Independent schools today face a level of financial and operational complexity that continues to evolve—from enrollment pressures and tuition strategy to capital planning, compliance, and long-term sustainability. At the heart of this work is strong, forward-thinking leadership in the business office.

At NBOA Advisory Services, our executive search work is designed to meet that moment. Through each engagement, we partner closely with heads of school and boards to identify leaders who bring not only technical expertise, but also strategic perspective, cultural alignment, and a deep commitment to mission-driven education.

Over the past two search cycles—Fall 2025 and Winter 2026—we are proud to have supported a number of independent schools in securing exceptional financial and operational leaders. These placements reflect both the strength of the talent pipeline and the continued demand for leaders who can serve as true strategic partners at the senior leadership level. 

Recently Completed Executive Searches 

The Overlake School (Redmond, WA)
Chief Financial Officer — Cheronne Wong (formerly The Seattle Symphony) 

Berwick Academy (South Berwick, ME)
Chief Financial Officer — Lynda Casarella (formerly Poly Prep Country Day School) 

Newark Academy (Livingston, NJ)
Chief Financial Officer — Andrew Schneider (formerly The Masters School) 

Sidwell Friends School (Washington, DC)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Richard Swindell (internal appointment) 

Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa, FL)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Jamie Schabacker (formerly University of Tampa) 

Morristown Beard School (Morristown, NJ)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Matthew Whitford (formerly Rutherford Board of Education) 

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Austin, TX)
Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations — Bruce Orem (formerly The Spence School) 

Donna Klein Jewish Academy (Boca Raton, FL)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Karen McAvoy (formerly The Village School of Naples) 

Capitol Hill Day School (Washington, DC)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Claire Mooney (formerly Out Teach) 

Kingswood Oxford School (West Hartford, CT)
Chief Financial and Operating Officer — Brett Carroll (formerly Elms College) 

Rippowam Cisqua School (Bedford, NY)
Chief Financial Officer — Meeta Nosrati (formerly Old Trail School) 

Trends We’re Seeing in the Market 

• Broadening of candidate pipelines, with schools successfully attracting leaders from higher education, nonprofit organizations, and public education. 
• Increasing scope of the CFO/CFOO role, with leaders expected to serve as enterprise-wide strategists.
• Value of internal leadership development and succession planning. 
• Mission alignment as a key differentiator among top candidates. 

Looking Ahead 

As schools continue to navigate an increasingly complex operating environment, the role of the senior business officer will only grow in importance. NBOA Advisory Services remains committed to helping schools identify leaders who bring both immediate impact and long-term vision.

We are grateful to our partner schools for their trust and collaboration, and we look forward to supporting the next generation of business office leadership across the independent school community.