THE ORGANIZATION
JH Classical Academy is a Christian Classical Academy, serving students in grades K-12. By utilizing a uniquely challenging and content-rich curriculum, JH Classical Academy enriches students’ minds and souls, guiding them toward Christ and into the Great Conversation. With a $5 million budget and 35 full-time employees who each align with the Nicene Creed, JH Classical Academy cultivates the love of truth, goodness, and beauty.
The mission of Jackson Hole Classical Academy is to cultivate within its students the wisdom and virtue necessary to discover and fulfill their God-given potential and contribute to a flourishing and free society.
THE OPPORTUNITY
JH Classical Academy is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to partner with the Head of School in building long-term financial sustainability at JHCA. This servant-leader will provide strategic direction for the school’s financial operations and people strategies while having an appreciation for classical education and a heart for Jesus.
THEIR STORY
In the heart of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a dream took shape in 2014 with the founding of JH Classical Academy. This school emerged from a collective desire for an education that embraced both classical traditions and Christian values. Nestled against the stunning backdrop of the Teton Range, the academy’s curriculum was meticulously crafted to cultivate a pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. Students were taught grammar, logic, and rhetoric, honing their critical thinking skills while mastering core disciplines like mathematics, literature, history, science, and Latin.
As the Academy grew, so did its reputation for excellence. The rigorous liberal arts curriculum challenged students to explore the natural order of the universe, while a structured physical education program ensured the development of both body and mind. Art education became a cornerstone, with chess, music, and visual arts offering a whole child approach. These co-curriculars not only nurtured the students’ souls but also reminded them of the beauty that surrounded them daily.
JH Classical Academy’s graduates go on to the highest-level colleges and universities to make significant contributions to their communities and beyond. They carry with them the values and knowledge instilled by their education, becoming leaders, thinkers, and artists who embody the principles of truth, goodness, and beauty. JH Classical Academy has not only fulfilled its founders’ vision but will become a standard of Christian Classical education in this modern world.
WHAT THEY DO
Jackson Hole Classical Academy is a Christian Classical school. Graduates of Jackson Hole Classical Academy are not merely well-prepared for further studies but are on the road to becoming citizens capable of transmitting to the next generation the ideas and cultural foundations of Western Civilization.
As a school in the classical liberal arts tradition, the Academy believes that the pursuit of truth always begins with a sense of wonder. Students can love to learn what is true, good, and beautiful through a joyful discovery of the world around them and their own expanding potential.
Academy teachers understand that education is not merely an accumulation of facts or memorization of what others have thought. Educating the heart and mind includes fostering habits of thinking, feeling, judging, choosing, and acting for a complete and virtuous life. Jackson Hole Classical Academy pursues this vision within the historic Christian tradition that calls each person to love God and man.
As a missional school, the culture, curriculum, and Christian values foster an environment where our teachers and staff can inculcate in students the wisdom and virtue necessary to discover their God-given potential.
The Three Pillars of Success
Classical curriculum
Christ-centered teachers
Focus on student formation
Teachers must love their students and love their subjects, not one more than the other. They must be growing personally and professionally to become more like Christ in their words and actions.
Students must form good habits, with 16 habits divided into age-appropriate groups K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12, from obedience in kindergarten to integrity in senior year. When those habits are broken, they reflect on what they did, what they could have done differently, and what relationship must be restored.
The classical curriculum is rigorous, teaching to the top of the class and raising the bottom through tutoring and support. It teaches students how to think, not what to think, through a specific canon and a methodology that asks a series of questions to join the Great Conversation.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Head of School
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
Objective:
Lead and provide new or innovative strategic direction for the school’s financial operations and people strategies
Present reports to the Head and Board, as requested
Build long-term financial sustainability
Repatriate third-party services to the Academy
Partner with the Head to hire an excellent team
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial
Oversees school finances, including internal financial controls, regulatory compliance, and landlord-tenant, facility-related financials.
Prepares and manages school operating and capital budget, working with Head of School and department heads to integrate and audit department budgets.
Develops, recommends, implements, and oversees best practices in school business operations.
Leads support team to manage accounting, purchasing, payroll, banking, and financial reporting.
Develops programs and opportunities to increase revenue for JH Classical Academy.
Secures audits of JH Classical Academy’s financial records and financial positions.
Conducts longitudinal financial data analysis and develops long-term financial planning models, to improve long-term financial sustainability for JH Classical Academy.
Creates business plans for campus expansion and development.
Human Resources and People Operations
Works with Head of School to define, implement, and revise operations strategies and policies.
Reviews salary and benefits packages to ensure offerings are prudent with current market conditions, cost of living in Jackson, and the school’s financial health.
Proposes new and innovative solutions to maximize housing options for faculty and staff.
Identifies and recommends areas to reduce dependency on vendor services by repatriating human resource programs to the school.
Works with Head of School, directors, and others to create job descriptions in all departments.
Manages the Tiered Tuition model and placement through School & Student Services.
Assists leadership team in the hiring, onboarding, and evaluation of staff.
Maintains appropriate levels of insurance for the safety of personnel and facilities.
Senior Leadership
Upholds and affirms the school’s mission in private and serves as ambassador for the school’s mission in public.
As a member of the senior leadership team, provides leadership to ensure the long-term organizational health and sustainability of JH Classical Academy, its faculty and staff, and its mission.
Provides information to the Board, Board Committees, and other entities as requested.
Completes annual evaluation of direct reports and makes recommendations to the Head of School on hiring decisions in the areas of finance and human resources.
Performs other duties and projects as assigned by Head of School.
Direct Reports: Department Heads, Finance and HR vendors.
The VP of School Finance will propose specific roles in Finance and HR to repatriate financial and people services away from contractors back to the school. The VP of School Finance does not immediately have direct reports, but the department heads would report budget and budget-to-actuals to the VP of School Finance.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience:
BA degree in related area of study required; MBA or CPA preferred.
Extensive and diversified background with at least 7 years of related experience; experience in an educational setting preferred.
Experience with Blackbaud is highly preferred.
Character
Integrity
Humility
Motivation
Skills
Administrator
Manager
Strategic Planning
Analytical
Executor
Compensation & Benefits Package: A competitive benefits package will be discussed in a personal interview, including health benefits and a housing stipend and relocation allowance, if applicable.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITIES
Beautifully situated in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, JH Classical Academy is a perfect place for outdoor activities and educational experiences. Alongside the natural beauty, the JHCA provides housing stipends for employees, which makes living in Jackson more tenable. These elements make JH Classical Academy the perfect place to attract talent from anywhere in the world.
The JHCA Foundation has procured 40 acres of prime real estate for the school and begun construction on a $100m+ state-of-the-art educational facility at the foot of the Grand Tetons. This stunning location will provide an incredible opportunity to provide excellent, classical Christian education to families in and around Jackson, Wyoming. The new VP of School Finance will also have the opportunity to excel locally and push Classical Education to the forefront of the national conversation. JH Classical Academy is poised to become a model school that people from around the world will come to see in action.
CHALLENGES
As a young school having just gone through significant leadership shifts, the VP of School Finance would need to build, in concert with the Head, a financial framework to ensure long-term sustainability.
Along with building financial structures, the CFO must support organizational change around financial and people strategies and clearly articulate why certain changes to certain practices are wiser than other options for the long-term sustainability of the school.
JACKSON HOLE, WY
Nestled in the heart of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole embodies a unique blend of rugged wilderness and vibrant community life. Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, Jackson Hole offers outdoor activities year-round.
During the winter months, the area is a haven for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and nearby Grand Targhee Resort providing world-class slopes and breathtaking vistas. The annual Jackson Hole Rendezvous Festival draws music lovers and outdoor adventurers alike, showcasing both local talent and internationally acclaimed artists against the backdrop of the majestic Tetons.
In the summer, Jackson Hole is a playground for hikers, bikers, and wildlife enthusiasts. Grand Teton National Park and nearby Yellowstone National Park offer endless space to explore, from scenic drives and wildlife viewing to challenging hikes and serene lakeside picnics. The Snake River weaves through the valley, providing thrilling whitewater rafting adventures and tranquil float trips.
The town of Jackson exudes a quaint charm with its wooden boardwalks, art galleries, and Western-inspired architecture. The Town Square, adorned with elk antler arches, is a hub of activity where locals and visitors gather for events like the weekly Jackson Hole Farmers Market or the annual Jackson Hole Rodeo.
Jackson Hole's real estate market is known for its high prices relative to national averages, reflecting its appeal as a vacation destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The average price for a 3-bedroom house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming typically ranges from $1.5 million to $3 million. JH Classical Academy offers a housing stipend for employees to support employees living in the area.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you believe this role fits you well, or if you know someone you would like to recommend, please contact:
Dr. Rich Kidd
Partner
MISSION:LEADERSHIP
mobile :: (757) 642–0622
company main :: (615) 422–0884
email :: rich@missionleadership.org
web :: www.missionleadership.org
Daniel Tubbs, M. Ed.
Search Consultant
MISSION:LEADERSHIP
mobile :: (757) 452-1001
company main :: (615) 422–0884
email :: daniel@missionleadership.org
web :: www.missionleadership.org
LinkedIn :: Daniel Tubbs | LinkedIn