About the School

Georgetown Day School opened its doors in 1945 as the first integrated school in a segregated city. Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the parent body and administered by an appointed Head of School, it was founded by seven families who wanted to create a school committed not only to academic excellence and educational innovation but also to a value system emphasizing appreciation and respect for others. Believing that diversity was the ground out of which all deep and rich learning occurs, they established a school where all children would be welcome, celebrated, and challenged to be their best selves.
 
Today, the School's philosophy, programs, and position in the national educational landscape strongly reflect its roots. Having grown from 12 children in 1945 to 1075 students in PK-12 today, GDS is recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s and the nation’s most dynamic educational institutions.

Since the school’s founding, GDS has called eight different locations home. In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were all joined on one extraordinary campus.

About the Position

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with the Leadership Team, the Director of Finance is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for the school’s finances. This role will ensure accurate financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, financial compliance, contract negotiations, banking and investment, and overall management of accounting personnel. The individual will collaborate with school leadership, budget managers, external auditors and vendors, and the financially focused committee of the board.

This role has significant opportunities for growth and advancement. The qualities, skills, and performance the school expects from its leaders should align with the mission, beliefs, and values of the school. This position requires presence on GDS’ campus five days a week.

Division: All-school
Department: Business Office
Location: On-site at 4200 Davenport Street, NW, Washington, DC
Date: August 18, 2025
Type of Opportunity: Full-time, permanent
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $150,000-175,000 annually, based on experience
Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Accounting Operations

• Manage all activities designated as Accounting Office responsibilities.
• Ensure adherence to established accounting policies and procedures, applicable laws, regulations, tax filings, professional standards, and internal policies.
• Identify and implement internal control improvements when necessary.
• Oversee the accounts payable and accounts receivable process.
• Manage cash flow and forecasting.
• Coordinate annual budget preparation with the CFO and Senior Leadership for submission and approval by the Finance Committee and full Board of Directors. Develop and update long-term financial models and financial plans to support long term strategic objectives.
• Keep the CFO, Head of School, and the Board of Trustees informed of the school’s financial position.
• Oversee  monthly financial and budget variance reports, and investment, debt service and capital project and other project financial reports for review and approval by the CFO, Head of School, Finance Committee, and full Board of Directors.
• Provide reports to the Finance Committee and full Board of Trustees on significant financial matters as requested or appropriate.
• Recommend to the CFO, Head of School, Finance Committee, and full Board of Trustees any steps necessary to correct budgetary variances during the school year so that budgeted targets can be met and provide multi-year scenario analysis.
• Monitor all loans and indebtedness and create multi-year projections and models.
• Responsible for preparing and filing local and federal compliance filings and disclosures.
• Maintain a system of internal controls and approvals for cost and control of assets that ensures integrity and effective processes for ordering, purchasing, delivery, and expense reimbursement.
• Develop and manage procurement management processes.
• Facilitate the timely and efficient completion of the annual financial audit and preparation of 990. Supports the 403b audit process as needed.
• Oversee the month-end and annual closing processes and prepare the bank reconciliations and journal entries for approval by CFO.
• Oversee, collaborate on, develop and communicate  financial SOPs.
• Oversee payroll processing, including supporting complex and confidential payroll matters, ensuring payroll deadlines are met, etc. Support the intersection of payroll and human resources
• Direct staff who report to this position, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring staff are trained; ensure that staff follow policies and procedures; maintain a healthy and safe work environment; and make recommendations on hiring, termination and disciplinary actions.
• Assist with special projects in the area of finance and accounting.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level as assigned.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Procures and evaluates School’s insurance coverage.  Processes claims and addresses risk management issues as they arise.
• Responsible for school wide risk and compliance management including insurance and incident reporting.
• Responsible for contract management.
• Serve as Financial Aid Committee member responsible for review and distribution of Financial Aid funds to eligible students.  Review and distribute financial aid funds.
• Coordinate with Human Resources to review the administration of all benefit programs.
• Assist with the preparation of new Corporate Documents or documents that need to be filed annually or regularly.
• Along with others on campus, reviews and update all enrollment documents.
• Assist with and review quotes for Student Tuition Insurance and other school insurances.
• Collect/compile/manipulate data for INDEX and NAIS annual surveys.
• As required provide financial and budgeting information and insight to support the accreditation findings.
• Develops an efficient and cross-trained Business Office operation to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and a high level of customer service.
• Keeps current on government regulations affecting the School (IRS, OSHA, ERISA, etc.).
• Attends conferences and seminars to stay current with the profession and independent schools and maintains a professional network with peer institutions locally and nationally.

Americans with Disability Specifications

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To Apply 

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references using our online application system through ADP/Workforce Now: http://www.gds.org/Recruiting. To find out more about the school, candidates should visit our website at www.gds.org. For full-time, permanent roles, a summary of employee benefits are available on the GDS website: https://www.gds.org/about/careers-at-gds

As an inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live, work, and lead in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting and is driven by the core charge of working to enhance and bring joy to every student’s individual learning experience in equitable and meaningful ways.

Knowledge/Qualifications/Skills

• Previous experience in a k-12 independent school.
• Professional written and verbal communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to interface and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, administrators, parents/guardians, alumni, and guests
• High degree of cultural competency and demonstrated commitment to working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to accurately analyze complex financial and accounting data and communicate it to a wide variety of executives, professionals, and others in lay terms
• Strategic systems thinker with the capacity to ensure that the school’s financial operations align with its educational mission and future objectives
• Ability to educate, advise, and guide stakeholders at all levels within the organization, fostering the development of financial acumen across the institution
• Knowledgeable in local and federal compliance requirements and filings
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in non-profit accounting
• Experience in team leadership and management
• Working knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and practices
• Maintain currency in the field through research as well as personal and professional development that strengthens the role and the institution
• Proficiency in using accounting systems (e.g., FinancialEdge), advanced Excel, Concur, Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite (including calendars, email, etc.), and database software
• CPA strongly preferred
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may be acceptable in lieu of those requirements listed above