Head of Finance and Accounting

Job description

StevenDouglas is pleased to partner with a rapidly growing, mission-driven educational network headquartered in New York City. This organization has scaled quickly to a multi-site presence and is executing an ambitious long-range plan to significantly expand its student enrollment and geographic reach over the next decade. Driven by a clear and compelling mission, the organization connects families to a values-rich academic environment that strengthens cultural identity and community engagement.

This is a pivotal moment in the organization’s evolution. The finance function has a solid operational foundation, and the organization is now ready to layer in sophisticated strategic financial leadership capable of supporting rapid expansion, major capital deployment, large-scale fundraising, real estate growth, and long-term institutional sustainability.

We are seeking a Head of Accounting and Finance to join the Executive Leadership Team as the organization’s senior financial authority. The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive who is equally comfortable providing visionary financial strategy and rolling up their sleeves to ensure operational excellence across the finance function. This is a high-impact opportunity for a leader who thrives in dynamic, high-growth, mission-driven environments.

Job Responsibilitie

Serve as a core member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with the Director and senior colleagues to align financial strategy with the organization’s mission, growth objectives, and long-range vision

Build and maintain comprehensive financial models, forecasts, and scenario plans spanning near-term and long-range horizons, incorporating assumptions around new site openings, enrollment growth, capital spending, philanthropic revenue, and operational scaling

Lead financial due diligence, structuring, and integration planning for new location launches and potential acquisition or merger opportunities as the network continues to expand

Drive fundraising strategy in close partnership with leadership, including modeling large-scale gift campaigns, institutional sponsorships, endowment development initiatives, and bank financing structures tied to real property

Provide executive oversight of the accounting team, maintaining high standards across financial controls, compliance, audit readiness, and reporting accuracy; ensure timely and accurate delivery of financial statements and all required nonprofit and regulatory filings

Lead financial modeling, structuring, and due diligence for real estate acquisitions, long-term lease arrangements, donor-financed facility build-outs, and capital projects supporting new and existing locations

Oversee budgeting, cash flow management, treasury, and risk management functions; manage banking relationships and investment strategy for organizational reserves to ensure financial resilience across all stages of growth

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required; CPA, MBA, or equivalent advanced credential strongly preferred.

8+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior executive role (Head of Finance, VP of Finance, Controller, or equivalent); demonstrated track record of building financial strategy and infrastructure in a high-growth organization.

Deep expertise in education/finance, including fundraising support, grant management, endowment planning, and compliance with nonprofit accounting standards and applicable regulatory requirements

Advanced financial modeling and analytical capabilities with strong Excel proficiency; hands-on experience implementing scalable financial systems, reporting dashboards, and internal controls across a multi-entity or multi-site organization

Familiarity with real estate development, long-term leasing structures, and capital project financing in a nonprofit or institutional setting is highly desirable.

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Worksite address

new york, NY, 10261, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.