Director of Finance and Operations

Position Description

Seek Ye First Ministries (Highland Rim Academy & Daniel One Academy Homeschool Umbrella)

Opportunity Statement & Job Description

Director of Finance & Operations

Overview:

The Director of Finance and Operations will play a key role in developing and executing strategy to ensure the overall financial operations of the school supporting the vision and mission. He or she will oversee all finance, operations and facility matters.  Reporting to the Head of School, the DFO will be an active member of the school’s leadership team, collaborate with all division leaders, and provide recommendations for areas of growth.

The Director Finance & Operations Officer will:

be a mature Christian who is a member in good standing at a Protestant Evangelical church.
agree and support HRA’s statement of faith and classical Christian philosophy of education.
possess a clear understanding that students are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).
be an engaged learner who constantly seeks opportunities to grow while encouraging others to do the same.
be a dynamic and strategic thinker.
be an authentic individual who leads with transparency and highest standards of godly integrity and confidentiality.
be a data driven, collaborative decision maker.
toggle between big picture vision and day-to-day execution.
be a clear communicator who possesses excellent listening, verbal and writing skills.
be a relationship builder, demonstrating personal flexibility and a sense of humor.
be a visible presence in the school community.
be goal oriented and have strong organizational skills.

Required Qualifications:

possess a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field.
possess a minimum of five years experience in management.
possess strong technical, organizational, and analytical skills.
possess solid communication skills and the ability to motivate others.
possess a background in finance, budgeting, and cash management.
possess a strategic understanding of facilities in the educational environment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

understand the culture and climate of the school and the wider educational environment.
communicate clearly and enthusiastically to all faculty/staff and stakeholders.
model and foster high ethical standards, integrity and respect for colleagues, parents, and students in conducting the school’s business.
collaboratively develop and administer the annual budget and multi-year forecasting to align with the school’s goals and mission.
develop and oversee financial policies, procedures and internal controls to safeguard assets, protect confidential information, and ensure accurate financial reporting.
collaborate with school leaders on operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations based on analysis and projections.
oversee school business functions, including: tuition billing and collection, accounts payable, contracting, payroll, human resources, accounting and reporting, regulatory reporting and compliance and other business administration activities.
serve on the finance and facility committees.
provide financial reports to the school’s leadership and board of directors.
oversee the maintenance of the buildings, grounds, and equipment.
evaluate the need for capital expenditures to meet the school’s mission while maintaining the financial sustainability of the school.
work closely with the board of directors and Head of School to develop and maintain a campus master plan.
develop and monitor risk management policies to ensure that program and organizational risks are minimized.
ensure all processes and procedures are followed in the financial aid process, including collecting, verifying, and processing required documents.
serve on the tuition assistance committee to determine the best appropriation of financial aid monies in accordance with budget guidelines.
process tuition assistance applications, awards, and appeals.
develop and manage direct staff, to include business office, facilities, and technology.
maintain external relationships with banks, auditors, insurance agents, technology support team and other third party vendors.
perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Application Process:

Compensation is commensurate with experience. Please email a resume, letter of interest, and contact information for at least three professional references to:

Jonathan Davis, Head of School

Highland Rim Academy

1000 England Drive

Cookeville, TN 38501

[email protected]

Review of all applications will commence on April 7, 2026.  Employment is set to begin on July 1, 2026.

Seek Ye First Ministries DBA:Highland Rim Academy is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and, as such, does not discriminate in employment or enrollment on the basis of gender, race, national or ethnic origin.

For more information about Highland Rim Academy, please visit www.highlandrimacademy.org.