SVP, Fnance

Job Description

About the Organization

Child Development Schools is a leading national provider of early childhood education and care, dedicated to shaping the future through high-quality learning environments, exceptional educators, and family partnerships. With a network of 300 schools across 11 states and a commitment to innovation and excellence, we empower children, families, and employees to reach their highest potential.

Position Overview

The Senior Vice President of Finance serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and is the organization's top financial strategist and operator. This executive is responsible for all aspects of financial management, accounting, real estate strategy, and facilities operations across a national footprint. The SVP will partner closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership to drive sustainable growth, financial excellence, and operational discipline.

This leader combines strategic foresight with hands-on execution, ensuring financial integrity, enabling data-driven decision-making, and positioning the organization for long-term success through disciplined capital allocation, efficient operations, and mission-aligned investment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Financial Stewardship

• Lead all financial planning, analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting functions across a multi-site national enterprise.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board on financial performance, growth opportunities, and risk management.
• Develop and implement long-range financial strategies aligned with the organization's mission, operational goals, and growth objectives.
• Oversee capital structure and financing strategies, including banking relationships, credit facilities, and investment partnerships.
• Lead scenario modeling and strategic planning to support expansion, acquisitions, and organizational resilience.

Accounting & Compliance

• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all financial reporting in compliance with GAAP and regulatory standards.
• Oversee all aspects of accounting operations, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Drive process improvements and automation to enhance efficiency and transparency.
• Partner with external auditors, tax advisors, and other professional services to maintain best-in-class compliance and governance.

Real Estate & Facilities Management

• Lead all aspects of real estate strategy, including site selection, development, lease negotiations, portfolio optimization, and capital investment planning.
• Oversee the facilities management and maintenance organization, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality environments that reflect the company's educational standards.
• Drive cost-effective design, construction, and facility lifecycle management to support long-term sustainability and brand consistency.

Operational Excellence & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Education, HR, and IT to align financial strategy with programmatic and organizational priorities.
• Develop performance dashboards and KPIs to provide actionable insights to executive and field leadership teams.
• Serve as a trusted partner to internal leaders, investors, lenders, and strategic partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of finance, accounting, and facilities professionals with a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required; MBA or CPA preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive financial leadership, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing multi-site operations.
• Proven success leading finance and real estate/facilities functions within education, retail, healthcare, or other distributed service industries.
• Deep experience in financial strategy, capital planning, and complex stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated record of aligning finance and operations to achieve measurable growth, efficiency, and mission outcomes.
• Strong understanding of capital markets, debt financing, and long-term asset management.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization.
• High integrity, analytical rigor, and passion for advancing early childhood education.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic Operator: Balances visionary thinking with disciplined execution.
• Collaborative Partner: Builds trusted relationships across functions and with external stakeholders.
• Change Leader: Drives innovation and continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
• Mission-Driven Steward: Aligns financial outcomes with organizational purpose and community impact.