We encourage our students to passionately pursue their dreams.

Compensation Philosophy

The Board of Trustees has embarked on a multi-year initiative to increase salaries and provide more comprehensive benefits to all employees. For the past 4 years, salaries have increased by 30%. The Board remains committed to increasing revenue in order to more closely reflect the pay received by teachers and administrators in similar positions at comparable NWAIS schools.

How to apply

To apply, please submit the following:

• Completed Silverwood School Application for Employment located at: https://silverwood.school/jobs
• Cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest
• A current resume/CV
• 2 letters of recommendation from recent (within 2-3 years) professional references

Applicants should submit all materials to jobs@silverwoodschool.org. Please include the position title in the subject line of your email.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Silverwood School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, in employment or in the administration of its educational program, admissions policies, financial aid program, or other school-administered programs.

Equity in hiring

According to various studies, women and people of color are more likely to not apply for a job if they perceive their skills and experience to be less than equal to the requirements of a job posting. This means employers miss meeting potentially ideal candidates.

Silverwood School is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where employees from diverse cultures are affirmed and equipped to lead an inclusive learning environment for our students. Please apply even if you do not fulfill the requirements precisely.