Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

World

Education

• Services has engaged On-Ramps to lead the search for our Chief Financial Officer. Interested candidates must submit their application directly through On-Ramps using the following link: here.

• Please note that applications submitted directly to WES will not be considered for this search. To ensure full consideration, all candidates must apply through On-Ramps and follow the application process outlined in the posting.

• You can review the job description below to learn more about the role.

• Title: Chief Financial Officer

• Department: Corporate Finance

• Reporting to: CEO and Executive Director

• Compensation: $290K - $320K USD

• Employment: Full Time

• Location: USA - Remote

Who we are:

• World

Education

• Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For over 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.

• WES.org.

About the Opportunity:

• WES is seeking an outstanding financial leader to be their Chief Financial Officer (CFO). You will be accountable for the administrative, financial, investment, and risk management operations of a global social enterprise with entities across US, Canada, India, and UK, $100M in annual revenues, and over $300M in net assets. You will develop, drive, and embed an effective and innovative financial and operational strategy, with control systems, processes and metrics that enable the organization to effectively operate and govern as well as realize its growth potential. You will be strategic in orientation, demonstrate a "can-do" mindset, with a proven track record of strong and effective delivery. You will be a strategic leader who supports and guides teams through change and evolution, thriving in a dynamic environment where you can identify and manage risks while maximizing opportunities. As a highly effective member of the ELT, you will provide counsel to and collaborate with your ELT colleagues to help the organization make and implement enterprise-wide decisions.

• The Chief Financial Officer reports directly to the CEO and Executive Director, Esther Benjamin, and works with the wider ELT, the Board of Trustees, department leaders, and staff across the organization. You will provide strategic counsel to the CEO and drive effective delivery of all elements of financial strategy, management, and planning. You will be responsible as a member of the ELT for leading and governing WES as a social enterprise. You will oversee a Finance department that includes accounting and controllership; financial planning and analysis; mission-aligned investment management; procurement and contract/vendor management. You will be a champion and rally the team on driving business and social impact priorities, managing through from conception to execution.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic and Financial Planning:

• Act as a thought leader and partner within the ELT, assisting in formulating future strategies, initiatives, and approaches to strengthen and evolve the organization.
• Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to define the M&A strategy, evaluate inorganic growth opportunities, and establish valuation guardrails.
• Set clear financial strategies and lead long-term financial forecasting and budgeting for WES' operating budget that support the Enterprise Strategy and strategic priorities, partnering with the CEO, Finance Team, Investment Team, and wider leadership team to develop and execute.
• Oversee, evolve, and lead the annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the ELT; review and administer all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes and keep the ELT abreast of the organization's financial status.
• Recognize and anticipate opportunities and challenges as they relate to financial and tax systems and operations internationally; generate ideas, strategies, and solutions to drive impact.
• Serve as a strategic business partner to the ELT, department heads, and leaders across the organization.
• Work with the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team to deliver effective insights, data analysis and resulting actions in line with organizational objectives.
• Review financial systems and processes and recommend enhancements that will enable our people to easily understand the benefits and costs of potential strategic and operational decisions.
• Raise items for discussion or decision, engage in executive discussions and key decisions, including decisions that have an enterprise lens, representing and supporting approaches that are in the best interests of WES meeting its strategic and enterprise goals as a social enterprise.

Financial Management and Oversight:

• Oversee all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organization, in conjunction with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and Board Committees focused on Finance, Audit, and Investment.
• Oversee the Finance organization and all activities, planning, and programs including workforce and resource planning, initiatives, and projects to support sound financial operations and outcomes. Implement best practices and manage systems and processes to deliver fit for purpose and best in class services.
• In relation to M&A activity lead on Financial and Tax due diligence; build, review, and stress-test financial models; and oversee the integration of financial and accounting systems, track cost synergies, and monitor post-close ROI against financial targets.
• In partnership with the Chief Investment Officer advise on M&A deal terms, purchase agreements, escrow arrangements, earn-outs, and secure transaction financing.
• Work in partnership with the Chief People Officer to plan for real estate or facilities capital needs across the organization and structure financing for real estate acquisition and development as needed.
• Oversee pension fund investment options and arrange any debt financing as necessary.
• Oversee the annual audit process; liaise with external auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Manage and mitigate financial and compliance risk across WES entities, including various reporting and operating requirements in the U.S., Canada, and India (and any future operating countries).

System Design and Contract Management:

• Review, refine, and develop financial and operational systems, as well as standard operating procedures that WES needs to support its evolution as a social enterprise and its organizational structure that includes business and social impact initiatives.
• Develop systems to guarantee accuracy and compliance of accounting and reporting, as well as leading the financial affairs of WES in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and city, state/provincial, and federal government regulations.
• Act as the senior executive responsible for negotiating and executing contracts, maintaining all WES trademarks, and managing contractual frameworks including core documents and processes.
• Set the standards to manage vendors, providers, and outside partners to ensure effectiveness and cost efficiency, managing and minimizing risk to WES.

Investment Management:

• Provide executive oversight to the Investments team ensuring that the investment portfolio is effectively managed and the necessary support, counsel and services are received from external investment firms or advisors.
• Work with the Board Investment Committee to manage and revise, as necessary, broad guidelines for WES's investment portfolio linked to impact, return, and risk.
• Monitor the progress of the investment portfolio and investment activity based on accountability standards.
• In partnership with the Chief Investments Officer, review investment reports for investment policy compliance; develop investment policies, procedures, and controls for review and sign off