Chief Financial Officer

Full-Time, 12-Month Employee

Lawrence School seeks a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to begin April 1, 2025, upon the retirement of the current CFO. Lawrence School is looking for an individual of outstanding character, whose leadership, collaboration, and fiscal management skills match the school’s culture and mission. The next CFO will be a CPA who has experience preparing budgets, creating financial forecasts, negotiating contracts, and can manage relationships with financial institutions (both banking and investment). The CFO is a member of both the executive leadership team and Finance and Investment Committees, works closely with the board of trustees, and reports directly to the Head of School.

The CFO will provide strategic leadership in support of the school’s overall financial health and success. The CFO currently has direct responsibilities for strategic financial management, accounting and reporting, and payroll and employee benefits. In addition, the CFO has broad oversight in other key areas, including, but not limited to, facilities, information technology, and human resources. The CFO will also manage the business office currently made up of an Accountant and Business Department Specialist.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and CPA certification required, Master’s degree in Business Administration preferred

• Minimum five years of experience in financial accounting and auditing

• Experience working with financial institutions (i.e., banks and investment firms)

• Experience with a not-for-profit organization and/or independent school experience preferred

• Minimum two years of supervisory/management experience

• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills (this is both an internal and external facing position)

• Attention to detail/accuracy, timely implementation, and quality performance

• Consistently exercises discretion and good judgment

ABOUT LAWRENCE SCHOOL:

Lawrence School is a co-ed, K-12, independent school serving approximately 300 students from 11 counties and 80 communities across Northeast Ohio. We have two campus locations in Northeast Ohio. The Lower School in Broadview Heights serves kindergarten- through sixth-grade students, while the Upper School in Sagamore Hills serves seventh- through 12th-grade students. For more than 50 years, Lawrence School has followed its mission to “Teach students using diverse learning strategies, ignite their potential, and inspire academic, personal and social success,” by delivering academic excellence to students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. In some environments, these diagnoses are called learning disabilities. At Lawrence School, we refer to the unique way our students process information as simply learning differences. We know great minds don’t think alike!

Lawrence School has a faculty and staff consisting of 93 full-time and 24 part-time employees. Lawrence School is a proud member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association of Learning Differences Schools (ALDS), the Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS), the Cleveland Council of Independent Schools (CCIS), and is accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS).

Lawrence School welcomes students, staff, and trustees of all ages, races, colors, religions, sexes, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, handicaps, and national/ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available at the school. Lawrence School does not discriminate in administration of its education or admission policies, hiring practices, tuition assistance, or other school-related initiatives.

NEXT STEPS:

Interested candidates are encouraged to review a complete job description here. To apply, please email a resume, cover letter with salary requirements, and three professional references to Michelle Hurst at mhurst@lawrenceschool.org. No phone calls, please.