"Vice President of Finance and Administration and Treasurer"

Job Details

The Vice President of Finance and Administration and Treasurer (VPFA) reports into President Paula Johnson and oversees the College’s financial, administrative, logistical, operational, and professional sectors. As a key member of President Johnson’s senior team, the VPFA will play a critical role in supporting the strategic vision of the College. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking financial and operational leader, and a highly collaborative leader and relationship builder. Partnering closely with the President, Provost, Board of Trustees, and the leadership team, the VPFA will bring a strategic approach to the long-term financial planning and stewardship of the College’s resources and support Wellesley’s continued excellence. The successful candidate will have a deep appreciation for liberal arts and women’s education and have an unwavering commitment to fulfilling the College’s mission and supporting faculty and students in their pursuits.

The VPFA has fiduciary responsibility for all College resources and will partner with the faculty and all departments of the College to ensure strong stewardship of those resources. They will continually assess economic, demographic, competitive, and other trends to inform strategic decision-making. The VPFA will provide input on financial impacts and other implications for the future strategic and economic health of the College. In addition, the VPFA and the College’s Chief Investment Officer will work in close collaboration to steward an endowment of approximately $3 billion.

The VPFA will partner closely with and support the Board of Trustees and several key committees, including finance, audit, investment, and campus planning committees. Direct reports to the VPFA include the AVP for Facilities Management, the AVP for Finance, the Controller and Assistant Treasurer, the AVP for Financial Planning and Budget, and the Director of Campus Safety and Chief of Police.

The VPFA will oversee a team across the following areas:

• Auxiliary Services
• Bookstore
• Budget Office
• Controller’s Office
• Dining Services
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Emergency Preparedness
• Events Management
• Facilities
• Financial Planning
• Public Safety & Police Department
• Treasury
• Student Mail Services
• Transportation

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Finance and Administrative Experience

Ten-plus years of experience in financial, administrative, and operational leadership roles in a mission-driven institution with deep knowledge of finance, accounting, and financial management, and facilities and auxiliary services. Experience driving capital renewal projects is ideal.

Strategic Partner

A strong strategic orientation with the ability to serve as a strategic partner and advisor to the President and collaborate closely with other leaders on the senior team and members of the Board of Trustees. Demonstrated track record of effectively leading an institution in long-term financial planning.

Leading a Talented Team

A strong manager with experience providing operational leadership and mentorship to a talented team.

Faculty and Staff Collaboration

In addition to contributing as a member of the senior leadership team, a commitment to collaboration, communication, and creative problem-solving with faculty and staff leaders and partners. Experience working with unions is a plus.

Partnership with Board

Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with the Board of Trustees, serving as a trusted strategic partner and advisor on financial stewardship, risk, and long‑term institutional priorities.

Academic Credentials

Strong academic credentials, including a preference for an M.B.A. and/or related graduate degree(s).

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

In an organization with a commitment to excellence on all dimensions, this individual will be responsible for the long-term, strategic, financial planning of the institution and will partner closely with the President and Provost and work collaboratively with the leadership team to develop and optimize the financial and administrative assets to support the strategic priorities of the College by:

• Leading and developing the existing team within the functional areas that report directly to them.
• Serving as a strategic partner and demonstrating sound judgement, balancing mission objectives with long-term financial and operational sustainability.
• Partnering and effectively leveraging an engaged Board of Trustees.
• Applying leadership and strategic thinking to innovative investments and solutions that support and positively impact the College, including investments in academic programming, capital projects, deferred maintenance, financial aid, benefits, etc.
• Providing oversight of the campus safety and police, ensuring alignment with institutional values, regulatory requirements, priorities, and the effective stewardship of resources.
• Communicating complex information to a range of audiences, including faculty, staff, and students, ensuring that there is clarity around financial and programmatic tradeoffs.

Operational and Financial Acumen

The VPFA will bring a demonstrated depth of financial expertise, with a proven ability to lead complex accounting, budgeting, treasury, capital planning, and financial reporting functions, ensuring rigorous controls, sound judgment, and the highest standards of fiscal stewardship by:

• Hiring, developing, and mentoring a talented team of finance and operations leaders, setting high standards, delegating effectively, and modeling a culture of service.
• Acting as a strong conceptual thinker, both analytically and financially astute, with the ability to evaluate performance and progress against long-term goals.
• Providing forward-thinking leadership, vision, and direction regarding long-term capital improvement plans to the Wellesley campus.
• Building trust and driving changes in a consensus-driven, faculty-governance environment, with the ability to understand relational as well as financial dynamics.
• Partnering with the Information Technology team to develop and improve operational systems with a focus on efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and continuous improvement to ensure that financial systems, process improvement, best practices, and polices are in place to support decision-making and planning throughout the College.

Collaborating and Influencing

Forge a strong partnership with the President, Provost, senior leadership team, and others across the College (including faculty and students) and within the community that are essential to effective leadership by:

• Listening and being a visible and accessible leader who builds trust, solicits a diverse set of views, and implements strategies that clearly support the priorities of the College.
• Promoting, fostering, and helping advance a community of inclusive excellence.
• Nurturing productive and collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external constituencies. Engaging constructively with a focus on identifying solutions and clearing obstacles.
• Bringing exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills. Displaying a demonstrated ability to engage openly and transparently across a diverse community and clearly communicating complicated information.

The pay range for this role is $400,000.00 - $450,000.00

THE SEARCH PROCESS

The committee has retained Spencer Stuart to support the search. If you wish to submit your own application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Vice President of Finance and Administration and Treasurer for Wellesley College, please send an e-mail message with supporting materials to WellesleyVPFA@spencerstuart.com.