Chief Finance and Operations Officer | Norfolk Academy

Norfolk Academy

Norfolk, Virginia

Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Start Date:

July 2026

norfolkacademy.org

Founded in 1728, Norfolk Academy (NA) is the oldest independent school in Virginia and one of the most respected in the nation. For three centuries, the Academy has prepared young people for lives of leadership and service, earning a reputation for academic strength, character education, and a close-knit community. Today, 1,200 students in Grades 1–12 benefit from the guidance of devoted faculty and staff whose influence extends beyond the classroom into athletics, the arts, advising, and clubs.

This deep level of engagement has created a strong sense of pride across campus and the broader Tidewater community. In 2023, Travis Larrabee became only the fourth Head of School since 1950, a reflection of the school’s continuity and stability. As the Academy looks ahead to its 300th anniversary, it does so with both gratitude for its history and rich traditions and enthusiasm for the future.

Norfolk Academy now seeks an experienced and mission-aligned leader to serve as its next Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO). The CFOO will join a thriving school community that values tradition while embracing thoughtful innovation and will provide steady, strategic leadership across the school’s financial and operational functions. As a trusted partner to the Head of School and Board of Trustees, the CFOO will ensure the Academy’s resources are managed with foresight and care, supporting the school’s enduring mission and positioning it for continued success in the decades ahead.

This role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the Academy’s legacy at an inflection point, helping to shape a strong and sustainable future as NA moves into its fourth century of excellence.

Founded in 1728, Norfolk Academy is a college preparatory coeducational day school that is rooted in honor. We inspire and guide our students to develop maturity of character, mind, and body. We engender an awareness and appreciation of intellectual, creative, and moral excellence in a setting that offers well‑developed programs, not only in the academic disciplines, but also in fine arts, athletics, leadership, and service to others.

We provide a thoughtfully designed environment that is commensurate with this dedication to excellence, creating an atmosphere in which children are inspired to pursue wholeheartedly their ethical, intellectual, and physical development.

Established: 1728

Enrollment: 1,200

Students of color: 26%

Total faculty and staff: 225

Faculty of color: 8%

Faculty with advanced degrees: 81%

Student/teacher ratio: 10:1

Financial aid budget: $3.7M

Students receiving aid: 18%

Endowment: $82M

Annual operating budget: $37.5M

Campus size: 70 acres

Norfolk Academy’s Head of School, Travis Larrabee, has led Norfolk Academy with distinction in his first two years. The school benefits from a solid foundation established by the current CFOO, who has served with recognition over a long tenure and earned the respect of the community. As Larrabee enters his third year, he and the Board seek a proactive, strategic partner to build on this foundation, anticipate challenges, and ensure the school’s continued financial strength and growth.

The CFOO will play a significant role in addressing key priorities in the years ahead.

Norfolk Academy has just completed a strategic planning process. The community is also preparing for the school’s 300th anniversary in 2028, offering a significant opportunity for a comprehensive fundraising campaign. This campaign will likely support capital expansion and enhancements as well as programmatic and faculty initiatives. The CFOO will partner closely with Development colleagues, Head of School, and Board of Trustees on the case for support and execution of campaign goals.

Like all independent schools, Norfolk Academy must assess short‑and‑long‑term threats to sustainability, whether demographic, economic, or…