Associate Director of Finance / Controller

Pay: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

• Step into a high-impact finance leadership role at a respected, mission-driven independent school.
• Work closely with senior leadership, the Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees on meaningful financial reporting and analysis.
• Join a collaborative business office where your accounting, controls, audit, budgeting, and nonprofit finance experience will directly support the school's long-term success.
• Enjoy a strong compensation package, meaningful benefits, and a hybrid schedule with typical business office flexibility of up to 2 remote days per week.
• Bring structure, insight, and leadership to a school environment that values innovation, community, and thoughtful stewardship.

Location: This is a hybrid role based in Chestnut Hill, MA, just outside of Boston. Hybrid flexibility is determined by department needs, with the Business Office typically allowing up to 2 remote days per week.

Note: Must have 5+ years of accounting or finance experience, with strong preference for nonprofit or independent school experience. CPA or MBA is strongly preferred.

About Us

Confidential Employer. We are a student-centered, future-focused independent school serving grades 6-12 just outside of Boston. Our community values innovation, collaboration, belonging, and real-world learning, and our Business Office plays a key role in supporting the financial strength and long-term mission of the school.

Job Description

• Manage core accounting functions within the Business Office and help ensure accurate, timely financial reporting.
• Prepare quarterly financial reports and support financial analysis for senior leadership.
• Coordinate the annual audit and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.
• Support the CFOO with financial analysis, Finance Committee materials, and Board of Trustees reporting.
• Assist with student billing, collections, enrollment contracts, and financial aid accounting as needed.
• Partner with Admissions on enrollment-related finance matters.
• Work with Philanthropy and Engagement on gift accounting, pledges, endowment funds, releases, and related reporting.
• Monitor and report on departmental budgets across the school.
• Manage cash and credit card accounting, accounts payable oversight, bank reconciliations, journal entries, and monthly close activity.
• Maintain internal financial controls, financial documentation, and organized accounting processes.
• Oversee nonprofit compliance and filings, including IRS Form 990.
• Take on additional finance, accounting, and business office projects as assigned by the CFOO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field.
• CPA or MBA strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience.
• Nonprofit, independent school, private school, education, or mission-driven organization experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, audit coordination, budgeting, internal controls, and nonprofit compliance.
• High proficiency with Excel and accounting software.
• Blackbaud Financial Edge experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with administrators, faculty, parents, students, and external partners.
• Flexible, adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable working in a community-focused environment.

Why You Will Love Working Here

• You will have a visible, trusted role supporting both day-to-day operations and long-term financial planning.
• You will work in a thoughtful, mission-driven school environment where finance directly supports students, faculty, and the broader community.
• You will partner with engaged leaders who value accuracy, transparency, collaboration, and sound financial stewardship.
• You will have the opportunity to bring process improvement, structure, and strategic insight to a respected institution.
• You will enjoy a professional environment that values belonging, innovation, flexibility, and a healthy sense of humor.

JPC-1038

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Requirements: Must haves: 5+ yrs accounting / finance exp,

• Nice to haves: Preferred CPA or MBA, nonprofit or independent school experience, Blackbaud Financial Edge, audit coordination, Form 990, student billing, financial aid accounting, and endowment/gift accounting experience.

• Additional context: Relocation- [depends]. Packages - [depends]

• Salary Bands:

  • 7 to 8 years relevant experience: $120,000 to $135,000

  • 8 to 10 years relevant experience with nonprofit/school exposure: $135,000 to $150,000

  • 10+ years with controller-level ownership, audit, nonprofit compliance, and strong systems experience: $150,000 to $170,000

Submission Email: Name / Marie - [email protected]

Quick Recruiter Reference

Independent 6-12 school near Boston hiring an Associate Director of Finance / Controller to manage accounting, financial reporting, audit, controls, budgeting, AP, reconciliations, nonprofit compliance, and Board/CFOO support. Best targets are Controllers, Assistant Controllers, Finance Directors, Accounting Managers, or nonprofit/private school finance leaders with 7+ years of experience. CPA or MBA preferred; nonprofit, independent school, Blackbaud Financial Edge, audit, Form 990, and financial aid/student billing experience are strong pluses.

Recruiters Submission: To submit, cancel - Associate Director of Finance / Controller - Beaver Country Day School - JPC 1038 - Source

*New Job Order Alert*

• Client job title:Associate Director of Finance / Controller

• Location: Chestnut Hill, MA

• On-site, hybrid, remote: Hybrid

• Experience: 5

• Good fit job titles/keywords for candidates: Controller, Assistant Controller, Director of Finance, Associate Director of Finance, Accounting Manager, Finance Manager, Nonprofit Controller, School Controller, Independent School Finance, Blackbaud Financial Edge, Form 990, audit, nonprofit accounting, student billing, financial reporting.

• # of hires needed: 1

• Open or not to recruiters on TE: No

• Job posting strategy (bottom of package details): Pretty hard, near boston - 750k approx, 5+ yr finance/accounting exp