Chief of Finance and Operations
ABOUT ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL
Located in Victoria, BC, St. Margaret’s School is an all-girls independent day and boarding
school committed to empowering girls to lead with purpose and confidence. Founded in 1908,
the School is recognized as Vancouver Island’s only all-girls independent school and Canada’s
only all-girls boarding school on the West Coast.
With the launch of A Blueprint for Humanity (2025–2030), St. Margaret’s is entering a pivotal
period of growth and renewal. Guided by the vision of Leading from the Global Stage, the
School develops future-ready leaders through purpose-driven education grounded in the values
of Courage, Care, Connection, Curiosity, and Challenge.
Serving students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, St. Margaret’s delivers an exceptional
learning experience anchored in Academic Excellence, Leadership Development, and Global
Citizenship. A diverse student body representing more than 26 countries contributes to a vibrant,
inclusive community with a strong international outlook. Learning extends beyond the classroom
through experiential, outdoor, wellness, and leadership opportunities that build confidence,
integrity, and agency. The School’s founding motto, Service with Love, continues to be reflected
in the character and leadership of its students and staff.
Supported by a strong and engaged Board of Governors, St. Margaret’s is advancing an
ambitious agenda to strengthen its position as a competitive, widely respected institution. This is
a defining moment for an executive leader to join the School - shaping strategy, driving growth,
and contributing to the development of academically strong, socially conscious, and
purpose-driven young women.
For more information, please visit: https://www.stmarg.ca/.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and Head of School, the Chief of Finance and
Operations (CFO) is responsible for the strategic leadership, financial stewardship, and
operational excellence of the School. This highly influential role provides executive oversight
across the School’s full operational ecosystem, including:
- Finance and Accounting
- Facilities and Campus Operations
- Information Technology
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Food Services
- Transportation
- Ancillary Income Programs (rentals, after-school care, camps)
- Board Governance Support
Leading a team of senior administrators, the CFO ensures that operational systems, financial
resources, and institutional infrastructure effectively support the School’s mission, strategic
priorities, and long-term sustainability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with the CEO and
Head of School to advance long-term vision, priorities, and organizational strategy.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive operational strategy that ensures financial
sustainability, operational effectiveness, and alignment with academic and institutional
goals.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, growth, and operational enhancement that
strengthen the School’s competitive positioning.
Operational Oversight
- Provide executive leadership across all core operational and administrative functions,
including finance, facilities, IT, risk, food services, transportation, and ancillary
programs.
- Champion organizational effectiveness through modernization of systems, technology
platforms, operational processes, and service delivery models.
- Ensure operations and resources support current needs while positioning the School for
future growth and evolving educational priorities.
Financial Stewardship
- Lead long-term financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, treasury
oversight, and stewardship of financial resources.
- Oversee financial reporting, audit processes, internal controls, and risk mitigation
strategies.
- Ensure financial decisions support academic excellence and enhance the student
experience.
Campus & Infrastructure Leadership
- Lead multi-year campus planning and infrastructure initiatives, including facilities
maintenance, capital projects, and expansion strategies.
- Ensure safe, sustainable, and well-maintained campus environments that support learning
and community life.
Risk, Compliance & Governance
- Oversee enterprise-wide risk management, ensuring robust policies, internal controls, and
business continuity plans.
- Provide strategic reporting, analysis, and recommendations to the Board of Governors
and relevant committees.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and accreditation requirements.
People & Culture Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and support a team of senior leaders, fostering a culture of accountability,
collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
- Drive a culture of service excellence across all operational functions, ensuring
exceptional support for students, families, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders.
- Lead and support organizational change initiatives with strong communication and
stakeholder engagement.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or related field; CPA designation
required.
- Significant senior leadership experience overseeing complex financial and operational
functions in multifaceted organizations; experience in independent schools or
mission-driven environments is an asset.
- Demonstrated success leading large, diverse teams and developing high-performing
leaders across multiple operational domains.
- Strong financial leadership capabilities, including strategic planning, budgeting,
forecasting, capital planning, and risk management.
- Experience leading large-scale organizational initiatives, growth strategies,
transformation projects, or campus development.
- Ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to assess opportunities, identify risks, and make
data-informed decisions.
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence
and collaborate across diverse groups.
- Proven change leadership experience in dynamic, evolving environments.
- High degree of integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion.
- Passion for education and commitment to supporting exceptional learning environments.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing future female leaders and supporting the
mission of girls’ education.
- Alignment with the School’s values and enthusiasm for contributing to a collaborative,
forward-thinking community.
We appreciate and thank all applicants for your interest in St. Margaret’s School, however, only
those candidates invited for an interview will be contacted.
St. Margaret's School emphasizes a dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion across living, learning, and work environments. The school aims to have its workforce mirror the diversity of students and the community. Actively encouraging applications from groups facing historical or current equity barriers, the institution is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community.
