Chief Financial and Operations Officer

The Storm King School
Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Start Date: July 1, 2025
Founded in 1867
Coed boarding and day school
Grades 8-PG, 170 students

Educators Collaborative is pleased to assist The Storm King School in its search for a Chief Financial and Operations Officer to begin July 1, 2025.

About the School

For more than a century and a half, The Storm King School (“SKS”) has stood on the shoulder of Storm King Mountain overlooking the scenic Hudson River in one of the most beautiful and dynamic places in America. Today, The Storm King School ranks among the top boarding schools in New York, serving 170 students in grades 8-12, 114 boarders and 56 day students.

The Storm King School is a place where students create their own path, explore their dreams, and discover their potential in areas they may have never thought possible. As a college preparatory boarding and day school dedicated to a student’s individual success, the school provides a challenging and supportive environment where students discover skills, aptitudes, and talents that prepare them for college and beyond.

The student body, purposefully international and diverse, prepares students from over twenty nations for a multicultural and multi-dimensional world. The exposure to these many different cultures enhances the learning environment and deepens each student’s educational experience.

Beginning in 2010, the school has moved forward and grown: larger student body; larger campus; improved curb appeal; more organization systems in place; more alumni involvement – but there remains an opportunity for continued innovation and expansion. The next Chief Financial and Operations Officer will partner closely with Lisa Shambaugh, who began her service as Head of School of SKS in July of 2024, to build on the school’s strong foundation and plan for the future. The School has recently embarked on a strategic planning process, and the next CFOO will be closely involved in the refinement and execution of the plan’s priorities.

Mission and Values

Mission:
The Storm King School, a global community, prepares students by inspiring them toward academic success and confidence in an inclusive and diverse learning environment that embraces character, balance, and trust.

Motto: Esse Quam Videri – To be, rather than to seem

Core Values: Truth, Respect, Responsibility

The Opportunity to Become Storm King School’s Next Chief Financial and Operations Officer

The Storm King School has launched the search to succeed the current Assistant Head of School for Finance, Ray Hecht, who will retire in 2025 at the end of a successful fourteen years at the school. Ray is eager to support new leadership and help his successor understand the school’s financial systems and operations. As described in greater detail below, the Chief Financial and Operations Officer is a key member of the leadership team of the school, partnering with the Head of School and Board of Trustees on strategic decisions that will shape the future of SKS. Additionally, the CFOO oversees the school’s finance office, the facilities and maintenance team, dining services, school security, and its outsourced technology support service. This is a highly visible role at SKS, and the new CFOO will become an integral part of the school community.

Responsibilities, Opportunities, and Challenges for the Next Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Partner with the Head of School
Working closely with the Head of School to develop a strategic financial vision for the future of SKS is a vital component of the responsibilities of the CFOO, who is responsible for managing and executing the strategy that is devised.

Risk analysis and financing of construction process
SKS hopes to commence construction on a renovated academic building in the near future, and the CFOO will be called upon to develop a range of financing options for this important project.

Manage the Facilities and Maintenance Team as well as Future Construction Projects
The CFOO oversees the school’s experienced and well-regarded Facilities and Maintenance team, which is responsible for routine maintenance, repair, and campus upkeep. When SKS undertakes future construction projects, the CFOO will lead the project management team that provides guidance and oversight of these important projects.

Lead Strategic Long-Term Financial Planning and the Budget Process
The CFOO leads the school’s annual budgeting process and has the opportunity to further refine this process in a manner that is transparent, consistent, and clear. In addition to constructing the annual budget, the CFOO will work closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to develop long-term financial scenarios for SKS.

Further Refine the Long-Term Maintenance and Replacement Budget
Much has been done to address deferred maintenance – an investment of approximately $11 million has been made over the past few years – but there is more to do. SKS has reserved funds each year for the ongoing projects.

Work Closely with the Board of Trustees
The CFOO will present regularly to the Board of Trustees on budget and long-range planning issues and will work closely with the Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds, and Audit Committee on strategic issues associated with the financial future of the school.

Help Execute the Strategic Plan
The Chief Financial and Operations Officer will have a major role in bringing to fruition the Plan’s priorities.

Oversee Risk Management and School Security
The CFOO will collaborate with the school’s counsel and insurance agents regarding all legal and risk management matters, and will establish policies to ensure risks are minimized. In addition, the CFOO leads the campus security force, which provides 24/7 campus-wide coverage.

Lead the Business Office
The CFOO will lead, and partner with, an experienced team of three finance professionals. In this role, the CFOO will help further develop the team’s skills and maintain the office’s positive, collegial atmosphere.

Partner with the Assistant Head of School for Admissions and Marketing
The CFOO works closely with the Assistant Head of School for Admissions and Marketing, regularly discussing enrollment trends and their impact on financial aid allocation and the budget.

Oversee Relationships with Lessees and Vendors
The Chief Financial and Operations Officer will oversee and approve all rentals of school facilities and ensure that renters abide by the terms of rental agreements.

Skills and Attributes of the Next Chief Financial and Operations Officer

The Storm King School seeks an experienced finance and operations professional to step into the Chief Financial and Operations Officer role. The school takes great pride in nurturing an environment that is compassionate, rigorous, joyful, progressive, highly collaborative, and innovative. An individual who brings experience, a strategic mindset, energy, integrity, and intellect will thrive in the SKS community.

The ideal candidates will possess the following qualifications, skills, and attributes:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting; CPA or Masters in Accounting designation preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in Finance Administration, preferably in an educational or nonprofit institution.
• Strong understanding of financial systems and controls, GAAP, budgeting, and capital management.
• Demonstrated experience with long-range financial planning and overseeing the financial and operating particulars of capital projects and building renovations.
• Experience with project management and oversight of building maintenance strongly preferred.
• Experience with financial and operations management in a boarding school environment is a plus.
• Ability to think critically and creatively.
• Proven success in a senior administrative role.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively tell the story of the school and demonstrate the values of the school.
• Proficient knowledge of a variety of MAC/PC computer software applications including word processing (preferably MS Word), spreadsheets (preferably MS Excel), database, and presentation software.
• Working knowledge of financial sustainability best practices, trends in independent school finance and operations.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed when they are received.
Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a Single Merged Document, in the order listed:

• EC Candidate Summary Sheet (Contact George Sanderson for this document)
• Letter of Interest, addressed to the Head of School
• A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses)
• Disclosure Form (Contact George Sanderson for this document)

Please send any inquiries, nominations, referrals, or expressions of interest electronically and in confidence to:

The Storm King School is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis [“protected class”] including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.

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