Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer- Golda Och Academy at Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer - Golda Och Academy

Full Time

Golda Och Academy

West Orange, NJ

Golda Och Academy (GOA), recognized as one of the top Jewish day schools in the country, is a vibrant learning community that focuses on the individual intellectual, social, and spiritual needs of each child. We cultivate in students a lifelong love of learning within the context of Jewish knowledge and heritage. Our school is located on two campuses — one for the Lower School and one for the Upper School — located about three miles apart in West Orange, serving over 430 students from more than 60 communities across New Jersey.

GOA is accepting applications for an individual to join our school as CFO/COO. The CFO/COO is a member of the school’s leadership team, working closely with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees on matters of policy and supervising the finance and business operations of the school.

Major Responsibilities

• Finance:
  • Oversees all accounting and financial reporting functions for the School and the Foundation, including the design and implementation of policies and internal control procedures.
  • Coordinates the annual financial statement audit and preparation of IRS Forms 990 in collaboration with external auditors and the Audit Committee.
  • Responsible for the creation and monitoring of the school’s budget and long-term financial plan, including regular reporting to the Board of Trustees.
  • Collaborates with and supports the Director of Institutional Advancement on major gifts and grant requests.
  • Supervises the Director of Business Operations (Controller).
• Human Resources:
  • Supervises the Director of HR and Talent Management.
  • General oversight of Human Resources functions for the school, including recruitment, onboarding, benefit design, benefit administration, and HR policy compliance.
  • Oversees/supervises employee contracting, payroll, and contract administration.
• Ensures that the school is adequately protected against damage and liability and has effective risk management systems in place.
• Responsible for coordinating with insurance companies and legal advisors in the event of liability or damage claims.
• Works collaboratively with the Board and School Leadership to develop programs that minimize risk.
• Consults with legal counsel regarding liability concerns.
• Interfaces with Risk Management Partner/Insurance Broker to identify and mitigate risks.
• Works closely with the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management regarding the financial aspects of enrollment.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of affordability programs, including supervision of the allocation of financial aid and grant programs.
• Oversees the enrollment and tuition billing/collection functions for the school, including the creation of enrollment contracts.
• Oversees the selection of vendors and vendor contracting, including review of all contracts with legal counsel.
• Create and manage RFP process for school partnerships (i.e., transportation, facilities).
• Facilities and Operations:
  • Oversees facilities, security, and building use.
  • Works collaboratively with the Head of School and security consultants to develop safety and security policies and procedures.
  • Supervises Director of Facilities and Operations (who manages a team of maintenance and security staff).
• Information Technology:
  • Oversees information technology management and educational technology, including liaising with outsourced IT.
  • Supervises the Director of Educational Technology.

Skills Required

• Financial Management – Expertise in budgeting, financial planning, and analysis.
• Accounting & Reporting – Knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Risk Management – Ability to identify and mitigate organizational risks.
• Strategic Planning – Experience in long-term financial and operational planning.
• Leadership & Team Management – Ability to lead and supervise multiple departments.
• Human Resources Management – Understanding of HR policies, benefits administration, and compliance.
• Contract Negotiation – Skill in reviewing and negotiating vendor and service contracts.
• Audit & Compliance – Experience managing external audits and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Enrollment & Tuition Management – Knowledge of financial aid programs and tuition collection.
• Insurance & Legal Liaison – Ability to work with legal counsel and insurance providers.
• Facilities & Operations Management – Oversight of maintenance, security, and campus operations.
• Technology Oversight – Familiarity with IT infrastructure and educational technology.
• Fundraising & Advancement Support – Experience collaborating on major gifts and grants.
• Board & Stakeholder Communication – Strong ability to report and present financial data to leadership and trustees.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making – Analytical thinking to address challenges efficiently.

Job Requirements/Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will be collaborative, adaptive, innovative, highly organized, empathetic, and possess strong financial and leadership skills.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college (MBA and/or CPA preferred).
• Independent School experience (experience within Jewish Day Schools preferred).
• Minimum of 10+ years of applicable leadership experience.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary range is between $190,000 and $210,000, depending on experience.
• Eligible employees receive a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance coverage, paid leave and retirement plan options, discount tuition for children, 24 paid days off, over 25 days of paid school holidays, summer Fridays, and many other valuable programs.

Golda Och Academy is an inclusive community and makes all employment decisions without regard for an individual’s race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, sex, pregnancy, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability (including AIDS and HIV related illness), genetic information, refusal to provide genetic information, refusal to submit to genetic testing, ancestry, familial status, marital status, domestic partnership status, civil union status, atypical cellular or blood trait, military service, application for military service, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

The School conducts pre-employment screening for all positions, which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of the background check.