Town School for Boys seeks an experienced Controller who desires to be an integral part of the finance team with the CFO and Head of School. This is a full time position reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding in 1939, Town School is committed to providing a dynamic and engaging environment that suits the developmental learning needs of boys. An intensive academic program is supplemented by fine arts offerings and outdoor education trips that take advantage of the school's Bay Area coastal location. Town School recently completed a Strategic Plan to set its vision for the next 5 years which makes it an exciting time to be a part of the Town Community.  Town School values academic excellence, respect for self and others, diversity and inclusivity, service learning, and character development. Town places a high value on maintaining a creative, collegial atmosphere among faculty and staff members. There is an expectation of continuous growth and improvement for all faculty and staff and strong support for a wide range of professional development opportunities.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

While many Controller positions are relegated to “looking back” and documenting the present, this position adds the opportunity to analyze information and create presentations that are integral to future decision making. As a result, the Controller will have a window into strategic financial initiatives of the school by involvement in creating and providing supporting data to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Controller is responsible for all  accounting functions ensuring accurate and timely financial information. The Controller will also work in conjunction with and support the Payroll and Benefits Manager. The Controller assists the CFO in financial analysis, budget planning and reporting. Ideal candidates must demonstrate an ability to think critically, problem solve and communicate clearly in a collaborative environment. The candidate must have strong interpersonal and technology skills, a collegial approach, and excellent organizational and administrative skills. The Controller serves as a part of the Business Office team which then serves as a resource to all other departments and constituents of the school.  In addition, the school offers opportunities to work with the students in various capacities. The ideal candidate would enjoy getting involved in the life of the school.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Manage the general ledger, accounts payable, fixed asset ledger and other related  accounting functions. Responsible for all journal entries, accruals, reconciliations and closings of all accounts.

• Provide leadership and guidance to the Business Office team.

• Oversee payroll function.

• Provide accurate and timely financial reporting as required.

• Coordinate with the Advancement Office to ensure that all gifts and pledges are accurately accounted for (restricted/unrestricted assets, endowment, etc.)

• Responsible for monthly bank and investment reconciliations and recording of interest, dividends, gains and losses.

• Prepare information for annual surveys from national and state organizations.

• Develop, document and maintain appropriate accounting and financial procedures.

• Prepare government and other filings; ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, GAAP, professional standards and internal policies.

• Work with budget managers in the development of and compliance with departmental budgets.

• Review the Parents’ Association financials on a monthly basis.

• Monitor the annual operating budget. Identify and analyze variances and develop appropriate solutions and/or recommendations. 

• With the Chief Financial Officer, develop accounting and management policies and procedures to ensure adequate financial controls, audit trails and security.

• Manage the school’s annual financial and pension plan audits.

• Develop and maintain professional skills through reading and professional development.

• Perform other duties or additional projects as requested to achieve financial and other goals of the Business Office and the school.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting from an accredited school/university; CPA preferred.

• At least 3 years of proven relevant experience in an independent school or non-profit organization.

• Outstanding computer and technical skills, including Excel, Microsoft Word and one major accounting system are required. Experience with Sage Intaact a plus.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills including good judgment, and ability to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with the Town School community while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

• High level of personal and professional integrity.  Trustworthy, discreet and respectful in handling confidential or sensitive information.

• Demonstrated ability to initiate and complete multiple tasks on time with competing priorities and deadlines. Solutions-oriented, efficient and able to work independently.  Outstanding attention to detail required.

• Desire to be part of a collaborative team committed to supporting the Town School community.

COMPENSATION:  Compensation is competitive and based on experience.  In addition to fully-paid medical and dental coverage, a retirement plan and four weeks of vacation are included.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: 

Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

Town School for Boys is an equal opportunity employer. Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.

TOWN SCHOOL FOR BOYS MISSION

At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.

PHILOSOPHY

As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys.  Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.

CORE VALUES

RESPECT

We respect ourselves and others.

• We treat others the way they want to be treated.

• We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.

CURIOSITY

We are curious.

• We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.

• We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.

BELONGING

We all belong.

• We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.

• We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.

INTEGRITY

We act with integrity.

• We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.

• We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.

JOY

We are joyful.

• We make space for play, fun and laughter.

• We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.

STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.

We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another. 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Diversity, inclusion and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs, and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School. A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses he or she matters as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.