Chief Financial Officer

Applications will be reviewed on
a rolling basis, and screening and interviews may begin immediately. For best consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply as early as
possible and no later than November 6, 2026. This position may be filled before the best consideration date.

Cleary
University seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to guide the financial strategy of a growing and rapidly
evolving private university based in Howell, Michigan. With another year of growth and fall 2026 enrollment reaching an all-time high of
approximately 1,200 students, the University continues building on this significant financial and enrollment momentum, enjoying another
profitable fiscal year in 2025-26, and a clean audit with no findings.

In recent years, Cleary has strengthened its financial
foundation, doubled enrollment, and developed a distinctive reputation for accelerated degree pathways serving working adults. These
offerings have generated thousands of incremental enrollments with a 78% retention rate and a strong job placement rate, reflecting the
strength of Cleary's workforce-aligned model and its growing regional reputation.

Building on this progress, Cleary is
advancing a set of strategic initiatives requiring financial leadership, analysis, and investment, including:

• National
  expansion of Cleary's accelerated programs beyond Michigan, including Ohio and Wisconsin
• Development of the Siena Heights School of
  Nursing at Cleary University, expanding the University's academic portfolio as it progresses through the approval
  process
• Development of new schools and academic programs aligned with labor market trends
• Rollout of an innovative career
  development pathway model
• New philanthropy initiatives, including the development of a capital campaign
• Expansion of the
  University's campus footprint
• Implementation of Jenzabar as the University's new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system,
  strengthening financial and institutional operations

These initiatives are part of The Fourth Wave, Cleary's recently approved 2025-2028 strategic
plan, which establishes a roadmap for the University's next phase. As Cleary scales its adult and online programs while reinvesting in its
residential campus, the incoming CFO will bring rigorous financial analysis to decisions around segment-level economics, pricing and
discount strategies, capital deployment, program expansion, and new ventures. The role offers the opportunity to help build the financial
framework needed to support an increasingly complex and evolving institution.

Reporting directly to President Alan Drimmer and serving as a key member of the executive leadership
team, the CFO serves as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the President, bringing sophisticated financial insight, sound judgment,
and an enterprise-wide perspective to consequential decisions about the University's future.

This is a senior-level strategic
leadership role with responsibility for Cleary's overall financial strategy, capital and debt structure, long-range financial planning,
major financial modeling, banking strategy, real estate considerations, and the financial evaluation of growth initiatives and new
opportunities. Working closely with the President and Board, the CFO will help assess opportunities and risk, evaluate alternative
scenarios, and provide the financial strategy and analysis necessary to support major institutional decisions and advance the University's
long-term priorities.

With the Controller overseeing the Business Office and day-to-day financial operations, the CFO will have the
capacity to focus significant attention on forward-looking financial strategy and institutional decision-making while maintaining
appropriate oversight of the University's overall financial function.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished, collaborative
financial executive who combines strategic perspective with the ability to work effectively in a lean, entrepreneurial environment. The CFO
must be comfortable operating at the highest levels of institutional leadership while remaining sufficiently hands-on to engage deeply when
circumstances require. The successful candidate will also share Cleary's commitment to practical, career-focused education for working
adults and diverse student populations.

This is an on-site position with responsibility for the Controller and Business Office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Candidates for the CFO position will also be expected to:

• Serve as a strategic partner and financial advisor to the President and executive leadership team in aligning financial planning with
  institutional priorities, program innovation, and long-term growth initiatives
• Lead long-range financial planning and scenario
  modeling to evaluate growth initiatives, new programs, investments, and other strategic opportunities
• Provide strategic leadership
  around the University's capital and debt structure, banking relationships, financing strategies, and major capital and real estate
  considerations
• Develop and monitor financial models, analyses, and forecasts to assess institutional performance and financial
  sustainability
• Oversee the Controller and Business Office, ensuring effective financial operations, controls, reporting, and
  stewardship of University assets
• Coordinate and direct the preparation of the budget and financial forecasts
• Establish major
  financial objectives and policies for the institution and provide clear, forward-looking financial reporting and analysis to the President,
  Board, and executive leadership
• Collaborate with advancement leadership to support evolving philanthropic efforts and ensure strong
  financial infrastructure for future fundraising initiatives

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of university administration and the principles and practices of financial management
• Strong analytical,
  problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex tasks
  simultaneously
• Experience with automated accounting systems and financial reporting tools
• Ability to build effective working
  relationships with diverse stakeholders across the university
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including supervising staff,
  delegating responsibilities, and fostering a collaborative team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication
  skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain a high level of confidentiality, and uphold institutional policies and
  priorities
• Demonstrated ability to connect financial strategy with institutional mission and student outcomes

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, accounting, or a related
  field
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in accounting or financial management in progressively responsible
  positions within a higher education institution;

Or

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible
  leadership experience in financial planning, budgeting, and financial operations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Higher education experience
• Master's degree in finance, business, accounting, or a related field
• CPA
  certification

About the Institution

Cleary University is a private institution
founded in 1883 with a long-standing commitment to innovation, applied learning, and entrepreneurship in business education. Located in
Howell, Michigan, the University offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs designed to prepare students for immediate and
sustained success in a rapidly evolving workforce. Cleary's main campus is in Livingston County, with an additional education center in
Detroit that extends its reach into one of the region's major economic hubs.

At the core of the academic experience is The Cleary Mind^TM, a distinctive, data-informed curricular
framework focused on developing eight attributes most valued by employers: critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, creative thinking,
communication, persuasion, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Fully integrated across the curriculum and co-curricular experience, The Cleary
Mind^TM reflects Cleary's commitment to aligning academic programs with workforce needs and ensuring graduates are prepared to
succeed and lead in dynamic organizational environments.

Cleary serves a vibrant, career-focused student population, including
traditional undergraduates as well as working professionals pursuing hybrid and fully online programs. Traditional undergraduate students
may live in university residence halls, off-campus housing, or commute from home. The University's emphasis on small class sizes,
personalized support, and strong industry alignment fosters meaningful student engagement and career readiness. Cleary's athletic teams,
known as the Cougars, are an integral part of campus life, competing at the NAIA level as a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic
Conference.

Learn more about Cleary University at www.cleary.edu.

Living in the
Area

Cleary's main campus is in Howell, Michigan, part of Livingston County, one of the fastest-growing regions in Southeast
Michigan. Howell offers a blend of small-town charm and access to major metropolitan opportunities, situated halfway between Detroit and
Lansing, within easy driving distance of Ann Arbor, and less than an hour from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, providing convenient regional
and national connectivity.

The region is known for its highly ranked public schools and family-friendly communities; abundant outdoor
recreation, including lakes, parks, and trails; and a revitalized historic downtown featuring restaurants, arts venues, and year-round
community events. Residents also benefit from proximity to major employers and innovation hubs across Southeast Michigan.

The area
offers a high quality of life, combining affordability, safety, and natural beauty with convenient access to the economic, cultural, and
educational assets of Michigan's leading cities.

Learn more about the region at www.livgov.com.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a
rolling basis, and screening and interviews may begin immediately. For best consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply as early as
possible and no later than November 6, 2026. This position may be filled before the best consideration date.

To
be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjy30qw5

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received
and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated
confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and
questions: Please send to ClearyCFO@acesrch.com

Nominations and
referrals: Please send the nominee's name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com

Institutional Information

Cleary
University is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and
belonging. Cleary strongly believes that workforce diversity creates an environment in which its employees can thrive. Cleary understands
and embraces the variety through which people gain experiences whether through professional, personal, educational, or volunteer
opportunities. Cleary University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.