Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer - Interim

Position Overview

Please apply online at chadwickschool.org. Click on the blue menu in the upper right corner then scroll down to Careers on the left side. Scroll down to the list of open positions then search for CFO/COO. All applications will be considered.

The due date to apply for the position is November 14, 2025. The anticipated decision date is December 15, 2025. The tentative start date is January 5, 2026.

Applicants should submit a current résumé, letter of interest, personal statement/statement of philosophy, and a list of 5 references.

Chadwick School seeks an Interim Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer to assume duties as soon as possible. This is an interim position.

Chadwick School is a K-12 coeducational, independent day school located on a beautiful 45-acre hilltop in Palos Verdes, California. Founded in 1935 by Margaret Chadwick, the school has been committed to serving a diverse group of students from across greater Los Angeles. Today, Chadwick enrolls 865 students from more than 50 neighborhoods and allocates over $7 million in financial aid, serving 22% of the student body. The school is fully accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

Compensation: $305,000 to $320,000 salary based on years of experience and other qualifications.

Additional information about Chadwick School is available on the School’s website: ChadwickSchool.org.

Key Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Head of School and serve as a member of the senior Leadership Team; additional duties may be assigned as needed.
• Finance:
  • Oversee all aspects of financial transactions, financial reporting, and external auditing.
  • Enhance and drive financial controls including Delegation of Authority, Contract and Vendor Management, and Asset Tracking.
  • Create and maintain a long-range financial plan in support of the strategic plan.
  • Develop a financial reporting regime to effectively inform the Leadership Team and Board of the organization’s financial health and operational performance.
  • Collaborate with the Board’s Fulfillment Committee to establish KPIs that drive financial and operational excellence.
  • Attend Board meetings and serve on committees such as Finance, Investment, Development, Audit, and Facilities, as well as other ad hoc committees as required.
  • Provide supervision and direction to the Controller and members of the Business Office team.
  • Lead the annual budget preparation and approval process.
  • Reconcile and track investment activity, including contribution income, capital gains/losses, and changes in market value.
  • Develop and implement a Cash Management Program following guidelines established by the Head of School.
  • Ensure quarterly budget versus actual reports are accurate and available for review.
  • Coordinate compliance reporting related to school operations and debt management.
  • Work with the Head of School to determine school tuition, annual faculty and staff compensation, and financial aid.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Advancement on fundraising, gift accounting, donor stewardship, and compliance matters including the management of restricted investments and the preparation of an annual report.
  • Participate in projects and committees related to both short-term and long-range financial and operational planning.
  • Review accounts receivable and collect past due balances.
  • Update benchmark reports as they relate to strategic goals.
  • Provide oversight and guidance for Parent organizations on financial matters.
• Risk Management:
  • Provide supervision and guidance to the Director of Risk Management.
• Facilities/Operations:
  • Supervise and guide the Director of Facilities in planning and budgeting for facility maintenance, handling minor repairs, and updating the long-term repair schedule.
  • Ensure code compliance, proper permitting, and maintain positive neighborhood relations, including adherence to the Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
  • Serve as the school liaison with legal counsel regarding facilities-related matters.
• Human Resources:
  • Provide supervision and guidance to the Director of Human Resources.
• Information Technology:
  • Provide supervision and guidance to the Director of Information Technology.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive responsibilities in accounting, finance, operations, and/or general business management (prior management experience with a private school or non-profit organization is preferred).
• Education: BA Degree in accounting, finance, business management, or a related field (MBA and/or CPA preferred).
• Ability to think and plan strategically and creatively.
• Broad-based operations and project management experience.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with a proven ability to work well in a team environment.
• Strong Excel skills and proficiency with accounting and financial systems.