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This position is for Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Briar Cliff University, reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Cabinet. The role provides strategic financial leadership, oversees all financial operations, and serves as Treasurer to the Board of Trustees.

Financial Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial strategy aligned with the university’s mission, enrollment trajectory, and long‑term sustainability goals.
• Lead annual operating and capital budget development in collaboration with the President, Cabinet, and division heads; monitor budget performance and recommend corrective action as needed.
• Provide revenue forecasting and multi‑year financial modeling to support institutional planning, scenario analysis, and strategic decision‑making.
• Advise the President and Cabinet on the financial implications of institutional initiatives, program investments, enrollment strategies, and capital commitments.
• Monitor peer institution financial benchmarks and higher education financial health indicators to inform institutional positioning and long‑term planning.

Financial Reporting, Audit, and Compliance

• Oversee preparation of accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable higher education accounting standards, including fund accounting.
• Manage the annual external audit process; serve as the primary institutional contact for external auditors and ensure timely completion and distribution of audited financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state financial regulations, including Title IV financial responsibility standards, IPEDS financial reporting requirements, and other regulatory obligations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies and internal controls that safeguard institutional assets and ensure the integrity of financial data.
• Oversee procurement policies and procedures to ensure efficient, economical, and compliant delivery and payment of goods and services.

Board Relations and Governance

• Serve as Treasurer to the Board of Trustees; prepare and present financial reports, budget summaries, and financial health analyses to the full Board and its committees.
• Act as an administrative liaison to the Finance and Audit Committee chairs; prepare meeting materials, support committee deliberations, and ensure timely follow‑through on committee directives.
• Provide the Finance and Audit Committee with comprehensive quarterly reporting on institutional financial health, including detailed budget‑to‑actual analysis, cash flow position, revenue and expense variance explanations, and forward‑looking projections.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with external financial partners, including banking institutions, investment advisors, bond counsel, and insurance providers.
• Support the President in financial communications to trustees, donors, accreditors, and other external stakeholders.

Cash Management and Treasury

• Manage the university’s cash flow, liquidity position, and banking relationships to ensure adequate operating reserves and financial flexibility.
• Oversee investment of institutional funds in accordance with Board‑approved investment policies.
• Manage debt obligations, lines of credit, and financing arrangements; advise the President and Board on debt strategy and capacity.
• Monitor and manage institutional risk exposure; oversee the university’s comprehensive insurance program.

Enterprise Analytics and Financial Intelligence

• Lead the development and stewardship of the university’s enterprise financial analytics infrastructure, including dashboards, reporting tools, and data integration with the ERP system.
• Build and maintain financial models and analytical tools that support enrollment‑driven revenue planning, net tuition revenue optimization, and institutional performance monitoring.
• Partner with institutional research, enrollment management, and academic affairs to ensure financial data informs cross‑divisional planning and decision‑making.
• Promote a data‑informed financial culture across the institution; build financial literacy and reporting capacity within the Cabinet and across division heads.

Finance Office Operations

• Provide the President with bi‑weekly financial health reports covering key institutional indicators including cash on hand, budget‑to‑actual performance, accounts receivable aging, accounts payable aging, and material variances or emerging financial concerns.
• Provide direct oversight of the finance office, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and student billing functions.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of all financial transactions in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
• Develop and supervise finance office staff through coaching, mentoring, and professional development; establish clear performance standards and accountability structures.
• Oversee the university’s ERP financial system; lead or participate in system upgrades, implementations, and process improvement initiatives.

Risk Management and Business Continuity

• Identify, assess, and manage institutional financial risk; develop and maintain risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Lead business continuity planning for the finance function and support institution‑wide continuity planning efforts.
• Conduct or oversee internal audit activities to ensure compliance with financial policies and identify opportunities for operational improvement.

Cabinet Leadership and Institutional Collaboration

• Serve as an active and constructive member of the President’s Cabinet; contribute to institutional strategy, policy development, and cross‑divisional collaboration.
• Represent the university to external financial constituents, accreditors, and peer institutions as appropriate.
• Advance the university’s Catholic Franciscan mission and values in the leadership and management of the finance function.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Operating Officer on matters involving facilities capital planning, operational budgets, and shared administrative services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep command of financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and multi‑year financial modeling.
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting principles, and higher education financial reporting standards.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible language for non‑financial audiences including trustees, faculty, and staff.
• Proficiency with ERP financial systems; experience with Ellucian Colleague or Banner preferred.
• Comfort with data analytics tools and financial intelligence platforms; experience building or managing institutional dashboards and reporting infrastructure preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling; familiarity with Power BI or comparable tools preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to build trust, develop staff, and work collaboratively across organizational boundaries.
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and professional judgment; demonstrated ability to handle sensitive financial and institutional information with appropriate confidentiality.
• Commitment to the mission and values of a Catholic Franciscan institution of higher education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience, with at least three (3) years in a senior financial role.
• Demonstrated familiarity with fund accounting, Title IV financial responsibility standards, and IPEDS reporting.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and presenting financial information to a board of trustees or comparable governing body.
• Experience leading or participating in external audit processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA licensure.
• Experience in higher education finance and familiarity with higher education audit standards.

Briar Cliff University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community.