"Chief Financial Officer"

Responsibilities of the Position

Summary: Reporting directly to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), the chief financial officer (CFO) works closely with the dean, associate deans, and directors to develop and implement financial strategies that support the College’s academic goals. The CFO oversees comprehensive budget planning, fiscal administration, and space management, while providing sound financial guidance to leadership and other members of the CLA community. The CFO is a crucial member of the Dean’s Group, the dean’s senior leadership team, contributing to human resources, development, and outreach decisions. The CFO directs the CLA fiscal team, which includes financial services, budget analysis, and facilities management, and also represents CLA in University-wide budget discussions and the Big Ten Academic Alliance.

The CFO leads and manages a dedicated staff of 26 individuals, including three direct reports, and administers a College-wide budget of over $305 million.

Specific/Additional Responsibilities

Strategy

• Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of the College’s short- and long-term financial strategies.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate information about the College’s financial performance.
• Recommend best practices in strategically allocating resources, business processes, and policies.
• Develop strategies to improve financial performance and efficiency.
• Identify trends and changes in resources and expenditures that may require action.
• Research new revenue opportunities and economic trends, conduct financial modeling and assessments, and provide creative and proactive financial guidance and advice to senior leadership.
• Work closely with CLA Human Resources’ (HR) leadership to align fiscal and HR resources and strategies.
• Identify and develop solutions for complex and systemic fiscal issues.

Financial Administration

• Work with the dean and other collegiate leaders on the budget and planning process, including preparing the annual budget, allocating resources to CLA units, and developing CLA financial strategy and options in the annual campus Compact process.
• Align resource allocation with this financial strategy, College and University values and priorities, and operating objectives and processes.
• Develop unit-level relationships.
• Oversee the CLA Financial Service team, which is responsible for the various areas within the fiscal administration unit.
• Work closely with the fiscal administrative team to oversee the unit’s financial reporting and analysis and financial services work.
• Develop and implement sound financial management policies and procedures that support day-to-day operations.
• Maintain effective accounting practices and procedures and the necessary personnel and systems to provide appropriate accountability and timely reporting of financial data, including the data, information, and services needed in pre-grant and post-grant processes.
• Deliver proactive education, development, consultation, and service to department chairs and directors concerning best practices around budget management and planning, use of endowment funds, productive use of departmental balances, revenue generation, and other related topics.
• Lead the annual evaluation and continuous improvement of CLA’s financial operations and performance.

Fiscal Management and Quality Improvement

• Model the values of the College and engage in transparent, collaborative stewardship and communication across the CLA.
• Foster a workplace environment where unit leadership and employees are motivated to advance the unit’s goals, respond creatively to change, and maintain sound business practices.
• Collaborate with the senior director of operations and others to implement and oversee a comprehensive model for creating, reporting, and using administrative data for planning, decision-making, and daily operations in the College.
• Assess and oversee the College’s space and facilities to enable CLA’s mission delivery and develop plans to address anticipated needs.
• Create business and financial skills development and growth opportunities across academic and administrative unit leaders.
• Play a broad leadership role on University-wide committees and task forces.
• Maintain open and frequent contact with many University administrative offices, including, but not limited to, the Office of Budget & Finance, Controller’s Office, etc.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree and 12 years of fiscal and management experience, including leading an organization in developing and implementing its financial strategies and overseeing its fiscal administration and budget.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• The ability to formulate and implement financial strategies to meet institutional priorities.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience working within electronic financial systems.
• Demonstrated innovative thinking regarding financial strategies, management, resource allocation, and planning.
• Experience working with diverse populations and in a large or complex organization.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, organization, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree.
• A background in higher education financial management.
• An understanding and support for the value of liberal arts research, education, and engagement.
• Experience with academic program financial planning.
• Proficiency in working with diverse revenue sources, including tuition and fees, gifts and endowments, and external funding from federal and state government agencies, private foundations, and corporations.
• Demonstrated experience leading a unit to meet goals while continuing to promote and maintain a motivating work environment.

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