Job Details
Founding Vice President of Finance & Operations
About Cristo Rey Network
The Cristo Rey Network of 39 high schools delivers a career focused, college preparatory education in the Catholic tradition for students with limited economic resources, uniquely integrating rigorous academic curricula with four years of professional work experience and support to and through college. Cristo Rey partners with educators, businesses and communities to enable students to fulfill their aspirations for a lifetime of success: students are two times more likely to complete a bachelor's degree by 24, compared to the total U.S. low-income population.
Who We Are
Cristo Rey Orlando High School will be located in Orlando, FL, and will be part of the national Cristo Rey Network. The school will open its doors to its inaugural freshmen class in the fall of 2025. Like all Cristo Rey schools, it will be a Catholic, college preparatory high school for students of all faiths from families of limited financial means. The school will be co-educational and will serve students of diverse backgrounds. We will help our students grow intellectually, academically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and morally. Our aspiration is that all our students graduate from high school and college and become the future leaders in our churches, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, and the community at large.
Cristo Rey Orlando will prepare students to excel in college, in career, and in character. Our college-prep curriculum, Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), and faith-based education combine to give students a unique experience and an affordable option for high-quality education.
The CWSP is independently incorporated, functioning as an employment agency within Cristo Rey Orlando High School. Cristo Rey Orlando students will be employees of the CWSP. Partners pay a competitive, annual service fee to the CWSP, not to the student, which directly funds student tuition. CWSP manages employment eligibility verification, payroll, insurance, taxes, and other employer issues, with the explicit awareness and approval of relevant state agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Who You Are
You are a dynamic, mission-driven, finance professional. You enjoy proactively building new processes, systems, and tools, and troubleshooting to improve them. You can create big plans and manage fine details. You lead collaboratively and with an entrepreneurial spirit. You enjoy challenges and thrive in a setting where you build and develop your team. You excel at communication, people management, project management, financial acumen, presentation skills, strategic thinking and execution. You are a leader with a proven track record of fostering cross-functional relationships. You enjoy working in true partnership with your President & CEO. You understand and embrace the mission of Cristo Rey Orlando, and it inspires your daily work.
This Role
The Founding Vice President of Finance & Operations will serve as a member of the Founding Leadership Team and will report directly to the founding President & CEO. They will be directly responsible for developing and executing the internal operational strategies necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of Cristo Rey Orlando High School. The role will be as much strategic, operational, and managerial as it is financial.
The Vice President of Finance & Operations, in collaboration with the President, Principal, and the Vice President of Corporate Work Study, are the executives responsible for the successful programming of both the High School and the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). The Vice President of Finance & Operations will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial and operational related activities of the high school and the CWSP. This includes direct responsibility for accounting, forecasting, strategic planning, budgeting, and risk management.
The successful candidate will develop and lead internal processes to support the following areas: finance, business planning and budgeting, human resources, facilities/safety, operations, and information technology. Responsibilities include:
- Create and implement the first-ever Cristo Rey Orlando High School Finance & Operations Department.
- Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, hire staff, direct work of staff, manage budgets, set deadlines, and ensure accountability.
- Work closely with the President to set revenue goals and track revenue against monitored expenses.
- Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the President & CEO; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes and keep leadership team abreast of the organization's financial status.
- In consultation with the President & CEO, develop human resources and administration teams ensuring consistent practices for evaluation, professional development, compensation and benefits, performance evaluation, training, recruiting and retention.
- Build and maintain an accounting system that yields the best level of internal controls with limited staff.
- Manage all aspects of internal controls ensuring that policies, procedures, and implementation meet GAAP for Not-For Profit, 501(c)(3) religious organizations.
- Oversees all financial activities, including preparing the overall budget for as well as managing the school s financial/banking relations, supervising the collection of tuition, payment of bills and collection of income.
- Collaborate with Vice President of Advancement on donor forecasting, pledges, invoicing, donor reconciliations, and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.
- Attends Board of Trustee meetings and is responsible for periodic forecasts of revenue and expenses throughout the fiscal year. Coordinates the implementation of the school s investment strategy.
- Build annual expense budgets for all departments/functions and monitor expenses throughout the year.
- Sets accounting policies and procedures within the guidelines of GAAP and with input from the Board s Finance & Audit Committee.
- Provide guidance, leadership, and direction, including clearly defined performance expectations, and encourage professional development for the finance & operations team.
- Develop, implement, and manage effective multi-year financial strategies.
- Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting.
- Coordinate employee payroll and correlated state and federal reporting, filing, and payment of taxes.
- Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the operation income billing and collection schedule is adhered to, and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
- Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly and annual financial statements
- Ensure that employee acquisition and new hire training processes are consistent and effective in meeting the goals of Cristo Rey Orlando High School.
- Coordinate technology staff and technology plans/vendors to meet the needs of Cristo Rey Orlando High School.
- Work closely and transparently with all external partners including third-party vendors, contractors, and consultants.
- Oversee administrative functions, as well as facilities, to ensure efficient and consistent operations.
- Staff all meetings of the Finance & Audit Committee of the board.
- Acts independently and resolves complex issues within scope.
- Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by the President.
Ideal Experience and Skills
- Bachelor s degree required; MBA/CPA preferred
- 5 - 7 years experience creating and executing financial planning and management strategies, ideally 5+ years of broad financial and operations management experience
- Results oriented with the ability to anticipate and overcome challenges, persevere, and meet goals in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
- Superior analytical, written and verbal communication skills
- Excels at setting and meeting objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies
- Track record of ensuring the integrity of data used to prepare financial reports.
- Experience in planning and implementing goals and initiatives with a high degree of flexibility and initiative
- Ability to translate financial concepts for, and to effectively collaborate with, administrative, fundraising and other colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds
- Uses professional discretion and good judgement
- Commitment to training programs that maximize individual and organizational goals
- A strong collaborator with a history of working effectively on interdisciplinary teams
- Experience in nonprofit accounting required (e.g. revenue recognition, 990 reporting)
- Working knowledge of GAAP, audits, and other regulatory requirements in the financial field
- Experience in human resource management, employee benefits and payroll procedures preferred
- Experience in grants management, preferred
- Experience in an independent school and tuition management, preferred
- Proficiency in QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, Google Suite
How to Apply
To ensure full consideration, applicants must submit a cover letter explaining why you believe that you are a match for this unique opportunity to be instrumental in starting a Cristo Rey High School. Please send your cover letter and resum , to ...@PostHawkConsulting.com
Applications will be accepted until the successful candidate is found. This position will start as soon as possible. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. Comprehensive benefits are included in the overall compensation package. Applicants should be prepared to provide references upon request. All offers of employment are conditional pending the successful completion of an extensive background check.