Director of Finance

REPORT TO: Head of School

POSITION GROUP: Senior Leadership Team

STATUS: Full-Time, Permanent

At Calgary French & International School (CFIS), exceptional education is supported by strong leadership, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to excellence. As we experience significant enrolment growth and campus expansion, we are seeking a strategic, forward-thinking Director of Finance to help guide our financial sustainability and future development.

Guided by our values of We Care, We Connect, We Strive, and We Grow, CFIS is a collaborative and ambitious school community. The Director of Finance will be a key member of our leadership team, bringing financial expertise, sound judgment, and strategic insight to support informed decision-making and responsible growth.

Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2026, or a mutually agreeable date for the successful candidate.

Purpose of the Position

CFIS’s Director of Finance will be a self-motivated, methodical and conscientious leader. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to the strategic plan and strategic financial plan, will ensure the financial health of the school and the feasibility of strategic decisions, and will support financial activities to allow the school’s Board of Directors to meet its fiscal responsibilities. They will oversee the operations of the school’s Finance and Human Resources Departments, and as such will lead, coach and manage two direct reports for high performance.

The Director of Finance will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and will work closely with the Head of School, Assistants Head of School and Departmental Directors.

Job Responsibilities:

The position’s key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepare quarterly financial statements and variance analyses for the CFIS Society.
• Implement and maintain effective financial policies and procedures to ensure financial integrity.
• Provide senior leadership team with monthly departmental/divisional financial reports.
• Work closely with senior leadership team and provide financial leadership and strategic insight to the Head of School.
• Lead and coach the Finance and Human Resources Departments to ensure that the department’s stakeholders see the departments as an operational partner in achieving their goals.
• Business planning, budget development, and performance measurement.
• Preparation of financial information for Alberta Education’s Annual Education Results Report and Three-Year Business Plan, and Annual Operating Plan.
• Preparation of annual T3010 Registered Charity Information Return.
• In collaboration with the Head of School and senior leadership team, prepare annual budget and financial strategic plan for the CFIS Society.
• Maintain internal control system to support the growth and expansion of CFIS.
• Lead the Business Office through the year-end external financial audit and any other financial audits by government bodies.
• Lead, oversee, and evaluate the business units of the school’s operations and ensure appropriate process mapping, planning, organization, leadership, performance management, and accountability.
• Annual issuance of childcare tax receipts.
• Monthly issuance of charitable tax receipts and gift-in-kind tax receipts.
• Verify and ensure bank covenant calculations on a quarterly basis.
• Ensure compliance with Alberta Education’s Level 2 funding requirements and reporting.
• Review the Finance and HR Department’s processes, technology and departmental structure to harness the benefits of automation, process modernization and finance effectiveness best practices.
• Continue to ensure the full integration of all business transactions and the accounting system.
• Prepare input for and analyze results of the CAIS benchmarking report.
• Attend monthly meetings of the CFIS Society’s Board of Directors and Finance & Audit Committee.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring the following education, experience, skills and competencies:

• A university degree from a recognized post-secondary institution and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (or equivalent).
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, audit procedures, and financial operations.
• A minimum of three years of experience leading a finance function or a team of at least five.
• Demonstrated impact in non-profit or business organizations in a senior leadership position.
• Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), consolidation theory and practice, modern controllership, financial and accounting theories and practices, in order to ensure the appropriate financial framework of the school, provide specialized financial expertise, advice and leadership, and to set accounting standards and ensure compliance.
• Ability to present complex financial information to various audiences, and present convincing recommendations for effective and appropriate financial management.
• Solid analytical, organization, planning and problem-solving capabilities.
• Able to think both strategically and tactically.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, preferably in both English and French (English essential).

The successful candidate will need to provide, or have on file, an updated Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening prior to commencing work.

Skills, Technical and Behavioural Competencies Required:

Preference will be given to candidates who:

• Are strong planners and organizers.
• Have previous experience with non-profit financial management and operations.
• Model best practices of exemplary professionalism in dealing with all stakeholders.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills that foster collegiality and further the common goals of CFIS’s mission, vision and values.
• Have previous experience working in an independent school.
• Have experience with finance automation and process modernization. Sage 300 is the school’s current accounting platform.
• Experience in the role of Chief Financial Officer in a not-for-profit organization would be beneficial.

Compensation:

We offer a competitive, comprehensive salary and benefits package as well as opportunities for professional growth.

Our benefits include:

• Personal days
• Sick days
• Retirement Savings Benefit
• 60% tuition discount for children of full-time employees
• Extended health and dental coverage
• Health and Wellness Spending Accounts
• Three weeks paid vacation time off in addition to two-weeks off at winter break and one-week off at March break when the school is closed.

Pay range: $160,000 to $180,000 annual salary based on education and experience.