Vice President, Finance and Administration​/CFO

Vice President, Finance and Administration/CFO

The University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

Full‑time.

Location:

Vermillion, SD. Salary:
Negotiable. Posted:
Feb 23, 2026.

The University of South Dakota is seeking a dynamic, strategic‑minded and collaborative executive to serve as the next Vice President for Finance and Administration. The VP for Finance & Administration (VPFA) serves as the university’s chief financial and administrative officer, providing strategic leadership, operational excellence, and mission‑aligned stewardship across core financial and administrative functions.

• Serves as the President’s chief advisor on financial, administrative, and operational strategy.
• Provides executive leadership for finance and budget, auxiliary services, post‑award administration, facilities, human resources, and internal controls.
• Drives long‑range financial planning, multi‑year budgeting, scenario modeling, and capital and space planning.
• Aligns financial and administrative strategies with enrollment trends, academic priorities, research activity, and state funding dynamics.
• Ensures strong financial controls, regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and high‑quality financial data governance.
• Stewards safe, efficient, sustainable campus environments and advances energy management and operational efficiency.
• Leads HR functions and promotes a people‑centered culture focused on engagement, growth, inclusion, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensures financial, HR, and facilities policies are transparent, equitable, compliant, and mission‑aligned.
• Represents the university on the South Dakota Board of Regents Business Affairs Council and on system and legislative matters of importance to the university.
• Builds strong partnerships with the USD Foundation, state and local agencies, and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a trusted, collaborative leader with uncompromising integrity and a proven record of guiding complex organizations. They possess extensive experience in financial strategy, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, compliance, facilities management, human resources, and the oversight of diverse auxiliary operations.

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, management, business administration, public administration or a related degree is required; a master’s degree or CPA is preferred.
• A minimum of seven years of successful and progressive senior administrative leadership in finance and administration.
• Demonstrated success in financial planning, budgeting, facilities oversight, HR leadership, and organizational management in a complex organizational setting.
• Experience in higher education and/or public sector is preferred.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Reference List