Chief Financial & Operating Officer Position Description
DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES has been retained by The Spence School to conduct a comprehensive national search for a Chief Financial & Operating Officer.
The Spence School announces a search for a Chief Financial and Operating Officer CFO/COO, a key leadership position responsible for the stewardship of the School’s financial resources and the oversight of the strategic priorities that maintain fiscal discipline and focus on sustainable financial strength. The CFO/COO reports to the Head of School, serves on the Senior Administrative team and leads highly experienced Business and Operations teams. The opportunity is available in July 2026 and will be filled following a comprehensive national search and the identification of the candidate of choice.
The Spence School, founded in 1892, is an all-girls K-12 independent school in New York City with 804 students and 244 employees. Renowned for its dynamic, deep, and broad liberal arts education, outstanding instruction and vibrant student culture, The Spence School empowers girls ages 5 to 18 to cultivate a passion for lifelong learning and effect meaningful change in their worlds. Spence has more than earned its national reputation for educating ― scholarly women of the highest order. Every angle and aspect of the Spence program focuses on teaching and learning, on building close connections with a gifted faculty, and on creating age-appropriate distinction for its Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Spence puts equal emphasis on agency and development of self as it does on purposeful citizenship and care for others.
Under the stewardship of the Board of Trustees, Spence works passionately and deliberately to foster standards and spaces that affirm commonalities and to find the value in the differences in all of their constituents. The community finds power and joy in working collaboratively to ensure that Spence is a place of ethical stance and substance, a place in which students, parents, faculty, staff and administration cultivate personal integrity in service to the collective values of respect and trust.
Target Hiring Salary Range
This position is expected to pay an annual salary in the range of $450,000 - $500,000. The final compensation offered to the candidate of choice will be determined based on work experiences, qualifications, and leadership skill sets.
Anticipated Start Date July 2026
TO APPLYThe Spence School has retained the executive search firm of DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES to conduct this search. Nominations and recommendations of top tier talent are encouraged, with referrals sent to our search consultant.
To explore this career opportunity on a confidential basis, please send your resume, a letter of interest articulating your interest, skill sets and work experiences for this opportunity, and a list of five (5) references including contact information (email and cell) for references (which will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined).
Contact Information
Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant,
DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc.
572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA 02482
Telephone: 781-237-2800.
Email: [email protected]
Skills Required
- Experience in financial management, operations, or a related field
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities
- Strategic planning and execution skills
- Experience in K-12 or educational institutions preferred
What We Do
The Spence School is an all-girls K-12 independent private school in New York City, founded in 1892, focused on academic excellence and preparing students for responsible citizenship.
