Chief operations officer Jobs in Portland, OR

SUMMARY

Oregon Episcopal School (OES), located southwest of downtown Portland, has a long history of educating students from around the world with a commitment to inclusion, purpose, service, and social justice. Situated on nearly 60 acres, OES is surrounded by wetlands and other natural elements within the diverse, dynamic, and thriving neighborhoods of Portland and Beaverton. OES is known for educating students to apply their learning in service of the broader world. Within an engaged community of scholars, OES emphasizes intellectual curiosity, student agency, and collaboration, preparing graduates to navigate complexity, make ethical decisions, and contribute meaningfully as global citizens.

OES is a stable, healthy organization at a strategic inflection point of thoughtfully implementing a new strategic plan, which has been in the works for the past two years. The institution is financially sound, operationally effective, and deeply mission-aligned, and is now poised to move from a period of steady stewardship to one of forward-looking momentum. With the current CFO departing at the conclusion of the school year and the head of school entering his third year at OES, the school looks forward to welcoming a CFO to join a collaborative leadership team comprised of engaged and committed colleagues, and contribute fully as a core partner in advancing these strategic, financial and operational priorities.

The CFO will report to the head of school, and lead the business office, human resources, and technology teams as a core member of the leadership team. Key areas of focus for the CFO include long-range financial planning and sustainability, campaign and capital planning to support the new strategic plan, enrollment and tuition forecasting, and translating the school’s financial position and vision to stakeholders throughout the OES community. OES looks forward to welcoming the new CFO to begin July 1, 2026, or earlier by mutual agreement to allow for a graceful handoff with the outgoing CFO.

12M & Ed Tech Recruiting is running the search on behalf of Oregon Episcopal School. Applications received by March 15 will receive priority review. For application instructions and the full job opportunity statement, please visit:

www.12MRecruiting.com/jobs/OES/CFO

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Priority Deadline: March 15, 2026

Initial Client Review: Late March

Semifinal Round: Mid-April

On-site Final Round: Late April

Decision Announced: Early May

Start Date: July 1, 2026 or earlier

Reports To: Head of School

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Financial Strategy & Planning

• Oversee the school’s financial strategy and performance, ensuring the effective and responsible use of resources in support of strategic priorities and the long-term financial health and sustainability of the institution. Develop and maintain multi-year operating and capital financial models, forecasts, and key performance indicators to support strategic planning related to budgets, debt management, capital projects, investments, and long-range business planning. Lead the development of annual operating and capital budgets, partnering with department and division leaders to build, forecast, and administer budgets, and standardizing budget-to-actual reporting to promote transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. Partner with the head of school and assistant head of school for strategic enrollment to propose, allocate, and budget annual financial aid awards, balancing enrollment goals, access, and financial sustainability.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Manage the successful completion of the annual independent audit and coordinate effectively with external auditors, accountants, attorneys, and regulatory bodies. Ensure employee compensation, benefits, and staffing models are competitive, appropriately allocated, and aligned with institutional priorities and financial planning. Oversee the school’s risk management framework in partnership with the Board’s Audit/Risk Committee, identifying and mitigating financial, operational, and compliance risks. Review and maintain best-practice financial controls, implementing improvements to workflows and operational procedures in areas such as AP/AR, payroll, cash management, and budget management as needed to ensure the school is in compliance with GAAP and other state, local, and international laws and regulations.

Leadership & Administration

• Supervise and lead the business office, human resources, and IT infrastructure teams, providing oversight of day-to-day operations while supporting continuous improvement and effective cross-departmental collaboration. Serve as staff to the Board of Trustees Finance, Audit/Risk Management and Investment Committees, and as a primary liaison to relevant construction or capital subcommittees, providing clear communication, analysis, and presentations to support effective governance. Manage and maintain productive relationships with external partners, including bankers, insurance brokers, benefit providers, and auditors. Report to the head of school, participate as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team, and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree or certifications (CPA, MBA, or related fields) preferred 5+ years of experience in financial management, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting Demonstrated success in change management and process improvement, with experience working across departments to achieve institutional goals Expertise using financial management software, and Google Suite

Leadership and Personal Qualities

• A leadership style characterized by curiosity, warmth, and optimism built on approachability, transparency, and responsiveness Ability to communicate financial information with clarity and accessibility for non-financial stakeholders An analytical and organized approach toward financial and operational management and decision making Excellent interpersonal communication, especially through listening, relationship-, and team-building skills An eagerness to build trusting, transparent relationships with staff, faculty, parents, and the board The ability to navigate complexity, in part through effective prioritization, delegation, and management of systems A systems thinker and project manager with the capacity to see the big picture and attend to details with high-level organizational skill The confidence and humility to advocate for and embrace new ideas, invite disagreement, and welcome feedback Exceptional attention to detail and a high standard of professional integrity and discretion A creative and strategic approach to problem-solving with the willingness to challenge norms and drive process improvements Personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the requisite skills to support critical conversations in the design of ever more inclusive culture, curriculum, pedagogy, and programs Deep appreciation for Oregon Episcopal School’s mission, history, and values including an understanding of, and commitment to, supporting the Episcopal identity of the School

TO APPLY

For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.

www.12MRecruiting.com/jobs/OES/CFO