Director of Finance & Administration

Position: Director of Finance & Administration #00039
Location: Richmond

Title:

Director of Finance & Administration #00039

State Role

Title:

Gen Admin Manager III

Hiring Range:
Up to $185,000

Pay Band: 7

Agency:
State Council of Higher Educ

Location:

St Council of Higher Education

Agency Website: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu

Recruitment Type:
General Public - G

Job Duties

About the Organization

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for the nation's preeminent system of postsecondary education. SCHEV is responsible for: developing and promoting an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education; facilitating collaboration among postsecondary institutions that enhances academic quality and operational efficiency; developing and submitting recommendations to the executive and legislative branches on budgetary and policy matters;

and providing advisory and/or regulatory guidance to the institutions.

SCHEV's mission is to "promote the development and operation of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education." The Agency's mission is for "SCHEV to be the recognized source for accurate information, meaningful innovation, and informed leadership in higher education." SCHEV staff members work to ensure access and equity to the State's colleges and universities for all individuals who can take advantage of the educational opportunities provided on campuses.

In 2014, SCHEV developed The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, a statewide strategic plan. Updated and approved in January 2021, Pathways to Opportunity:
The Virginia Plan for Higher Education is designed to identify trends that the Commonwealth must address if it is to continue to prosper and succeed. The plan provides a roadmap for Virginia to be the "Best State for Education" by 2030. In order to do so, it will fulfill its mission of advancing equitable, affordable and transformative higher education.

About the Position

The Director of Finance and Administration serves as the agency's Fiscal Officer and a key member of SCHEV's senior leadership team, reporting to the Deputy Director. The position provides executive leadership, vision, and oversight for all financial management and budget operations of the agency, ensuring compliance with Commonwealth laws, regulations, and policies. This role is responsible for the strategic direction, integrity, and performance of core administrative and fiscal functions, including procurement, budgeting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, grants management, financial aid disbursements, cash management, ARMICS compliance, and administration of major state systems such as Cardinal Financials, Cardinal HCM, and the Performance Budgeting system.

The Director ensures sound internal controls, accurate financial reporting, and the effective management of general and non-general fund budgets that support agency operations. As a senior leader, the Director supervises and develops the Budget & Finance staff, fostering an inclusive, high-performing team environment aligned with SCHEV's mission and values. The position supports agency-wide planning, policy development, and operational continuity, and works collaboratively with the HR liaison and DHRM partners to support employee onboarding and workforce needs.

The Director serves as SCHEV's primary liaison to state oversight and partner agencies, including DPB, DOA, DGS, and other internal service entities, ensuring compliance, transparency, and strong interagency relationships. The position leads continuous improvement efforts to enhance agency operations, strengthen financial stewardship and accountability, and ensure effective performance across fiscal and administrative systems. The Director of Administration and Finance plays a central role in agency stability and resilience by ensuring clean audits, meeting all state and federal reporting requirements, and advancing internal practices that promote operational excellence.

The position provides executive-level leadership that supports agency strategic initiatives, ensures continuity of operations across administrations, and enhances SCHEV's effectiveness in fulfilling its mission.

Minimum Qualifications

* Considerable work experience demonstrating knowledge of the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and experience demonstrating the ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets in a government environment.

* Considerable experience completing complex financial reports and providing executives with critical status updates of the agency's fiscal operations as needed.

* Considerable experience demonstrating the ability to lead an organization's finance, accounting and budget operations and experience supervising fiscal operations staff.

* A work history demonstrating extensive fiscal management experience to include revenue collection, cash management, performing financial audits, and experience demonstrating knowledge of budget management…