Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO)

Brooks seeks an experienced and mission-aligned financial leader to serve as the school’s next Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO). The appointee will succeed a long serving and respected leader. Reporting to the Head of School, the CFOO will serve as a strategic partner and steward, ensuring that Brooks’ financial and operational systems continue to support its mission and position the school for its next century. The Chief Finance and Operations Officer serves as a key member of the senior leadership team, partnering with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to advance Brooks’ mission through thoughtful planning and resource management. The CFOO oversees all financial and operational functions, including finance, facilities, campus safety, information technology, and auxiliary services. Compelling candidates will show the critical skills needed for financial leadership at an independent school. While this position does not require candidates to live on campus or execute any duties related to the day‑to‑day supervision of the boarding students, successful applicants will appreciate the boarding school environment and serve as active participants in the life of the school.

Opportunities and Challenges

This is an exciting and pivotal moment to join Brooks. The Centennial offers both reflection and renewal—a chance to honor a rich history while setting the stage for the school’s second century. The next CFOO will help shape that vision, ensuring that Brooks remains financially sound, operationally strong, and true to its values of balance, joy, and integrity (school values - empathy, engagement, integrity, creativity, passion, and confidence). The priorities, challenges, and opportunities ahead include :

Strategic Financial Leadership

Brooks has been guided by a long tradition of prudent financial stewardship and disciplined investment. The CFOO will build upon this legacy, strengthening long‑term financial modeling, exploring new revenue opportunities, and ensuring transparency in decision‑making. With a healthy endowment and an ambitious ongoing campaign, the school is well positioned to think boldly about its future—working with the traditional levers of independent school revenue while thinking creatively about how to maximize impact and sustainability. Student enrollment at Brooks is intentionally sized to ensure that the experience remains intimate and positive, which means revenue growth should not rely on expanding the student body. Creative energy and partnership will therefore be critical to identifying sustainable revenue growth opportunities.

Operational Integration and Excellence

The CFOO will oversee a broad and capable operations team supporting the functions that sustain daily life at Brooks. With recent capital projects completed and new facilities on the horizon, there is an opportunity to align systems, strengthen communication, and enhance efficiency across departments. A clear, collaborative, and service‑oriented approach will be essential to continued success.

Campus Stewardship and Sustainability

Brooks has thoughtfully transformed its campus through sustainable and strategic growth, investing in beautiful spaces that advance its program. Looking ahead, the CFOO will play a key role in continuing this progress, with a focus on long‑term maintenance, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. A top priority will be the development of a comprehensive deferred maintenance plan to preserve the beauty and integrity of the historic campus. In addition, the CFOO will be instrumental in all new construction projects, partnering closely with colleagues and trustees.

Partnership and Communication

At its heart, Brooks is a relational community where faculty and staff take genuine interest in one another and in the students they serve. The next CFOO will bring an open, accessible leadership style and a talent for making financial information clear and meaningful. The ability to listen well, explain decisions thoughtfully, and build trust across constituencies will be central to success in this role.

Centennial Vision and Institutional Durability

As Brooks celebrates 100 years of educating students, the school is entering a period of both continuity and possibility. The CFOO will join a deeply experienced senior team that values collaboration and balance. This role will be instrumental in aligning financial strategy with the school’s mission, ensuring that the values that have sustained Brooks for a century continue to define its future.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership, analysis, and management of finances and operations.

Establish financial and capital strategies that are consistent with strategic priorities.

Serve on the Head of School’s Senior Leadership Team and lead, co‑lead, or participate in several other teams and committees.

Oversee all business office functions including all financial reporting to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and various committees.

Serve as chief staff liaison to the Audit & Risk Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, Operations / Buildings & Grounds Committee, and Investment Committee.

Build and / or maintain the school’s short‑ and long‑term strategic financial models.

The CFOO works with the Investment Committee to oversee the administration of the school’s endowment.

Oversee school operations including personnel, maintenance, and vendors.

Maintain strong relationships with banks and lenders to ensure that funding is secured for the needs of the school and compliance with loan terms.

Administer and manage all employee benefit programs including health insurance, retirement, worker’s compensation, life insurance, and other related plans.

Manage insurance programs including property, casualty, medical, and workers’ compensation.

Ensure compliance with all local and state reporting requirements.

Collaborate effectively with Advancement, Enrollment Management, and other departments.

Participate in professional development.

Coordinate closely with the Director of Facilities and Planning on oversight of the physical plant, grounds, and construction functions.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents :

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current résumé;

A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to :

Greg Britton

Chief Operating Officer, Search & Consulting Group

ggb@carneysandoe.com

Sara Shulman

Practice Leader – Development and Finance / Senior Search Consultant

sara.shulman@carneysandoe.com

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

A track record of strong integrity and unquestionable ethics.

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