Description

Stillman College, West Alabama’s only 4-year HBCU, seeks an inspiring, forward-thinking, and collaborative leader to serve as Vice President for Finance/Chief Financial Officer. This is an exciting time to join Stillman College under the dynamic leadership of a new president.  As Stillman’s chief financial officer, the Vice President for Finance will play a critical role in safeguarding the financial integrity of the college and is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership and guidance to the President, Board of Trustees, and the senior leadership team. The Vice President for Finance/CFO leads in all aspects of financial management, policy development, and fiscal oversight, ensuring sound financial stewardship and sound strategic planning for the College.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The vice president is an executive officer of the College and is responsible for the overall financial health of the College. Reporting to the president, the vice president works closely with the senior leadership team, deans, faculty, staff and supervises the directors of the units within the Division of Finance. This position is responsible for developing and implementing financial strategies to support the College, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and fostering an all-inclusive environment. The vice president will work collaboratively with other college divisions and stakeholders and will participate in all aspects of institutional planning in support of the College’s mission, goals, and strategic priorities. The vice president will also have an appreciation for the Presbyterian faith and include when and where possible its ideals to help support the mission of the College.

The Vice President for Finance/CFO has responsibility for the following functions:

• Accounting
• Contractual Services
• Procurement
• Student Accounts

Executive Management

• Serve as a member of the president’s senior leadership team and on other campus planning and service committees.
• Provide executive-level advice and counsel affecting all aspects of campus management.
• Partner with the other vice presidents in the overall planning and direction of campus affairs; provide executive leadership to meet the College’s strategic goals and increase the presence of the institution in the region, state, and nation.
• Develop and manage a systematic College-wide annual budgeting process that projects expenditures and revenues and utilizes input from all appropriate areas of the College.
• Analyze, project, and monitor budget allocations and expenditures based on a financial plan, including revenues, expenditures, and investments.
• Communicate consistent financial information to College budget managers to keep them constantly informed and within annual budget constraints or approved variances.
• Prepare and present monthly financial budgeting reports; monthly profit and loss by division, forecast vs. budget by division, and weekly cash flow by division.
• Review and analyze monthly financial results and provide recommendations.
• Supervise the creation of reports, software implementation, and tools for budgeting and forecasting.
• Manage cash flow planning process and ensure funds availability.
• Oversee cash, investments, and asset management.
• Maintain outstanding banking relationships and strategic alliances with vendors and business partners.
• Create/utilize forward-looking models and activity-based analyses to provide financial insight into the college's plans and operating budgets.
• Prepare weekly managerial financial summary statements to be presented to the President and prepare a detailed monthly financial statement to be presented to the President and Trustee Finance Committee and the Executive Committee.
• Monitor monthly financial statements of the endowment investments and forward copies to the President and to the Chair of the Trustee Finance Committee.
• Manage and direct the College's insurance and retirement programs, including risk management assessment.
• Oversee the operation of the College's business services, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.
• Manage the College’s accounting and reporting systems and procedures, including preparing detailed analyses and assisting with preparing financial statements for the annual audit.
• Develop and monitor an effective system of purchasing to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and monitor a contract management system and negotiation with outsourced services to ensure cost containment and quality service.
• Serve as a key point of contact for external auditors; manage preparation and support of all external audits and ensure timely completion and submission of all audits.
• Oversee the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns.
• Oversee preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Review all month-end closing activities including general ledger accounts, balance sheet accounts, and overhead cost allocation.
• Enhance and implement financial and accounting systems, processes, tools, and control systems.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel; coordinate the work assignments of assigned personnel; review work to assure compliance with established standards, requirements, and procedures;
• Ensure all financial records comply with local, state, federal and accrediting body (i.e., SACSCOC, etc.) regulations.

General Responsibilities

• Responsible for executive guidance, direction, and policy for finance and administration.
• Provide administrative leadership for the finance and administration division, communicating institutional priorities and ensuring the ongoing assessment of programs and services.
• Maintain regular on-site attendance during normal hours of college operations consistent with expectations and College policies and procedures.
• Oversee the recruitment, selection, and evaluation of management personnel.
• Actively promote professional development within the division to maintain currency regarding fiscal management trends, priorities, and best practices.
• Serve on various committees as assigned and participate in college events and activities as warranted as a member of the College’s senior leadership team.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the president.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

The successful candidate should have preferably, eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education with a distinctive record in accounting and/or finance and administration. A master’s degree in business, accounting, or finance from an accredited college/university is required; CPA is preferred; an earned doctorate or terminal professional degree is highly preferred.

Additionally, candidates will possess many, if not all, of the following traits, experiences, and abilities:

• Experience in a higher education setting with Ellucian Colleague or similar platform.
• Demonstrated background of budget preparation, reporting and control, financial and purchasing administration principles, and development of recommendations to ensure fiscal stability and growth.
• Demonstrated executive leadership, organizational skills, including visionary execution, strategic planning and critical/systems thinking as well as the ability to provide effective short-term and long-term vision and leadership in a changing higher education environment.
• A strong work ethic and a high level of personal and business integrity.
• A deep knowledge of current and emerging thinking in best practices for efficient and effective financial management.
• A history of leading by example and engaging staff in a way that challenges them to reach for possibilities, supports their professional development, and reinforces a sense of common purpose and shared experience among them.
• Ability to maintain productive relationships with all segments of the community and with appropriate external stakeholders.
• Ability to use research, data, and assessment to guide decision-making and promote continuous improvement.
• Superb written and oral communication skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, including students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors as well as experience in preparing and delivering comprehensive reports and executive briefings.
• An ethical leader who acts with integrity, treats others fairly and demonstrates empathy, emotional intelligence, resiliency, political savvy, gravitas, and grace under pressure.

Background Investigation Statement

Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a previous conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Application and Nomination

Review of confidential applications will begin immediately and remain open until the position is filled. 

Stillman College is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate unlawfully in employment matters based on race, religion, gender, color, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, or any other category protected by law.