Vice President of Operations and Finance

This position description outlines the essential and non-essential duties and responsibilities of the role. It contains the functions necessary to describe and clarify the position. Additionally, management reserves the right to add to, delete from, or modify the duties and responsibilities outlined in this position description.

The Vice President of Operations and Finance (VP - Operations and Finance) reports directly to the President and serves as a key member of Ralston College’s senior leadership team. The VP - Operations and Finance plays a critical role in advancing the institution's operational and financial health and will, when appropriate, accompany the President to fundraising or donor-relations meetings to represent the College’s financial models, operational readiness, and strategic priorities.

The VP - Operations and Finance is responsible for the effective management of the College’s major operational and financial functions, supporting institutional planning, implementation, and tracking of strategic priorities; implementing policy and offering recommendations for improvement; stewarding the operating budget and governance structures; and ensuring that administrative units operate efficiently and in service to the academic mission.

The VP - Operations and Finance works in close partnership with the College’s fractional Chief Financial Officer and President. The role requires demonstrated experience managing outsourced bookkeeping and accounting teams, as well as the ability to recruit, build, and develop these functions in-house as the College grows.

Direct reporting lines include the Head of Campus Operations, the Head of Technical Operations, and Human Resources, among others. The VP - Operations and Finance leads administrative units—including operations, facilities, technology, HR, regulatory, and finance‑adjacent functions—while supporting the work of academic and other student‑facing units through operational alignment and resource stewardship.

Because Ralston College is a small and entrepreneurial institution, the VP - Operations and Finance must move fluidly between strategic leadership and hands‑on engagement. The role requires strong financial acumen, operational discipline, excellent project management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across the College to develop and execute tactical plans aligned with broader strategic objectives.

• Manage daily operations in furtherance of revenue, academic, and mission‑aligned objectives.
• Implement an annual operating plan to advance Ralston College’s strategic and operational priorities.
• Review operational and financial performance using KPIs to monitor progress, identify risks, and guide data‑informed decision‑making.
• Partner with senior leadership to translate operating and business results into actionable operational and financial strategies.
• Establish clearly defined goals and expectations for administrative units, communicating them through regular meetings and performance management processes.
• Support the President in ensuring seamless operation during periods when the President is externally engaged.

• Serve as a senior partner to the fractional Chief Financial Officer, supporting the College’s financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and strategic financial planning.
• Project manage the annual budget process, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Oversee accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, audits, financial reporting cycles, and compliance in partnership with outsourced bookkeeping teams.
• Design and implement financial procedures that ensure transparent, timely, and accurate reporting.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, analyze variances, and recommend adjustments when necessary.
• Support the development of multi‑year financial models and stewardship of institutional financial resources.
• Work collaboratively with fundraising staff and the President to prepare financial materials for donor meetings as…