Director of Finance and Operations in Santa Monica, California at Growing Place

Director of Finance & Operations

Growing Place | Santa Monica, California

Position Summary

The Director of Finance & Operations is a senior administrative leader responsible for the financial health, operational effectiveness, and organizational infrastructure of Growing Place, a Santa Monica nonprofit early childhood learning community serving children and families across three campuses: Marine Park, Ocean Park, and the Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School. Growing Place is one school with three campuses, connected by a common mission, vision, pedagogy, and professional development culture.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Finance & Operations provides strategic leadership for finance, budgeting, forecasting, human resources, payroll, benefits administration, risk management, compliance, and key operational systems. This role serves as a trusted thought partner to the Executive Director and works closely with the Director of Advancement, Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, Campus Directors, and outside partners to ensure sound stewardship and long-term sustainability.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, mission-aligned nonprofit leader who combines strong financial and operational expertise with honesty, discretion, sound judgment, and high emotional intelligence. This person understands how to support a complex school organization with multiple campuses, tuition-based revenue, fundraising dependency, tuition assistance, and a people-centered culture.

Growing Place’s mission is “to create a better future by helping children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers,” and its philosophy emphasizes collaborative inquiry, strong relationships, and intentional environments. The Director of Finance & Operations plays a vital role in ensuring that the organization’s business systems, people practices, and operational planning support that mission every day.

Essential Duties

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic financial leadership in partnership with the Executive Director, Director of Advancement, and Board finance leadership.
• Oversee the financial operations of the organization, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting oversight, cash flow monitoring, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Develop and maintain annual and multi-year financial models to support enrollment planning, staffing decisions, compensation planning, capital needs, and long-term sustainability.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including variance analyses and dashboard summaries for leadership and the Board.
• Lead the annual budget development process in collaboration with the Executive Director, Campus Directors, and Institutional Leadership.
• Partner with the Executive Director on long-range financial strategy, scenario planning, and institutional decision-making.
• Support stewardship of tuition revenue, enrollment-related financial planning, and philanthropic income assumptions, including coordination with admissions and development functions as appropriate.
• Oversee audit preparation, tax filings, and relationships with external auditors, accountants, banks, lenders, and other financial service providers.
• Ensure responsible management of organizational reserves, debt, investments, restricted funds, and capital expenditures, as applicable.
• Oversee financial policies, purchasing procedures, contract review processes, and asset management systems.

Operations & Administration.

• Lead day-to-day business and operational functions across the organization in ways that support excellence, efficiency, and continuity across all three campuses.
• Oversee operational systems and services, which may include vendor management, procurement, facilities coordination, information technology, security, and campus operations.
• Support the Executive Director in identifying and implementing process improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and service to children, families, and the professional community.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, systems, calendars, and workflows that promote consistency, accountability, and strong internal communication.
• Oversee facilities-related planning and operational support, including maintenance coordination, capital projects, lease or property-related logistics, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure that operational practices reflect the needs of a high-quality early childhood environment and support uninterrupted school functioning.

Human Resources, Payroll & Benefits

• Oversee payroll administration and ensure accurate and timely processing of compensation for all employees.
• Lead or supervise benefits administration, including health insurance, retirement plans, leave administration, workers’ compensation, and employee support programs.
• Partner with the Executive Director on compensation philosophy, salary benchmarking, workforce planning, and annual compensation review processes.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, employment agreements, personnel files, and offboarding procedures.
• Ensure compliance with HR policies, wage and hour requirements, employment regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local labor laws.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and trusted resource on human resources matters, employee relations, confidentiality, and policy interpretation.
• Help strengthen systems that support employee experience, clarity, accountability, and legal compliance.

Risk Management, Compliance & Governance

• Oversee organizational insurance programs, including property, liability, health, workers’ compensation, and other coverage as needed.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit, financial, employment, and operational regulations.
• Maintain custody and organization of key business records, contracts, policies, insurance documentation, and other legal and financial instruments.
• Partner with legal counsel and external advisors on institutional matters as needed.
• Support the Executive Director and Board with policy review, reporting, and organizational compliance obligations.
• Attend Board meetings as requested and work closely with the Finance Committee to present financial information clearly and accurately.

Strategic Partnership & Leadership

• Serve as a strategic and visionary thought partner to the Executive Director in shaping organizational priorities, growth planning, and sustainable infrastructure.
• Translate mission-driven goals into practical financial and operational plans that support Growing Place’s children, families, and educators.
• Help leadership make informed decisions by providing clear analysis, realistic guardrails, and forward-looking recommendations.
• Contribute to organizational planning that reflects Growing Place’s unique model as a nonprofit, community-supported early childhood school with tuition revenue, fundraising needs, and tuition assistance commitments.
• Foster a culture of integrity, collaboration, responsiveness, and service across administrative functions.
• Supervise and develop operations and business office staff as assigned, building strong systems and an accountable, collegial team culture.

Reporting Structure

• Reports directly to the Executive Director.
• Works in close partnership with the Director of Advancement, Campus Directors, administrative leaders and program leadership.
• Serves as a key staff liaison to the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee, and attends Board meetings as appropriate.
• Supervises business and operations staff and oversees external consultants, vendors, and service providers as assigned.
• Collaborates closely with Executive Director and Campus Directors on admissions, development, revenue planning, compensation, and organizational strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• MBA, CPA, CMA, SHRM credential, or other relevant advanced credential preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in finance and operations.
• Significant experience in nonprofit finance and administration required; independent school or early childhood education experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit coordination, internal controls, and cash flow management.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, fund accounting concepts, and financial compliance requirements.
• Experience overseeing or partnering closely on payroll, benefits administration, compensation planning, HR compliance, and employee records management.
• Experience working with boards, finance committees, auditors, legal counsel, and external vendors.
• Strong systems orientation, with the ability to improve processes, build infrastructure, and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• High level of integrity, honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to work collaboratively and diplomatically with a wide range of constituents.
• Ability to think strategically and act operationally.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Growing Place and to supporting a warm, inclusive, and community-centered school culture.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on-site in a school and office environment across multiple campuses in Santa Monica.
• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer and attending meetings.
• Ability to move throughout campus environments, including offices, classrooms, and outdoor areas.
• Ability to bend, reach, carry files or materials, and lift up to approximately 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Ability to manage the pace, interruptions, and activity level of a dynamic school environment.

Benefits

• 100% Employer paid health, dental and vision insurance.
• 403b retirement plan with employer match.
• FSA - Health.
• Dependent Care Savings Account.
• 72 hours paid sick leave - frontloaded annually at the start of the school year.
• 4 weeks of paid time off during synchronized school closure (Winter, Spring and Summer).