Tower Hill School Wilmington, Delaware Chief Financial Officer July 1, 2017 www.towerhill.org
The Position
Philosophy By combining personal challenge with individual support, Tower Hill is a collegepreparatory school committed to building in its students a foundation for lifelong learning. Tower Hill believes that diversity in all aspects of school life broadens and enhances the educational experience. The school provides a challenging program, engaging students in a variety of educational experiences, while allowing them to develop their individual strengths and pursue their passions. To emphasize its core values—active citizenship, personal integrity, collective responsibility, team building and collaboration, and mutual respect—the school encourages each student to develop a sense of personal worth and to recognize, understand and accept the individuality of others. While cognizant of its Christian roots, Tower Hill embraces and celebrates diverse cultures and beliefs, fostering a strong sense of community.
Mission Tower Hill School prepares students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world. Each student is provided with an educational experience that emphasizes the development of an inquisitive, discerning and critical mind; the value of being creative and aesthetically sensitive; the appreciation of physical well-being; the ability to collaborate and to function as part of a team; and the growth of character.
Tower Hill School seeks a strategically oriented and experienced financial and business leader with strong tactical and operating skills to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The position requires active teamwork with the Head of School and other members of the senior leadership team, faculty, and the Board of Trustees. The CFO will assume both a strategic and managerial role in the finance and human resources areas of the School. Ideal candidates will be thoughtful and prudent managers of business functions, resources, and staff, while understanding and embracing the School’s mission and culture. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, Tower Hill serves 732 students age 3 through grade 12. The School has a well-earned reputation as one of the finest day schools in the country, sending its graduates to many of the most selective colleges and universities nationwide. Tower Hill is committed to living its motto Multa Bene Facta, Many Things Done Well, through its unparalleled resources, excellent faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and individualized learning support.
School History Tower Hill School was founded in 1919 by a group of benefactors committed to education in Wilmington and Delaware. Amid growing calls for educational reform in the state, a group of like-minded individuals launched an endeavor to provide a model private school for Wilmington—that model became Tower Hill. From its earliest days, Tower Hill embodied the progressive spirit that defined the era, and the school’s first catalogue declared that the institution would provide students with an opportunity for an education of the highest order and the ability to offer to the larger community information intended to advance the cause of education. Throughout its nearly 100 year history, the school as consistently dedicated itself to providing students with a superior academic experience, supported by development of creativity through the arts, healthy attitudes through athletics, and responsibility through service to the community. Today, Tower Hill is one of the leading college
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preparatory schools in the region, preparing students for lives of intellect, creativity, and integrity. It enjoys a superb reputation in the robust, competitive local school market.
The School Tower Hill School is a coeducational private day school serving 735 students age 3 through Grade 12. The school’s motto captures the spirit of a community that thrives on challenge and helps students bring their best selves to everything they do. Ranked among the top fifty private day schools in the U.S., Tower Hill is committed to continued growth in its mission to serve students from diverse backgrounds: during the 2016-2017 school year, 28% of students have received financial assistance, amounting to a cumulative total of two million dollars. Expanded diversity initiatives across grade levels foster inclusivity and build community; Tower Hill is a school where relationships matter, and students grow up in a family of peers and adults in which individuals are valued for their unique contributions. Academically, Tower Hill is distinguished by the breadth and depth of the educational experience it offers. At every grade level, students develop strengths and pursue passions while building critical faculties along with an aesthetic and creative sensibility. This growth is facilitated by small class sizes and a committed faculty, who flourish in a setting that promotes professional development and autonomy. Excellent facilities and learning resources allow students and teachers to do their best work. In the Preschool and Lower School, students build a foundation for lifelong learning, with the youngest students benefiting from a supportive and nurturing environment that prioritizes exploration and play. Grades 1 through 4 foster active engagement through activities that promote inquisitive and creative The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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Fast Facts • Ranked among the top 50 private day schools in the country by TheBestSchools.org • Enrollment: 735 total students (240 LS, 213 MS, 282 US) • 28% students of diversity • 24% of students receive needbased financial aid • Over $2,000,000 in financial assistance • 44-acre campus • Accredited by Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools
growth, and in the Middle School, students expand on these qualities to develop and refine the essential skills necessary to function in an increasingly rigorous academic environment. Across grade levels, character development, physical wellness, and a full fine arts curriculum augment the work students do in the classroom, along with frequent field trips and co-curricular activities. While the Upper School at Tower Hill is often described as “college prep,” “college-like” is truly the most apt descriptor. In grades 9 through 12, students have the opportunity to follow sophisticated and in-depth courses of study, guided by the school’s individualized advising program. In lieu of traditional Advanced Placement courses, Tower Hill offers the advanced course model, which moves beyond AP in order to allow master teachers to design tailor-made lessons that engage and challenge Tower Hill students. A match-oriented college counseling philosophy seeks to place students at best-fit institutions, and the results are impressive. Though prestige is not an end in itself, Tower Hill students regularly continue on to some of the nation’s best colleges.
Physical Campus Tower Hill’s state-of-the-art, 44-acre campus includes modern classrooms with Smart Boards and recently renovated athletic and physical education facilities. In September 2013, the School opened a new 25,000 square foot innovate Math and Science Center. Across all divisions, facilities and tools support students in all areas of their learning. With enviable playing fields, a superb theatre, two libraries, abundant student study spaces, and a safe, self-contained campus set in an easily accessed residential neighborhood, Tower Hill is a stunning place full of opportunities and resources for students and faculty alike.
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Wilmington, Delaware With a population of nearly 71,000 making it Delaware’s largest city, Wilmington is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek. Excellent transportation infrastructure, including the city’s direct highway access and Amtrak Service, link it easily to nearby Philadelphia, with Baltimore, New York City, and Washington, D.C. located inside of two hours’ drive. Residents refer to Wilmington as “a small town in a city setting.” Wilmington’s economy benefits from Delaware’s business-friendly financial laws and fair, effective judicial system. Residents benefit from a very low tax structure and extremely modest housing prices. They city is a national financial center for the credit card industry and also welcomes other industries such as insurance, retail banking, and legal services. The city’s active and diverse population hosts a number of festivals every spring and summer, including the Italian Festival, Greek Festival, Polish Festival, Big August Quarterly (celebrating African American religious freedom), IndiaFest, and Hispanic Week. Music festivals are also highly popular, and include the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and the Riverfront Blues Festival each summer. In the 1990s, a campaign to revitalize the former shipyard known as the Wilmington Riverfront created a beautiful stretch of land featuring boathouses, restaurants, apartment buildings, and shops. Outdoor enthusiasts find haven in four state parks, a zoo, easy access to excellent beaches on Delaware’s Atlantic coast, and the Pocono Mountains two hours north. An historic, affordable, and economically stable city, Wilmington—and Delaware—offers much more to those who call it home than its small size suggests. The area is also cited by faculty and parents at Tower Hill as a great place to raise a family.
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Opportunities and Challenges The new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be joining a school that is actively engaged in the strategic planning process in anticipation of its Centennial celebration in 2019. The CFO reports directly to the Head of School, Bessie Speers, currently in her second year at Tower Hill. Establishing a strong partnership with and supporting the Head of School will be a priority. The CFO will oversee a Business Office staff of four and provide direction and counsel to the directors of facilities, human resources, security, and food service. Additionally, the CFO will be joining a senior administrative team that added four new members in 2016 (out of an 11-person team) and will be hiring three new administrators, including the CFO, who will be replacing people who are either retiring or moving on to other schools. In short, change is in the air at Tower Hill, making this an exciting time for a strategic-oriented CFO to join this vibrant institution. Aside from building solid relationships with the Head of School and key Board members, the new CFO must also forge excellent partnerships with his or her direct reports, other senior administrators, and all faculty and staff at the School. Being a visible presence on campus must be a priority. Immediate tasks will include forging a collaborative team with the Head of School and the Finance Committee chairperson to ensure that the budgeting process is an inclusive and transparent operation. While the CFO works closely with the Board, and specifically the Finance Committee Chair, s/he will report exclusively to the Head of School. Experience with this proper governance protocol is also a priority, and it will be important that this commitment is modeled publicly. Further, the new CFO will be expected to evaluate Business Office staff and establish clear roles and expectations for each member. The new CFO must also work closely with the Director of Advancement and Director of Admissions to ensure that the school’s fundraising and enrollment projections allow for responsible and accurate planning, effective stewardship, and clear communications to all constituencies about the fiscal health of the School. Finally, the new CFO must become a key sounding board for the Head of School, willing and able to convey honest appraisals of available options to her, as well as effectively and confidently presenting those options to Board members. In addition to embracing Tower Hill’s mission, supporting its Head and leadership, and representing the school at professional and public forums, the new CFO has a number of primary responsibilities: • Oversee the development, administration, and reporting of the operating and long-term budget to the Head of School; the School’s Board of Trustees; Finance Committee; auditors; federal, state, and local authorities; lenders; donors; and various School administrative offices. • Oversee the administration of the School’s endowment; execute endowment and investment policy; implement investment decisions of the Investment Committee; and coordinate with the endowment consultants, investment managers, and custodians, ensuring effective endowment allocations, performance, and reporting. • Oversee all School operations including personnel, maintenance, food service, campus security, neighborhood relations, etc. • Building and/or maintaining the School’s short- and long-term strategic financial models. • Serve as chief staff liaison to the Finance, Audit, Investment, and Facilities committees of the Board of Trustees, working closely with Committee chairs and organizing agendas and meeting materials. • Collaborate with the School’s counsel and insurance agents regarding all legal and risk The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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management matters. • Ensure that the School is in compliance with all local, state and federal reporting requirements. • Oversee the physical plant, grounds, and construction functions with the Director of Facilities; help plan and direct all replacements and renewals of the physical plant. • Publically represent the School in a positive and proactive way, collaborating with other School administrators, neighbors, and Wilmington officials. • Provide sound and consistent employment policies, adequate staffing levels, compensation, and appropriate benefits programs for all facets of school operations. • Help implement and administer all employee benefit programs including health insurance; retirement; worker’s compensation; life insurance; and other related plans. • Collaborate with the Head of School and other senior administrators on providing leadership regarding employee hiring, termination, compensation and management. • Oversee the annual financial and 403b plan audits and filings of tax returns. • Serve as a member of the Financial Aid Committee. • Provide transparent financial reporting and planning that builds trust among administrators, faculty and staff, students and alumni, parents, and trustees.
Qualifications and Qualities of the Next CFO The School is most interested in candidates who demonstrate the following qualities and qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree required; M.B.A. preferred. • 10-plus years of financial and business leadership. • Experience on senior administrative teams and working with non-profit Boards; independent school experience a plus. • Experience in human resource management, employee benefits (including pension plans), and payroll procedures. • Demonstrated experience in measuring and improving organization-wide productivity. • Demonstrated experience in the development of analysis for strategic decision-making, such as key cost drivers, competitive analysis, market analysis, organizational strengths and weaknesses, etc. • Demonstrated ability to take complex subjects, distill them and then communicate them to a varied audience. In addition, the School hopes to find candidates who embody the following personal qualities: • • • • • • • • • • • •
High energy – brings a sense of urgency to the organization Strategic thinker who sees the larger picture Ability to understand and embrace Tower Hill’s mission Ability to balance and prioritize the needs of the School Ability to manage and mentor staff Process-oriented Superb people skills; compassionate A strong, team player Fair, but demanding; a willingness to say “no” Committed to diversity and inclusion practices Excellent communications skills Evident integrity
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To Apply Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically, in one e-mail, the following materials to John G. Clark: • Cover letter expressing your fit with the specific values and needs of Tower Hill • Current résumé • List of five references with name, phone number, and email address of each to: John G. Clark john.clark@carneysandoe.com Senior Search Consultants | Search Associate Carney, Sandoe & Associates 44 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02138 www.carneysandoe.com
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