Title: Chief Financial Officer
Location: Flexible within the U.S.
Type: Full-time
Start Date: June 2023
Summary
Relay seeks a Chief Financial Officer to join our Executive team. Reporting to the President and in collaboration with other Executive leaders and key members of the Board of Directors, the CFO will set the vision for and oversee the execution of Relay’s financial strategy and stewardship.
The CFO’s primary responsibility will be stewarding the institution from financial stability to more systematic, long-term financial sustainability through strong financial planning and clear, consistent communication and accountability. As a member of the Executive team, the CFO will serve as an organization-wide leader and voice for Relay’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and to creating a more actively anti-racist institution.
The CFO will also serve as the executive leader of a highly skilled and effective Finance team. This team is responsible for financial planning and analysis, all centralized aspects of Relay’s financial operations, and guidance and training for budget owners across Relay. The CFO will manage and support this 16-member team as they deliver on high-stakes workstreams while also identifying opportunities for operational improvements.
Duties & Responsibilities
Sustainability Strategy & Planning
- Leadership of Relay’s financial vision setting, strategy, and long-term planning, including:
- Envision and plan for Relay's financial future, including systems, processes, and policies to accommodate growth and sustainability
- Close collaboration with the President, Provost of Teacher Preparation, and Provost of Professional Education to better understand programmatic financial opportunities, risks, and needs
- Close collaboration with the President and Chief Strategy Officer to understand the dynamic teacher preparation and education landscape in order to align revenue generation with sustainable impact and to mitigate external challenges
- Collaboration with others on the Executive team to refine or develop targets or other structures for systematically monitoring progress towards program and organizational sustainability goals
- Monitor financial performance with support from the Financial Planning & Analysis and collaborate with others on the Executive team to course correct or minimize the impact of any variances
- Serve as a key contributor to the development of Relay’s next strategic plan with others on the Executive team and the Board of Directors
- Engagement with Relay’s Board of Directors on matters of financial strategy and governance; Collaboration and regular communication with the Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Audit Committee of the Board on essential financial governance processes such as the annual audit and budget review and approval
Executive Leadership
- Along with others on the Executive team, serve as an organization-wide leader of Relay’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and to creating a more actively anti-racist institution, including:
- Modeling of key interpersonal behaviors and mindsets such as self-awareness, emotional intelligence, solutions orientation, and openness to learning
- Participation in personal and professional development activities with other members of the Executive team and support for others in aligning their work to Relay’s values and mission
- Collaboration with other key stakeholders to develop and implement systems, practices, policies, and processes that support Relay’s commitment to being a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution
- Cultivation of a strong culture of financial stewardship across the organization, including:
- Building of relationships, trust, and investment in Relay’s financial decision-making and systems
- Setting of clear boundaries and communication that effectively supports fiscal responsibility
- Maintenance of a continuous improvement approach and pathways for regular stakeholder feedback
- Work cross-functionally to build confidence and skill in financially sound decision-making
- Active participation as a collaborative and solutions-oriented member of the Executive team while working together to ensure overall organizational effectiveness
Team Leadership
- Leadership and management of the Finance team, including:
- Supervision of the 16-member Finance team responsible for procurement, payroll, accounting, disbursement, financial planning and analysis, and financial business solutions
- Supportive and empowering leadership of the team as a whole
- Maintenance of a team culture that is inclusive, and mission-driven
- Ownership of vision-setting, planning, goal-setting, and decision-making associated with Relay’s Finance functions with the goal of accurate and efficient financial management and the overall financial health of the organization
- Leadership of the process of developing Relay’s $60 million annual budget through:
- Support for and collaboration with the Financial Planning & Analysis team members responsible for facilitating the budgeting process
- Engagement with key Relay leaders and Board members throughout the process
- Communication with the broader Relay community about budget decision-making and overall financial strategy
Finance Systems, Processes, and Policies
- Setting of high expectations and standards for systems, processes, and policies that support fiscal responsibility and data-informed decision making through efficiency, accuracy, and appropriate user accessibility and financial controls
- Identification and implementation of any opportunities for improvement of financial systems, policies, and process in collaboration with others on the Finance team, with the Technology team, and with other key stakeholders
- Ownership and responsibility for high-stakes decisions, approvals, and other financial administration responsibilities
Qualifications
First and foremost, the Chief Financial Officer must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation and professional development grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we are looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:
- Alignment with Relay’s values and ability to lead with equity through:
- Modeling key interpersonal behaviors and openness to learning
- Supporting others in aligning their work to Relay’s values and mission
- Collaborating with other key stakeholders to develop and implement systems, practices, policies, and processes that support Relay’s commitment to being a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in nonprofit and/or education finance including:
- At least five years of executive leadership
- Demonstrated experience overseeing finance for a complex nonprofit organization
- Experience with or exposure to educator professional development (preferred)
- Experience in institutions of higher education or other enrollment-driven organizations (preferred)
- Experience in organizations that include fee-for-service or other earned revenue as part of their financial strategy (preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other executive leaders and stakeholders in setting a vision for financial sustainability and resilience; Track record of developing effective financial strategy aligned to organizational mission and vision
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to clearly and effectively communicate about complex financial issues to a wide variety of stakeholders with varying levels of financial expertise
- Strong interpersonal and intrapersonal leadership skills including emotional intelligence, advocacy and boundary setting, relationship building, and a solution orientation
- Highly flexible and adaptable with the ability to effectively lead organizational change through building investment, effective prioritization, navigating ambiguity, and setting boundaries while maintaining an assets- or strengths-based approach
- Highly developed financial planning and analysis skills that support the ability to understand and conduct complex analyses relevant to Relay’s current state and future vision; Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and other relevant best practices
- Experience assessing organizational needs and, when necessary, developing new financial systems, processes, and policies that result in greater efficiency, accuracy, and overall financial health; Experience leveraging technology in support of more effective systems and processes preferred
- Ability to serve as an effective member of the Executive team, collaborating with colleagues on organization-wide visioning, strategy development, and execution
- Proven people manager with strong track record of managing through layers, developing and empowering staff, and setting a culture that is respectful and mission-driven
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline; MBA or similar advanced degree preferred
Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity. To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!
Compensation
Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $183,476 to $275,212. New hires will be offered a salary between $227,000 and $240,000. The salary placement will be
dependent on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.
To ensure internal pay equity:
- Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience
- All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
- Relay does not negotiate salary offers.
Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Relay requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief). Relay abides by each state’s requirements, and acknowledges those may change over time. If moved forward to the phone screen stage, you will have the chance to ask your recruiter more about this requirement.
Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.