Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Chief Financial Officer

(Superintendent of Business Services)

Vacancy Status: Current Vacancy

Land Acknowledgement

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board acknowledges our presence on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.

About the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to decolonizing education, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique and distinct identities as well as individualized needs of every student and every staff member at HWDSB. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 80 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.

About the Position

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the senior team and provides enterprise-wide strategic and operational leadership to the implementation of HWDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, and Board Improvement Plan. In this role, you will work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, the Associate Director of Learning Services, and all members of Executive Council to provide effective stewardship of financial and operational resources and service excellence across the system. As a strategic systems thinker and leader, you will provide executive leadership for Finance, Facilities, Transportation. You will build, foster and sustain positive and effective working relationships within the Board and with local government, Indigenous communities, equity-deserving groups, union partners, the Ministry of Education and community organizations while upholding HWDSB’s Values.

As the successful incumbent, you will serve on Executive Council and attend Board and Trustee Special Committee meetings to support governance, accountability, and informed decision-making in alignment with HWDSB’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Key Responsibilities

•  Lead the development and execution of the Board’s annual budget and multi-year financial strategy, ensuring alignment with the MYSP and in compliance with all Ministry of Education requirements.
• Provide strategic oversight of financial reporting, including year-end financial statements, audit processes, and public accountability.
• Provide system-level leadership to senior staff across Finance, Facilities, and Transportation fostering a culture of collaboration, trust and continuous improvement.
• Lead capital planning, including pupil accommodation strategies, long-term capital planning, business case submissions, and execution of HWDSB’s capital plan.
• Support enterprise risk management, internal controls, contingency planning, and long-term operational sustainability.
• Provide strategic financial and business operations advice to the CEO, Executive Council, and the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee relationships with external auditors and ensure timely, accurate financial disclosure and reporting.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of the Business Supervisory Officers' Qualification Program (SOQP) or eligibility to successfully complete the program within 2 years; or
• Master’s degree, or a qualified professional (e.g., certified general accountant, certified management accountant, chartered accountant, lawyer, architect, professional engineer or professional planner) and a commitment to obtain a Business Supervisory Officer’s Certificate within two years of the appointment.
• A minimum of seven years demonstrated progressive senior leadership experience, preferably leading a financial and operational portfolio oversight in a complex, public sector environment.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse students, staff and communities with respect, care, and vision.
• The ability to initiate, build, and sustain trust across people, systems, and processes through transparent communication, sound judgement, and ethical leadership.
• Evidence of personal and professional leadership competencies in addressing equity of access, opportunities and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and proven commitment to HWDSB’s Vision, Mission, and Values through leadership actions.
• Possess personal and professional leadership skills, knowledge, and attributes consistent with this executive leadership position, with a proven commitment to collaborative professionalism. 
• Demonstrated political acumen and ability to work effectively with a Board of Trustees.
• Strong financial and strategic acumen, with the ability to translate data and evidence into organizational decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial, anti-racism, and anti-oppression frameworks, with a strong understanding of systemic barriers and intersectionality.
• Ability to support Reconciliation and build meaningful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities.
• A focus on the inclusion and integration of students with special education needs to address learning gaps.
• Experience cultivating professional and collaborative relationships within a multi-union environment.

The ideal candidate is a values-driven, strategic, executive leader who brings a balance of fiscal discipline, innovation, and a people-centered approach. You are a collaborative partner, a systems thinker, and a trusted advisor who can navigate complexity, lead through change, and position the organization for long-term success.

Compensation: The annual salary for this position is $194,000, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package and participation in the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) pension plan.

How to Apply & Interview Details

Please apply directly on  ApplyToEducation . Your application package must include:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Posting Close Date:  4:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026.

Method of Interview:  In-person interviews will be scheduled following the closing of the posting. The start date for this position is as soon as possible.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted

Accommodations

HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please email humanresources@hwdsb.on.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Employment Equity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Statement

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, local environmental context and the broader community.

HWDSB’s vision of Growing Together is rooted in our mission to ensure every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and unique needs of our students, staff and our communities.

HWDSB seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity, inclusion and Indigeneity, and who will contribute to the vision of creating inclusive and equitable outcomes for every student. HWDSB especially invites and welcomes applications from:

• Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).
• Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.).
• Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.
• Persons who identify as women.
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e., Two-spirit and LGBTQIA+).

As part of HWDSB’s commitment to employment equity, inclusion and Indigeneity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.

Applicant Self-Identification Form

The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB’s progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system  (Policy 1.6 - Privacy) . Information on this form is collected pursuant to  Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan  (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  (MFIPPA) . Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and  ethical research practices . Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 3 years after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 3 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form, please contact  humanresources@hwdsb.on.ca .