Vice President for Fiscal Affairs & Chief Financial Officer

Philander Smith University seeks an experienced, strategic, and highly collaborative Vice President for Fiscal Affairs & Chief Financial Officer (VPFA/CFO) to provide executive leadership for the University's financial operations, fiscal strategy, financial planning, and long-term financial sustainability.

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President's Executive Cabinet, the VPFA/CFO is the University's chief financial officer and principal advisor to the President on budgeting, accounting, treasury, liquidity, investments, debt and capital financing, financial reporting, and financial sustainability.

The CFO leads the University's financial enterprise and partners across the institution to align financial strategy, operations, and resources with University priorities.

• Controller's Office
• Accounting
• Budget and Financial Planning
• Treasury and Cash Management
• Accounts Payable
• Payroll
• Procurement and Purchasing
• Student Accounts/Bursar
• Financial Reporting
• Business Services

• Serve as the University's chief financial strategist and principal financial advisor to the President.
• Develop long-range financial strategies and models supporting institutional priorities and sustainability.
• Evaluate the financial implications of major institutional initiatives and advise on resource allocation.

• Direct accounting and financial operations and ensure timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Maintain financial records in accordance with GAAP and applicable standards.
• Establish and maintain financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Oversee cash management, treasury, banking relationships, investments, and liquidity planning.

• Lead annual operating and capital budget development and administration.
• Maintain multi-year financial forecasts incorporating enrollment, tuition and fees, institutional aid, personnel costs, debt, capital needs, and other significant drivers.
• Partner with Enrollment Management and appropriate offices to model enrollment, retention, discounting, net tuition revenue, housing, and auxiliary revenue.
• Monitor budget-to-actual performance and recommend timely corrective actions.

• Maintain a forward-looking executive financial dashboard covering liquidity, revenues, expenses, receivables, debt, capital commitments, and major financial risks.
• Provide regular financial reporting to the President, Executive Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and Finance & Audit Committee.

• Lead debt portfolio management, capital financing strategy, and long-term capital obligation planning.
• Evaluate financing alternatives and advise the President regarding affordability, structure, timing, and risk.
• Monitor debt covenants, debt-service requirements, and financing agreements.

• Provide executive oversight of procurement and purchasing and promote transparent, competitive, and compliant practices.
• Coordinate the annual external financial audit and implement corrective actions within Fiscal Affairs.
• Implement corrective actions related to financial operations and controls.
• Lead financial-system modernization, process improvement, automation, and data-integrity initiatives.

• Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate Fiscal Affairs personnel.
• Establish clear standards for accountability, service, responsiveness, and financial discipline.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• CPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible financial leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, audits, treasury, debt, financial reporting, and financial systems.
• Senior financial leadership experience in higher education strongly preferred.

• Expert knowledge of financial management, GAAP, and applicable accounting standards.
• Advanced budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, treasury, liquidity, and analytical skills.
• Experience with ERP systems; Ellucian Colleague preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, ethical judgment, discretion, and collaborative skills.

• Experience at a private institution or HBCU.
• Experience working with governing boards and finance/audit committees.
• Experience with endowment management, debt financing, capital projects, and enrollment-revenue modeling.

• Strategic Thinking
• Financial Stewardship
• Ethical Leadership
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Sound Judgment
• Collaboration
• Change Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Commitment to Student Success

The VPFA/CFO reports directly to the President, serves on the President's Executive Cabinet, and leads accounting, financial reporting, fiscal controls, treasury, budgeting, and financial strategy.

The CFO is expected to connect financial strategy to institutional strategy, maintain rigorous fiscal controls, provide forward-looking analysis, and ensure University resources are deployed responsibly in support of institutional sustainability and student success.

This position description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Philander Smith University reserves the right to modify responsibilities as institutional needs evolve.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Aaccounts and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan
• Life Insurance 
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Philander Smith University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or medical history, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.