Interim Chief Financial Officer

Albright College is seeking applications for Interim CFO. The Interim CFO will serve as the chief financial officer at Albright College and will lead an integrated finance and operations program and partners with peers, direct reports, board members, auditors, external vendors and internal stakeholders to manage the financial and operational needs of the organization.

As a senior officer of the College, the vice president collaborates with the other senior officers in the overall management and administration of the College.

She / he is responsible for overseeing the controller’s and finance unit, the facilities unit, strategic partnerships and risk management, as well as overseeing some auxiliary contracts.

The Interim CFO must be a skilled and experienced senior level leader who has a strong financial, strategic thinking, and administrative background with the demonstrated ability to excel in a fast-paced and dynamic institution.

The VP will be an inspiring leader, with a big-picture mentality, intellectual curiosity and comfort navigating a complex and evolving not-for-profit organization that values shared governance, collaboration, transparency, equity, and data-informed decision-making.

Strong candidates will offer the requisite strategy, finance, and operational skills as well as collegial and engaging management and communications style and the ability to lead and manage change with tact and diplomacy.

The Vice President reports directly to the President of the College, is a member of the President’s Cabinet and serves at the pleasure of the President.

The Vice President guides and counsels the President on all planned and executed activities involving finances, facilities and operations, and strategic partnerships.

She / he supports the college’s mission, vision, strategic plan, and core values by leading a finance and operational services organization to provide sound and efficient institutional financial planning and management, efficient facilities, using finance and operations best practices.

The Interim CFO also provides staff support for the following Trustee Committees : Finance, Audit, Investment, and the Finance subcommittee of Property, Land, and Equipment.

Essential Job Functions :

• Provide leadership and strategic visioning to identify and develop crucial College partnerships and to work with the President and appropriate Vice Presidents on developing strategies and tactics for partnership with key constituencies and partners.
• Sets a high bar for fiscal responsibility and controls, ensuring that the finance staff maintains financial record systems and documents and communicates processes in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), stays on top of trends, models best practices in financial management, risk management, compliance, and digital transformation, and monitors the use of all funds.
• Inspires and creates a vision and identity for the finance and facilities teams (including colleagues who are responsible for the Accounting Office, and Facilities Services, which engages them to manage and lead their own teams.
• Actively and proactively participate and engage with institutional planning, advising on the medium- and long-range financial implications and impact of strategic decisions.
• Establish goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures for the Division of Finance and Operations and conduct appropriate annual assessment of the same, which focus on alignment with the College’s core values, mission and vision, as well as state-of-the-art practices and efficiency and effectiveness both within and beyond the division.
• As the College’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) : Lead the development, presentation, and assessment of the annual budget plan for the various departments within the Division.

Oversee a timely process to develop and prudently manage the college’s capital budget, provide executive-level leadership for capital improvements, and serve as executive-level liaison to architects, engineers, and contractors engaged in capital projects.

Lead and provide appropriate staff support and timely reporting to appropriate College committees (currently the Faculty Budget Committee), with the goal to engage the group in developing, implementing, and assessing annual budgetary strategies as well as a long-range budgetary and financial plan that is tied to the College’s strategic vision and planning.

Proactively lead development and creation of clear and concise financial dashboards and reporting structures that allow for immediate and long-range analysis and planning for cabinet, trustees, faculty and other college leaders.

Certify audits, ensures tax returns are filed and required financial reports are submitted to regulators on a timely basis.

Actively coordinate the operations of the Division, collaborating with other divisions of the college through collegial participation in cross-divisional teams and committees and collaborative planning with the all cabinet colleagues and the president.

Encourages collaboration between her / his division and other divisions at the AVP and director and other staff levels.

• Ability to establish project plans and mobilize resources to complete projects, and manages resources well, focusing on critical success factors and alternative methodologies when necessary.
• Lead by word and example for all members of the Division in providing exemplary service to all members of the College community.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial, administrative, facilities, property and physical infrastructure information and data that is to report to the President and the Board of Trustees.

Partner with and either provide administrative support (or partner to provide administrative support) to the Audit Committee, Property, Land, and Equipment Subcommittee, the Investment Subcommittee, and the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees.

• Be responsible for maintaining a friendly and respectful atmosphere for the Finance and Operations Division, one which is based on individual talents of respective team members, in pursuit of divisional goals in supporting the mission of the College, and for all donors’ dealings with the College.
• Partner with fellow Vice Presidents, as appropriate to ensure collaborative and effective teamwork and compliance, including, but not limited to ensuring that the College’s institutional priorities and planning are integrated into the budget and planning processes, that financial and physical plant data supports and enhances institutional strategic planning, assessment, forecasting, budget planning and setting, and decision-making, and that there is consistency and clarity in data definitions, collection procedures, data management, and data-driven decision-making between the finance and operations division and all other divisions in the college.
• To perform other job-related duties as may be assigned by the President or his / her designee.

Qualifications / Prerequisites :

1. COMMUNICATION and LEADERSHIP

• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with excellent public speaking skills and the ability to influence and inspire.
• Intellectual depth necessary to understand and translate financial, operational, technical, and other information for a variety of audiences, crisply and concisely.
• Confidence and knowledge required to advance and defend ideas and programs in an environment that respects conviction but demands analytical rigor;

a love of intellectual exchange and lively dialogue.

Communication style that leads and inspires, engaging others to be part of teamwork.

2. SKILLS

• Organizational experience and ability to plan, execute and successfully lead an annual budget planning and capital planning process in an institution of higher education.
• A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; the ability to plan, monitor, and tightly manage a budget and the competency with information systems necessary to accomplish these goals.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing multiple projects and meet targets and deadlines.
• Honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, and perspective; a strong work ethic, supported by commitment and follow-through.
• The professional credibility, maturity, and leadership skills required to effectively motivate, engage with, and collaborate with cabinet members, faculty, key staff members, volunteer leadership and other key stakeholders in building sustainable financial model for a liberal arts college.
• Goal-oriented strategic thinker with strong analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capacity for inspiring leadership. Ability to individual strengths and talent and to develop strong teams.
• Desire to play a meaningful role in the life and development of Albright College and its extended community and to share in Albright’s commitment to educating students of academic promise for life and career in the 21st century.
• Creativity, humility, and a sense of humor.

3. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of eight years of progressive and successful leadership in finance, operations, and strategic partnerships.
• Substantial experience in strategic partnerships, strategic planning, budget management, financial reviews, and capital project planning and oversight.
• Management or leadership experience in higher education, preferably in a small, private liberal arts college.
• Experience serving on and staffing governing boards.

4. EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Masters or other advanced degree preferred, though sufficient and relevant experience will also fulfill this requirement

5. LICENSES

• CPA or CMA preferred, but not required.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
30+ days ago