Northern Kentucky University

Associate Vice President, Financial Services

Closes: Dec 7, 2026

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.

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About the employer

Northern Kentucky University

3.5 Star Employer Ranking

NKU is a leader in Greater Cincinnati, Kentucky and the nation as a student-ready university, meeting students where they are in their educational journeys — no matter where they are. Northern Kentucky University is a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It is primarily an undergraduate institution with over 14,000 students; over 12,000 are undergraduate students and nearly 2,000 are graduate students.

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Associate Vice President, Financial Services