Careers

Position Summary

The Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) is responsible for the leadership and management of all financial operations at the College.  As part of the President’s Cabinet, the CFO plays a key role as advisor to the President, Provost, and other senior members of the Administration.  The CFO, along with the Finance team, also provides guidance, partnership, and leadership on financial matters to the broader College community.

Manhattan College is an independent Catholic coeducational institution in the Lasallian tradition. We expect our faculty, administration, and staff to be knowledgeable about our mission and positively contribute. Applicants from historically under-represented segments of the population are encouraged to apply, as well as those attracted to a college with a Catholic identity. We are committed to a diverse campus community. AA/EO Employer M/F/D/V

This Position reports directly to the President of Manhattan College.

Detailed Responsibilities:

As a senior executive of the College, the scope of this position is broad and dynamic. Nevertheless, there are several specific responsibilities, not limited to the following:

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement financial operating strategy.
• Collaborate with the Provost and other Cabinet members to develop a long term, economically sustainable capital, and financial plan.
• Develop the annual operating budget, fostering collaboration across the College.
• Function as a change leader. Encourage the community to “think outside the box”, creating a shared vision, embracing efficiency opportunities, and implementing qualitative improvements within resource constraints.

Management

• Demonstrate strong people skills to lead and manage the day-to-day operations in the Accounting, Procurement, Controllers, Bursars, Financial Systems, Student Financial Services, and Endowment/Grant Administration functions.
• Develop the skill level and capabilities of staff, fostering a quality service orientation; improve processes to gain efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. Develop thorough, concise presentations for communicating financial results to various stakeholders (Management, Board of Trustees, Bondholders, etc.).

• Ensure processes and internal controls impacting financial and compliance reporting are effective and integrated across departments to ensure.  Identify and implement improvement opportunities.
• Evaluate technology related platforms/controls as they relate to financial processes.  Collaborate with Information Technology team (IT) to ensure secure and reliable systems/platforms. Collaborate with IT to identify and mitigate security gaps, if any.
• Establish the proper cost coding of sources and uses of funds to allow the proper costing of differing aspects of the college revenue raising activities.  The CFO shall provide trending analysis for revenues and expenses and manage the data migration of past data into an appropriate Enterprise Resource Program as required to achieve the same.
• As the CFO maintain banking relationships as required to establish lines of credits, short term and long-term financing.  The CFO will establish and execute programs for the provision of capital required by the college including financial arrangements in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Experience and Skills

The CFO will be a creative problem solver with excellent management skills, a strong action orientation, and the proven ability to manage collaboratively and lead in a decentralized organization.

Specific qualifications include:

• Ten-fifteen years of increasing and broad-based responsibility in Finance or a related field.
• Senior leadership experience encompassing strategic planning, project planning, and process improvement.
• Sound technical skills, knowledge, and experience, combined with the ability to build consensus across the College community.
• Strong oral and written communication and analytical skills, effective at interacting/negotiating with various constituencies across the community.
• Substantial expertise in finance, budgeting, and strategic planning, preferably in a not-for-profit/higher education environment.
• Strong accounting, financial forecasting, capital planning and budgeting and contract negotiations for outsourced functions. Familiarity with debt markets preferred.
• A track record of outstanding management that demonstrates financial acumen, organizational sophistication, superb listening skills, and high emotional intelligence.
• Experience within higher education and/or other relevant organizations undergoing industry transformation; a business orientation and perspective.

• Commitment to the highest ethical standards; personal and professional integrity above reproach.
• Undergraduate degree in Finance or Accounting; advanced degree is preferred
• Certified Public Accountant preferred
• Salary range $300,000 - $350,000.
• COVID Vaccination recommended

Please send cover letter, resume and a list of 5 job related references( include your professional relationship with each reference listed) to: Barbara Fabe, Vice President for Human Resources by 4/10/23