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VP for Finance and Administration/CFO Job Description

 

Department: Business and Finance
Reports to: President
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared Date: February 1, 2025

The Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer (VPFA/CFO) serves as the University's chief finance and business officer, reporting directly to the President and playing a critical role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. This position provides strategic and operational leadership in key areas, including financial planning, budgeting and analysis, accounting, treasury and risk management, asset management, human resources and legal oversight. The VPFA/CFO will work collaboratively with a dynamic team of professionals to advance Board-approved strategic priorities and ensure the University's financial health and operational excellence. The successful candidate will contribute to an energetic, forward-thinking leadership team dedicated to institutional growth and sustainability.

Key Priorities

  • Develop a strategic financial vision that supports the institution's vision and strategic plan. SXU is operating under a strategic plan that broadly pursues four key types of objectives: students, community, revenue, and people and places. The VPF/CFO will play a leadership role in the revenue generation strategy as well as in fleshing out the strategic allocation of resources to achieve goals along the other dimensions. The successful candidate will be skilled in the use of benchmarks to assess progress, assessment of existing and potential initiatives, and reallocation of resources to respond to changing trends. 
  • Oversee successful execution of financial operations, including developing and implementing operating and capital budgets and ensuring timely and accurate reporting. The VPF/CFO will provide leadership to the finance area and will oversee real estate, risk management, human resources, and legal services; experience in one or more of these additional areas, preferably including skill in managing real estate as a strategic asset and in managing enterprise and legal risk, will be valuable. This leader will ensure that required financial processes (annual audits, preparation of 990s, etc.) run effectively and are executed accurately and in a timely fashion and that budget managers across campus have the financial information required to manage their budgets. The successful candidate would be prepared to play a leadership role in managing debt (refinancing, use of swaps and other derivatives, optimizing the use of debt in a variety of interest rate environments, etc.) and assets (cash, endowment, real estate, other investments).
  • Work with the senior team, the president, and the Board of Trustees to cultivate an environment of strategic financial stewardship. While the VPF/CFO provides leadership for financial management, financial health is a shared responsibility requiring stewardship across the University. The successful candidate will be a valued colleague to other senior leaders and a trusted advisor to the President and Board, particularly in matters of financial management. In addition, this leader will communicate clearly and transparently to campus constituents about the financial health of the University and will appropriately engage stakeholder groups (such as faculty and staff) and Trustees (including the Audit Committee and the Sustainable Financial Model Committee) to inform decision-making. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provides leadership in developing, implementing and monitoring the University's operating and capital budgets. This includes forecasting the "walk forward" budget. In addition, works closely with the Controller and auditors to produce the year-end audit and 990 tax return.
  • Supervises the Controller and Director of Financial Planning/Analysis. Provides guidance and direction to those areas to ensure their areas are providing Service Excellence and helping to create a Sustainable Financial Model.
  • Oversees the University's real estate, risk management, and legal services. This includes working with attorneys and insurers as we respond to lawsuits and complaints, as well as review of contracts and other legal documents. This also includes assessing the viability of selling or purchasing properties to further the University's mission and strategic priorities.
  • Oversees the university's asset management strategy, ensuring effective stewardship, optimization, and risk management of financial, physical, and investment assets to support long-term institutional sustainability.
  • Works closely with the Board of Trustees and the President to prepare the quarterly meetings of the Audit Committee and Sustainable Financial Model Committee, as well as the Business Meeting. In addition, provides advice to Board on all financial matters. In consultation with Board, oversees the University's endowment investments.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the senior leadership team, providing financial insights and guidance to support informed decision-making.
  • Responsible for monitoring the debt of the University and determining the appropriateness of refinancing a portion of the bond debt. This includes assessing the viability of swaps and other derivatives, as well as determining whether fixed or variable rate debt would be the best approach.

Qualifications

The Vice President for Finance and Administration/CFO will have a proven record of progressively responsible leadership.

  • Demonstrate a strong affinity for Catholic, Mercy higher education and a passion for the mission of the University.
  • Strong background in business, accounting, and financial management.
  • Demonstrated record of effective senior management experience in financial systems management, preferably in a higher education environment.
  • A collaborative, inclusive, and transparent management style.
  • A person with strong communication skills who listens, writes and speaks with clarity and explains financial transactions to non-financial colleagues.
  • An ability to think strategically and to analyze the financial impact of existing and potential programs as the University plans for the future.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and improve upon existing internal controls.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the structures and techniques of debt management, including ability to work with banks, rating agencies and underwriters effectively.
  • An ability to provide the President, the Board of Trustees and all constituents with a dispassionate analysis of information related to key issues.
  • An ability to create a framework of financial accountability within the administration, the finance area and throughout organization.
  • An understanding of investment strategies and an ability to assist the President and the Board with their responsibilities in continually building and managing the endowment.
  • Embody the core values of respect, excellence, compassion, service, hospitality, integrity, diversity and learning for life.

Education

  • Completion of a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university. Master's degree or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Certified Financial Analyst preferred.

Experience

  • Chief Financial Officer experience, or experience reporting to that level (Controller, Assistant CFO).
  • Successful track record of financial experience and management experience with the day-to-day financial operations of an organization of at least 50 staff persons.