Description

The Department of Finance is seeking a full time, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Vice President (VP), Innovation and Organizational Effectiveness. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) develops and implements the business and fiscal services necessary to support the missions of Roberts Wesleyan University (RWU) and Northeastern Seminary (NES). This position serves as the Chief Financial Officer for RWU/NES, providing accurate information for short- and long-range planning to manage available resources better. This position balances anticipated (future) and current conditions, implementing systems and processes and participating in key decisions from that vantage point. The CFO must demonstrate competency in assessing the impact of legislation, trends, and other external influences and implement appropriate contingency planning. A core emphasis of this role is on planning and assessment, both as a key contributor to the actual planning/assessment process and in ensuring that the systems and tools are in place for comprehensive and timely evaluation of opportunities that arise. The CFO provides strategic leadership for key campus departments, including finance and contract service departments (bookstore and dining services).

Job Responsibilities:

Financial:

• Provides strategic management and overall leadership of the Finance Office, including financial management and reporting, budget preparation and control, purchasing, fiscal record management, tax compliance, and systems and processes related to the disbursement of funds. Oversees analysis of payroll expenditures in conjunction with the Vice President for Operations & Business Development.
• Guide the process of comprehensive planning for the institution including use of price and discounts (tuition fees, financial aid, etc.) to achieve strategic goals.
• Provides competent, proactive financial counsel, financial analysis, and reporting to the Board, President, and senior leaders.
• Plans and presents periodic financial and operational reports to the Roberts and Northeastern community.
• Ensures timely and accurate financial reporting in compliance with all county, state, federal, and accreditor requirements, with authority to make applications for and sign federal and state grant agreements.
• Maintains knowledge of current federal and state laws applicable to financial and administrative areas.
• Provides strategic leadership in developing and implementing RWU and NES financial policies, practices, and procedures, including implementing and maintaining effective controls and safeguarding institutional assets.
• Provides oversight of the annual audit and liaisons with external auditors and the Board of Trustees.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of changes in tax regulations, IRS reporting requirements, and other governmental regulations to ensure the University’s compliance.
• Oversee the ongoing education of the institution’s financial policies in the university community.

Budget:

• Plans and coordinates the preparation of the annual budget, ensuring the annual budget is informed by strategic priorities and broad institutional input.
• Create a budget process that allows for the University to respond to ad hoc opportunities throughout the year as they occur
• Directs, coordinates, and continuously improves the operational and capital budgeting systems and related reporting and forecasting processes, including appropriate contingency planning.
• Develop strategic long-range financial planning for the University and Seminary, including budgeting and external financial requirements.
• Chairs the Budget Committee.
• Oversee the education and professional development of budget managers.

Treasury:

• Manages and forecasts cash sources and cash needs.
• Serves as a key liaison to outside financial and lending institutions.
• Manages investment portfolios for the University and Seminary in conjunction with external investment consultants.
• Develops policy and support systems for managing RWU and NES investments in conjunction with the Board’s Investment Committee.

Risk Management:

• Direct and coordinate risk management objectives, including the University’s insurance program.
• Oversees institutional legal issues.
• Works directly with the Associate Vice President of Student Experience and Director of Human Resources to review institutional risk for legal issues related to personnel and Title IX filings. 
• Oversees evaluation of major contracts, including obtaining legal review when appropriate.
• Ensures financial oversight for major grants and applications, including federal and state grants.

Strategic:

• Collaborates with Cabinet to develop and implement strategic plans.
• Provide business models and functional finance support for new strategic initiatives of RWU & NES.
• Ensures that RWU & NES are appropriately responsive to external changes and trends. 
• Oversee the development and management of integrated, strategy-aligned work plans
• Work collaboratively with the President’s Cabinet and School Deans to build accurate business models associated with generative thinking, new initiative development, and strategic planning. 
• Model creative options for resourcing new programs/initiatives within the context of the University’s strategic plan

Innovation & Organizational Effectiveness:

• Strategic advisor and partner to the President who will work collaboratively with the other VPs/cabinet officers to drive innovation and organizational effectiveness:
• Helps develop, plan, coordinate, track, support, and/or lead special initiatives and projects for the President. Example – Investigate and suggest cross-state partnerships. 
• Participates in developing policies and procedures in a range of areas as needed. Example – Revamping the decision-making process across the organization.
• Advises the President on significant emerging issues and identifies approaches to address these issues – Cross state mergers and acquisitions, CCCU, SUNY, and CUNY overlaps and interactions. 
• Regularly assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of institutional decision-making and governance processes and recommends improvements as appropriate. 
• In advance of key meetings, gathers, organizes, and synthesizes or analyzes key information for the President. Example – The impact of changing regulations on the university's operational execution. 
• Working closely with the President’s EA and the Institutional Advancement Division proactively helps the President to plan for and monitor his strategic relationship and stakeholder engagement. Example – Relationship with governmental(state, federal, local) agencies, business partnership, peer-university engagement.
• Drives team towards focusing on innovation in higher education for the future and collaborative improvement initiatives. 

Board:

• Provides current financial updates and outlooks to the Board of Trustees.
• Serves as administrative liaison on the Finance and Investment and Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees. 
• Coordinates and serves as a resource for the Housing Development Foundation Board of Directors. 

Auxiliary Operations:

• Oversees contract service operations, including bookstore and food service.

Other:

• Institutional Leadership including Participating as a member of the President’s Cabinet; Oversee and managing the Finance Division of the University; Providing leadership for the Board of Trustees Committees: Committee on Finance and Investment;
• Ensures appropriate selection and retention of major vendors in the CFO span of care through periodic request for proposal (RFP) processes.
• Develops and monitors internal controls over functional responsibilities.
• Leads effectively in a collegial and participatory manner, emphasizing team building with all segments of the University and Seminary.
• Completes other tasks related to the functions of the University and office as assigned by the President.

The approved salary for this position is $167,000.00-$170,000.00/annually. Competitive salary is negotiable based on experience, skills, qualifications, education & training requirements.

Requirements

MBA or Master’s degree in a related field and/or CPA. A collaborative person of integrity who can effectively communicate with trustees, internal colleagues, and external constituents is critical. Minimum ten years experience in financial management, with three to five years of responsible experience as chief financial officer. Experience in an organization with an operating budget of at least $25 million. Extensive experience in financial administration and management with a proven track record of creative and strategic decision-making and leadership and knowledge of endowment management, risk management, debt management, and budgeting. Previous experience in the non-profit sector and/or higher education preferred. A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate cultural competence and must value the principles of diversity and equity.