Vice President of Finance and Administration

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M VP Bus & Finance FT MP Staff Full Time Management Boiling Springs, NC, Boiling Springs, NC, US

2 days ago Requisition

The Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA) serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Gardner-Webb University, reports directly to the President, and is a member of the President's Cabinet. The VPFA provides strategic leadership and oversight of the University's financial operations and designated administrative functions, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional resources and supporting the University's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

As a strategic advisor to the President and institutional leadership, the VPFA is responsible for financial planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, compliance, and long-range financial forecasting. The position also provides executive leadership for Human Resources, Technology Services, and designated administrative operations and contractual partnerships. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong financial acumen, sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing private higher education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Leadership, Management, and Stewardship

• Provide executive leadership and oversight of the University's financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, accounts payable, payroll, student accounts, financial reporting, and related financial functions.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the University's annual operating budget in collaboration with the President, Cabinet, and institutional leadership.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records and reporting while maintaining effective financial policies, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
• Oversee cash flow management, banking relationships, debt obligations, liquidity, and other institutional financial commitments.
• Provide oversight of endowment accounting, investment-related financial reporting, and endowment distribution planning in coordination with appropriate Board committees, University Advancement, and external investment advisors.
• Coordinate the University's annual financial audit and other required financial examinations, ensuring timely completion and appropriate follow-up.

Strategic Financial Planning, Forecasting, and Sustainability

• Develop and implement financial strategies that strengthen the University's long-term financial position and support its mission, strategic plan, and institutional priorities.
• Develop, maintain, and routinely update a rolling three- to five-year institutional financial forecast incorporating enrollment projections, tuition revenue, institutional financial aid and discount rates, personnel expenses, operating costs, capital needs, endowment distributions, debt obligations, and other significant financial factors.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership to evaluate the financial feasibility and sustainability of academic programs, enrollment initiatives, staffing structures, capital investments, and other strategic opportunities.
• Monitor financial performance indicators, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and recommend strategies for revenue enhancement, cost management, resource allocation, and institutional sustainability.
• Provide timely financial projections, scenario analyses, and actionable recommendations to support presidential and institutional decision-making.

Capital Planning and Financial Analysis

• Collaborate with the President and appropriate institutional leadership in developing short- and long-term capital budgets and capital improvement plans.
• Maintain and analyze financial data related to physical assets, including age of plant, depreciation, deferred maintenance, facility condition assessments, and capital renewal needs.
• Evaluate the financial implications and affordability of capital projects, infrastructure improvements, and major equipment investments, including potential funding through operating resources, reserves, philanthropy, or debt financing.
• Coordinate with campus operations leadership to ensure capital planning reflects institutional priorities, operational needs, and available financial resources.

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