Chief Financial Officer

$185,000 - $210,000/Yr

Allegheny College - Meadville, PA

Full-time - Executive

Meadville, PA

Educational Services

About the position

Allegheny College is seeking its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who will serve as the strategic financial leader for the institution. The CFO will be responsible for providing leadership and oversight to ensure the long-term financial health and sustainability of the College. This role involves collaborating with the President, Board of Trustees, and other senior leaders to translate the College's mission and strategic goals into a sound financial plan. The CFO will foster a culture of collaborative financial stewardship across the College, promoting efficient resource allocation and cost-effectiveness to support the College's core mission of education and the values of excellence, innovation, inclusion, community, and sustainability. The CFO will engage in various essential responsibilities, including financial forecasting, strategic financial analysis, financial evaluation, annual budget preparation, endowment fund management, integrated planning procedures, external monitoring, cash flow and investment management, regulatory compliance, leadership and mentoring, and board engagement. This position requires a proactive approach to financial management, ensuring that the College remains compliant with financial regulations while also strategically planning for future growth and sustainability. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of twelve years of progressive and successful roles in finance, operations, and strategy, with at least five years of management or leadership experience, preferably in higher education or non-profit sectors. A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field is required, with a master's degree preferred. The candidate should possess substantial experience in strategic planning, budget management, financial reviews, policy review, financial analysis, and capital project planning and oversight. A CPA or CMA certification is preferred but not required. The compensation range for this role is between $185,000-$210,000 annually, based on experience and alignment to the needs of Allegheny College.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain long-term financial forecasts for all college funds and funding streams.
• Support and motivate administrators and department heads in conducting financial analysis of current and proposed activities.
• Establish, coordinate, maintain, and systematically review the process for financial evaluation of the college's programs and activities.
• Oversee the preparation of the annual budget by identifying organizational needs and gaining consensus on priorities.
• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement to manage the use of the College Endowment Fund.
• Develop procedures that integrate business and strategic planning into the annual budget process.
• Monitor external events and developments to ensure budget preparation incorporates the most current information.
• Strategically monitor cash flow and oversee investment activities to ensure an appropriate supply of cash.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulatory, legal, administrative, contractual, procedural, and accounting standards.
• Provide overarching and executive coaching and mentoring to various departments.
• Serve as a Cabinet Member for the Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees of the Board of Trustees.

Requirements

• Minimum of twelve years of progressive and successful roles in finance, operations, and strategy.
• Minimum of five years of management or leadership experience, preferably in higher education or non-profit sectors.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or other related field required; master's or other advanced degree preferred.
• CPA or CMA preferred, but not required.
• Substantial experience in strategic planning, budget management, financial reviews, policy review, financial analysis, and capital project planning and oversight.
• Expert ability to interpret and appropriately apply general accounting principles and regulations.
• Expert ability to develop and administer fiscal plans, financial systems, policies and procedures.
• Expert ability to communicate financial information to all levels of staff and the public effectively.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the top finance role within an organization preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $185,000-$210,000 annually based on experience.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace.