Position Title:
Associate Vice President, Financial Services
Position Type:
Regular
About the Role:
The Associate Vice President for Financial Services (AVP) is a
senior financial executive and the University’s lead leader for
accounting and financial operations. Reporting directly to the Vice
President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer
(VP/CFO), the AVP provides strategic and operational leadership
across a broad portfolio of financial functions and serves as a key
advisor and partner to the CFO.
Because the VP/CFO’s portfolio extends beyond finance to include
Facilities, Human Resources, Information Technology, University
Police, and Business and Auxiliary Services, the AVP has
significant responsibility and autonomy for the day-to-day
leadership of the University’s financial operations. The AVP also
serves as the primary deputy for the Division of Administration and
Finance in the VP/CFO’s absence.
The Opportunity
The next AVP will join the University at an important and exciting
point in its financial evolution. The position inherits a strong
foundation, including a longstanding record of external audits with
no findings, two consecutive years of strengthened financial
results, and the recent implementation of Workday Financials.
The opportunity ahead is not simply to maintain that foundation,
but to build upon it.
The successful candidate will lead an experienced team of directors
and managers, strengthen financial planning and reporting, and help
the University realize the full potential of its investment in
Workday. This leader will have the opportunity to modernize
processes, reduce unnecessary manual work, strengthen data and
reporting capabilities, and create a financial services
organization known for both strong stewardship and excellent
service.
The AVP regularly engages with the Executive Leadership Team,
President’s Cabinet, Board of Regents and its committees, academic
and administrative leaders, auditors, financial institutions, and
other stakeholders. The position requires a finance leader who can
move comfortably between technical accounting matters,
institutional strategy, operational leadership, and executive-level
communication.
The Office of Financial Services includes Budget, General
Accounting, Grants and Contracts, Procurement, Accounts Payable,
Treasury and Investment Management, Student Account Services, Tax
Compliance, Inventory Control, Foundation Fiscal Management and
Accounting, and related financial functions.
Key Leadership Responsibilities
- Lead the Financial Services Organization
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Office of
Financial Services. Lead, develop, and support directors and
managers across the University’s financial functions; establish
priorities and expectations; align resources with institutional
needs; and ensure effective, responsive financial operations.
- Develop People and Build Organizational Capacity
Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing finance team. Coach
and develop leaders, strengthen cross-training and succession
depth, and foster a culture characterized by integrity,
accountability, transparency, collaboration, documentation, and
service.
- Advance Workday Financials
Lead the continued optimization of Workday Financials following
implementation. Partner with Information Technology, functional
leaders, and Workday support resources to improve business
processes, configuration, security, reporting, and adoption. Help
transform Workday from a newly implemented system into a platform
that provides efficient processes and timely, reliable information
for decision-making.
- Drive Process Improvement and Modernization
Evaluate financial processes across the University and identify
opportunities to simplify work, automate appropriate activities,
reduce manual effort, improve service, and strengthen controls.
Build a culture of continuous improvement while maintaining
appropriate financial stewardship and accountability.
- Ensure Excellence in Accounting and Financial
Reporting
Direct the preparation of the University’s annual financial
statements, state reporting, interim financial reporting, and other
financial information for executive leadership and the Board of
Regents. Maintain disciplined month-end and year-end close
processes and ensure accurate and timely financial reporting for
the University and its Foundation.
- Lead Audit, Compliance, and Internal Controls
Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with internal and external
auditors and lead the annual external audit process. Partner with
the VP/CFO in establishing, interpreting, and monitoring fiscal
policies and internal controls. Sustain the University’s strong
audit record while ensuring assets are appropriately safeguarded
and financial practices remain compliant.
- Provide Technical Accounting Leadership
Ensure accounting structures, including the University’s chart of
accounts within Workday, support accurate financial reporting and
effective institutional decision-making. Ensure compliance with
GAAP, GASB standards, and applicable state and federal
requirements. Lead implementation of new accounting standards and
oversee areas including tax compliance, grants and contracts
accounting, fixed assets, and inventory control.
- Lead Budget and Financial Planning
Provide leadership to the Budget Office and partner with the VP/CFO
on annual and multi-year financial planning, forecasting, budget
development, monitoring, and analysis. Help translate financial
information into actionable insights that support institutional
priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
- Oversee Treasury, Cash, Investments, and Debt
Provide executive oversight of cash management, cash-flow
forecasting, institutional investments, banking relationships, and
payment obligations. Ensure compliance with debt and bond
covenants, investment policies, and related financial
requirements.
- Oversee Student Account Services
Provide leadership for student billing, accounts receivable, and
collections, balancing sound financial practices with accurate,
responsive, and student-focused service.
- Oversee Procurement and Accounts Payable
Provide leadership for procurement and accounts payable operations,
ensuring efficient processes, appropriate internal controls,
regulatory compliance, and strong service to the University
community.
- Serve as Deputy to the VP/CFO
Serve as the primary deputy for the Division of Administration and
Finance in the VP/CFO’s absence. Represent Financial Services with
executive leadership and the Board of Regents and its committees,
presenting complex financial information in a clear, accurate,
transparent, and decision-useful manner.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related
field.
- Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible accounting and
finance experience, including significant leadership responsibility
and at least five years leading managers, directors, or comparable
professional teams.
- Demonstrated expertise in financial accounting and reporting,
GAAP, internal controls, and external audit management.
- Demonstrated success developing teams and leaders, including
hiring, coaching, performance management, and organizational
development.
- Experience leading significant process improvement,
modernization, or organizational change within a complex financial
environment.
- Experience with enterprise financial systems and demonstrated
ability to use technology, data, and reporting to improve financial
operations and decision-making.
- Strong executive communication and interpersonal skills,
including the ability to explain complex financial information
clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational
boundaries and influence decisions in a complex
organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business
Administration, or a related field.
- Senior financial leadership experience in higher education,
government, or another complex public-sector environment.
- Knowledge of GASB accounting and reporting standards.
- Experience with Workday Financials, particularly
implementation, stabilization, or post-implementation
optimization.
- Experience with institutional budgeting and financial planning,
treasury and investment management, debt compliance, or banking
relationships.
- Experience presenting financial information to governing boards
or comparable executive-level stakeholders.
- Experience with financial reporting, analytics, or business
intelligence tools.
- Additional relevant professional credentials, such as Certified
Government Financial Manager (CGFM) or Certified Management
Accountant (CMA).
The Leader We Are Seeking
The successful candidate will be both a strong technical finance
professional and an effective organizational leader. They will
understand that excellence in financial services is measured not
only by accurate statements and clean audits, but also by the
quality of the team, the effectiveness of business processes, the
usefulness of financial information, and the experience of the
people the organization serves.
This individual will bring sound judgment, intellectual curiosity,
a commitment to continuous improvement, and the confidence to
challenge existing practices when a better approach is available.
They will be comfortable operating at both the strategic and
operational levels—able to discuss institutional financial strategy
with executive leadership and the Board while also understanding
the processes, systems, controls, and people required to execute
that strategy successfully.
Above all, the AVP will be a trusted financial leader who values
transparency, accountability, collaboration, and responsible
stewardship of University resources.
Posted Salary:
Work Environment & Physical Demands:
Mostly indoor office work. Some occasional light lifting may be
necessary.