The American Montessori Society (AMS) is the foremost advocate for quality Montessori education, an innovative, child-centered approach to learning. AMS sets the high professional standards that inform Montessori education as practiced in AMS-accredited schools and taught in AMS-affiliated teacher education programs. A not-for-profit membership organization based in New York City, with more than 14,000 members world-wide, AMS is the hub of all things Montessori: an information center for its members, the media, and the public; a voice in the public policy arena; and a mobilizing force for the global Montessori community, through support services, accreditation, credentialing, and affiliation services, research, and professional development events and offerings.

The CFO is responsible for providing support for the strategic vision of organizational development and financial oversight. The CFO will build long term financial forecasts, coordinate audits, support the accounting staff in accounting and treasury functions, ensuring all controller functions are fulfilled. The CFO is responsible for cash management and partners with other senior staff in risk assessment activities. An ideal candidate will also possess a strong fund-raising background and a track record of finding and developing strategic development opportunities.

Basic Function: The chief financial officer position is accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the company, to include the development of a financial and operational strategy, metrics tied to that strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve organizational assets and report accurate financial results. Principal accountabilities are:

Planning

1.     Assist in formulating the company's future direction and supporting new initiatives

2.     Develop, monitor, and direct the implementation of strategic business plans

3.     Assist in concept and creation of foreign operations and initiatives

4.     Develop financial strategies and determine the need for and, where necessary, create tax strategies

5.     Manage the capital request and budgeting processes

6.     Develop performance measures that support the company's strategic direction

7.     Prepare quarterly reports to the CEO that include an analysis of trends/patterns and a list of potential growth opportunities.

Operations

1.     Participate in key decisions as a member of the executive management team

2.     Maintain in-depth relations with all members of the management team

3.     Manage and perform all work related to accounting, tax, and treasury functions (planning, cash and liquidity management, capital needs, financial risk management)

4.     Oversee the financial operations of foreign operations

5.     Manage any third parties to which accounting or finance functions may be outsourced

6.     Oversee the company's transaction processing systems

7.     Implement operational best practices

8.     Oversee employee benefit plans, with particular emphasis on maximizing a cost-effective benefits package

9.     Supervise acquisition due diligence and negotiate partnership agreements

Financial Information

1.     Oversee the issuance of financial information, including timely creation and distribution of monthly financial reports to senior management

2.     Personally assist in preparation, as well as review and approve all tax filings

3.     Report financial results to the board of directors

4.     Staff liaison to the Finance Committee

Risk Management

1.     Collaborate with senior management team to understand and mitigate key elements of the company's risk profile

2.     Participate in resolving or ameliorating any legal issues that may arise involving the company, and understand legal issues or hurdles affecting the education/Montessori/school/teacher education industry

3.     Construct and monitor reliable control systems

4.     Maintain appropriate insurance coverage

5.     Ensure that the company complies with all legal and regulatory requirements

6.     Ensure that record keeping meets the requirements of auditors

7.     Collaborate with senior management to report risk issues and suggest solutions to senior management and the audit committee of the board of directors

8.     Maintain relations with external auditors and investigate their findings and recommendations

Funding

1.     Monitor cash balances and cash forecasts

2.     Develop relationship with Investment firm, make recommendations regarding same

Third Parties

1.     Participate in conference calls with the investment company

2.     Maintain banking relationships

3.      Create and/or maintain partner relationships

Supervises: In addition to the accounting and development staff, the CFO may be assigned oversight of other divisions within the organization.

Desired Qualifications: The candidate chief financial officer should have a master's degree from a regionally accredited college/university. The candidate should have experience in partnering with an executive team, have a high level of written and oral communication skills, and have completed 18 semester-hour credits to include the following areas:

• Economics
• Organizational theory
• Law
• Management or administration
• Accounting
• Finance

Preference will be given to candidates with a certified public accountant license, certified management accountant designations, or a Master’s in Business Administration.

Additional Qualifications: Significant controller experience will be considered a plus.

Please attach a cover letter and a resume. No calls, please.

Equal employment opportunities and diversity among its employees are fundamental principles at the American Montessori Society.