Director of Finance

Job Description

Job Description

Starting Date : November 2025

About Buckingham Browne & Nichols :

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Buckingham Browne & Nichols is a day school that engages students in grades Pre-K through 12 in a rich and invigorating educational experience of the highest quality. The school excels at helping students discover their unique talents and passions and develop those strengths to the fullest. The curriculum is challenging, forward-thinking, innovative, and flexible, designed to help qualified students, from a range of backgrounds and with a wide spectrum of talents and interests, reach new levels of accomplishment. Co-curricular opportunities in athletics, the arts, community service, and other areas add important dimensions to students’ learning. Students learn on three age and developmentally-appropriate campuses. At every grade, BB&N takes full advantage of the range of opportunities its locations afford.

BB&N is committed to becoming an anti-racist institution. This commitment is integral to the mission and vision of the School. BB&N is an academically excellent, diverse, and inclusive community where students develop into lifelong learners who lead with kindness, curiosity, and integrity. We prepare students to be responsible and open-minded as they engage with the world around them. Our school is guided by the core values of :

Inquiry, in which we promote curiosity and critical thinking to inspire a lifelong love of learning. Integrity, in which we strive to be honest, conscientious, and accountable in our actions, even when no one is watching.

Belonging, in which we foster a culture of respect, well-being, and connection that values all individuals and empowers them to discover and be their authentic selves, and

Kindness, in which we strengthen our communities by recognizing our common humanity and treating ourselves and others with respect and compassion.

The vibrancy and vitality we feel in the classrooms, hallways, stages, and playing fields of BB&N derive from the people who are here. At its root are the varied interests and experiences, the different backgrounds, cultures, religions, views, and perspectives that our students and faculty bring to their classes and families bring to myriad activities. Each of us adds to the richness of another’s experience. Working and playing together teaches us lifelong lessons about appreciating, knowing, understanding, and learning from each other.

Summary Description :

The Director of Finance will report to the Chief Operating and Financial Officer and be a member of the Operations Leadership Team, which oversees the 86-person department. The Director of Finance will be responsible for leading the business office operations and will have the requisite experience in school financial functions to lead these areas. Buckingham Browne & Nichols School operates on three academic and one administrative campus and prioritizes the need to build connections across the Lower, Middle, and Upper School programs. This position is an in-person role, as visibility of key operations staff is a key component to building connections across the school.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities :

The Director of Finance will work with various members of the Senior Leadership Team and other school leaders and will have the following responsibilities :

Oversee operations of the business office and support the growth and professional development of the staff in these areas.

Prepare the audit and reporting materials that are provided to the Board and Committees (Audit and Finance), and participate in these board meetings.

Support the Director of Facilities and Transportation in the preparation of materials for the Facilities and Real Estate Committee.

Ensure the maintenance of appropriate financial records and preparation of required financial reports, including quarterly and ad hoc reporting.

Manage the annual budgeting, budget monitoring, and financial analysis process and work to continuously improve these processes.

Develop and manage an integrated, automated financial management information system.

Systemize the quarterly close process.

Partner with school leaders and budget managers to support their understanding of the budgets and support their work in understanding and analyzing the budget data to support the work of the school.

Create a cash management plan and manage the school’s cash flow position. Establish credit and collections, and purchasing policies and schedules for the payment of bills and financial obligations.

Develop and manage an integrated, automated financial management information system and a robust and effective system of internal controls around accounting, cash, and other business operations functions.

Manage the insurance program and relationship with Fred C Church.

Manage responses and analysis of financial benchmarking data suitable for management and board-level review.

Review the financial and accounting-related policies and procedures of the school and ensure appropriate communication with faculty and staff, and reside in an accessible location.

In partnership with the Director of Facilities and Transportation, establish and execute programs for the provision of capital, including negotiating the procurement of capital and maintaining the required financial arrangements.

Oversee the preparation and filing of all income tax and financial reports of the school.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements, Skills, and Competencies :

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned school leader with deep experience in all aspects of business office operations. BB&N strives to hire people committed to the school’s mission and values. The following qualifications are sought in the ideal candidate :

A strategic thinker who stewards collaborative work and progress toward goals.

Entrepreneurial spirit.

Experience building strong collaborative teams and motivating others.

Requires superior oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively and interact with all personality types and levels of management.

Effective relationship builder, preferably with local, regional, and national connections

At least 7-10 years of direct experience in school business operations and, specifically, fund and non-profit accounting.

Experience in managing large teams and programs.

Master’s Degree in Business Management or related field strongly preferred.

Salary : $145,000 to $175,000.00

BB&N offers competitive salaries and benefits, employing equitable and consistent compensation practices. The starting salary for any hired candidate is based on experience within salary bands.

Compensation for eligible full-time and part-time employees includes a 403(b) plan with up to a 10% match of salary and other competitive benefits offerings. Benefits offered to eligible employees include health & dental insurance; commuter benefits; long-term disability insurance, and more.

To Apply :

Please visit the Careers at BB&N page to complete your online application. Please upload your Cover Letter, Resume, and Reference List. Please email hr@bbns.org with any questions.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any non-job-related physical or mental disability. We welcome candidates who will increase our diversity; we encourage candidates of color and all diverse candidates to apply.