Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer

This position is for Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Briar Cliff University, reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Cabinet. The role provides strategic financial leadership, oversees all financial operations, and serves as Treasurer to the Board of Trustees.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial strategy aligned with the university’s mission, enrollment trajectory, and long‑term sustainability goals.
• Lead annual operating and capital budget development in collaboration with the President, Cabinet, and division heads; monitor budget performance and recommend corrective action as needed.
• Provide revenue forecasting and multi‑year financial modeling to support institutional planning, scenario analysis, and strategic decision‑making.
• Advise the President and Cabinet on the financial implications of institutional initiatives, program investments, enrollment strategies, and capital commitments.
• Monitor peer institution financial benchmarks and higher education financial health indicators to inform institutional positioning and long‑term planning.

• Oversee preparation of accurate and timely financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable higher education accounting standards, including fund accounting.
• Manage the annual external audit process; serve as the primary institutional contact for external auditors and ensure timely completion and distribution of audited financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state financial regulations, including Title IV financial responsibility standards, IPEDS financial reporting requirements, and other regulatory obligations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies and internal controls that safeguard institutional assets and ensure the integrity of financial data.
• Oversee procurement policies and procedures to ensure efficient, economical, and compliant delivery and payment of goods and services.

• Serve as Treasurer to the Board of Trustees; prepare and present financial reports, budget summaries, and financial health analyses to the full Board and its committees.
• Act as an administrative liaison to the Finance and Audit Committee chairs; prepare meeting materials, support committee deliberations, and ensure timely follow‑through on committee directives.
• Provide the Finance and Audit Committee with comprehensive quarterly reporting on institutional financial health, including detailed budget‑to‑actual analysis, cash flow position, revenue and expense variance explanations, and forward‑looking projections.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with external financial partners, including banking institutions, investment advisors, bond counsel, and insurance providers.
• Support the President in financial communications to trustees, donors, accreditors, and other external stakeholders.

• Manage the university’s cash flow, liquidity position, and banking relationships to ensure adequate operating reserves and financial flexibility.
• Oversee investment of institutional funds in accordance with Board‑approved investment policies.
• Manage debt obligations, lines of credit, and financing arrangements; advise the President and Board on debt strategy and capacity.
• Monitor and manage institutional risk exposure; oversee the university’s comprehensive insurance program.

• Lead the development and stewardship of the university’s enterprise financial analytics infrastructure, including dashboards, reporting tools, and data integration with the ERP system.
• Build and maintain financial models and analytical tools that support enrollment‑driven revenue planning, net tuition revenue optimization, and institutional performance monitoring.
• Partner with institutional research, enrollment management, and academic affairs to ensure financial data informs cross‑divisional planning and decision‑making.
• Promote a data‑informed financial culture across the institution; build financial literacy and reporting capacity within the Cabinet and…