Sr. Director of Operations and Finance

Purpose: Sacred Heart Academy seeks an experienced, mission-driven operational team leader to assume the newly created role of Sr. Director of Operations and Finance. Reporting to the President, this leader serves as the Academy’s senior operational leader and is responsible for annual financial health, business operations, human resources and major campus facilities projects. The Sr. Director will oversee the business office, lead budgeting and long-range financial planning and reporting, and serve as the principal staff liaison to the Finance Committee of the Board. This role will join a high performing and results-oriented leadership team, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and use data-driven insights to inform strategic and operational decisions.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a seasoned operations professional with strong financial acumen to help shape the next chapter of SHA. The ideal candidate pairs technical depth in nonprofit finance with the judgment and presence to be a trusted business partner to the President and the Board.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy, Management and Reporting

• Lead the annual budgeting process with department heads and monitor performance against budget throughout the year.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including the Academy’s Annual Report.
• Develop multi-year financial forecasts to inform enrollment, tuition, compensation, capital, and strategic planning decisions.
• Oversee the annual audit and maintain internal controls and audit-ready records.
• Manage cash flow, reserves, investments, and debt obligations in line with policy.
• Support the President and Advancement team in scholarship distribution and tracking, along with grant procurement.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, operating reserves, and the Academy’s investment and endowment accounts in accordance policy.

Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable

• Supervise the Director of Finance and the school’s business office.
• Oversee accounts payable including vendor management, purchasing controls, approval workflows, and timely, accurate disbursements.
• Oversee accounts receivable, including tuition billing, payment plans, tuition management and financial aid systems, collections, and delinquency policies applied with consistency and care.

• Ensure accurate revenue recognition and cash management, reconciliations, and month-end and year-end close processes.

Human Resources

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for HR, including recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning for faculty and staff.
• Design, lead, and assess a culture-building program that reinforces the school's mission and values, strengthens community, and fosters trust, collaboration, and a sense of belonging among faculty and staff.
• Develop and implement a talent retention program, including competitive compensation benchmarking, professional development and growth pathways, recognition initiatives, succession planning, and regular use of engagement surveys, stay interviews, and exit interviews to identify and address retention risks.
• Administer compensation and benefits programs, including payroll oversight, benchmarking, and open enrollment.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment law, and maintain the employee handbook, job descriptions, and personnel policies.
• Lead performance management and evaluation processes, and advise leadership on employee relations, investigations, and separations.
• Oversee HR recordkeeping, background checks, certifications, and required safe environment or compliance training.

Operations and Compliance

• Oversee business operations such as facilities, risk management, insurance, technology, vendor contracts, and auxiliary programs.
• Ensure compliance with financial, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Support enterprise risk management, business continuity, and emergency preparedness planning.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a strategic partner to the President on institutional planning, campus capital projects, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Build and develop a high-performing finance and HR team.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Advancement, and Academic leadership on tuition strategy, financial aid, fundraising campaigns, and ensure collaboration across the SHA community.

• Maintain strong working relationships with the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Diocese, and other sponsoring and partner entities on financial and property matters.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to Sacred Heart Academy’s mission and Catholic education.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field
• CPA and/or master’s degree preferred
• 8+ years of progressively responsible operations and business management leadership, preferably in independent or Catholic secondary education, higher education, or another nonprofit setting.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and presenting financial statements, budgets and long-range forecasts to a Board of Trustees and Finance Committee.
• Working knowledge of nonprofit GAAP, audit preparation and Form 990
• Experience with tax-exempt debt, capital projects and/or capital campaign finance.
• Experience overseeing human resources, including benefits administration, payroll and employment compliance.
• Experience overseeing facilities, vendor contracts, risk management and insurance
• Proficiency with accounting and tuition management systems and advanced spreadsheet modeling
• Ability to organize and complete multiple initiatives simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines
• Excellent leadership, communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent writing, planning, and organizational skills. Strong presentation skills.

  COmpetencies

  Strategic thinking, integrity and discretion, sound judgment, collaborative leadership, change management, attention to detail, and a service-oriented approach to serving students and families, faculty, and staff in line with our mission.

  Interested applicants send cover letter and resume to

  careers@sacredheartacademyli.org