Associate Vice President, Finance

New College of Florida; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

New College of Florida seeks an Associate Vice President for Finance to lead the institution's accounting, financial reporting, treasury, budgeting, and student financial services. This executive role reports to the VP for Finance and Administration and directs policy development, internal controls, and continuous process improvement across all finance functions.

The AVP will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, manage risk, and provide strategic financial guidance to support the

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or bachelor’s degree in a related field with several years of experience in higher education finance.
• Experience with GAAP and GASB standards is preferred.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, and internal controls in a college/university setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for all finance and accounting functions and develop strategies aligned with the college’s priorities.
• Oversee general accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, payroll, procurement, travel administration, and treasury.
• Direct budget planning, multi-year forecasting, and resource management across major funds.
• Ensure policy compliance with GAAP, GASB, state and federal regulations, and Board requirements.
• Lead audits, internal controls, and external financial reporting to regulators and boards.
• Collaborate with leadership to optimize financial operations and support institutional sustainability.

Education

Master’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or related field

Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or related field

Active Florida CPA license

Job description

• Financial reporting
• Travel administration
• Multi-year financial forecasting.

The Associate Vice President for Finance serves as the College's chief accounting officer and provides strategic leadership for the institution's financial operations. Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, this position directs the planning, organization, administration, and continuous improvement of the College's accounting, financial reporting, treasury, budgeting, student financial services, procurement, and business operations. The Associate Vice President of Finance ensures compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, state and federal laws, Board of Governors regulations, and Board of Trustees policies while promoting sound fiscal stewardship, strong internal controls, operational excellence, and exceptional customer service. The position serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, providing financial analysis and strategic recommendations that support institutional priorities and long-term sustainability.

Executive Leadership and Financial Stewardship

• Provides executive leadership for the College's finance and accounting functions and develops strategies that support the institution's mission and strategic priorities.
• Advises the Vice President for Finance and Administration and executive leadership on financial, operational, and strategic matters.
• Identifies financial risks and opportunities and recommends strategies to strengthen the College's financial position.
• Develops and implements policies, regulations, operating procedures, and internal controls that promote accountability, transparency, and operational effectiveness.
• Leads continuous process improvement initiatives and promotes best practices in higher education financial administration.

Financial Operations and Accounting

Provides overall leadership and oversight for the College's accounting and financial operations, including:

• General accounting
• Financial reporting
• Accounts payable
• Payroll
• Procurement and purchasing
• Travel administration
• PCard compliance
• Treasury and cash management
• Bank reconciliations
• State appropriations accounting
• Revenue collection
• Capital assets and inventory management
• Construction and plant fund accounting
• Contracts and grants accounting
• Sponsored research accounting
• Tax compliance

Ensures accurate financial records, effective internal controls, timely reconciliations, and compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

Financial Reporting, Compliance, and Audit

• Directs the preparation of the College's annual financial statements.
• Oversees all external and internal audits and ensures timely resolution of audit findings.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP, GASB, State University System regulations, Board of Governors requirements, federal and state regulations, and Board of Trustees policies.
• Prepares and submits required financial reports to state agencies, the Board of Governors, auditors, and other regulatory organizations.
• Maintains comprehensive financial policies and business procedures supporting institutional compliance.

Budget Planning and Resource Management

Provides executive oversight of the College's budget operations through supervision of the Budget Director.

Responsibilities Include

• Strategic financial planning and budget development.
• Annual operating budget preparation and implementation.
• Multi-year financial forecasting.
• Budget monitoring and analysis.
• Internal budget allocations and transfers.
• Carry Forward planning and implementation.
• Salary savings analysis.
• Revenue projections, including student fees and auxiliary revenues.
• Quarterly financial reporting to executive leadership and the Board of Trustees.

Provides financial guidance to institutional leadership regarding fiscal planning and resource allocation across all major fund groups.

Treasury and Cash Management

Directs treasury operations, including cash flow forecasting and liquidity management. Oversees banking relationships and investment activities. Ensures effective management of institutional cash resources and financial risk. Establishes and maintains strong partnerships with financial institutions.

• Directs treasury operations, including cash flow forecasting and liquidity management.
• Oversees banking relationships and investment activities.
• Ensures effective management of institutional cash resources and financial risk.
• Establishes and maintains strong partnerships with financial institutions.

Student Financial Services

Provides Executive Oversight Of Student Financial Operations, Including:

• Student accounts receivable
• Cashiering
• Student refunds
• Financial aid disbursements
• Collection of delinquent accounts
• Student billing operations
• Banner Student financial configuration and business rules

Ensures efficient, customer-focused services that support student success while maintaining appropriate fiscal controls.

Enterprise Financial Systems and Business Process Improvement

Provides strategic leadership for the College's enterprise financial systems and electronic payment operations.

Responsibilities Include

• Oversight of Banner Finance and Student financial configuration.
• Management of institutional online payment systems.
• Development and implementation of electronic payment solutions.
• Integration of third-party vendor payment platforms.
• Business process automation and workflow improvements.
• Financial systems implementation, testing, and continuous enhancement.
• Coordination with Information Technology and campus stakeholders to improve financial system functionality.

Leads initiatives that modernize financial operations through technology and process innovation.

Governance, Collaboration, and External Relations

• Serves as Corporate Controller for affiliated College entities, including the Development Corporation and Property Corporation.
• Represents the College with the State University System, Board of Governors, professional organizations, regulatory agencies, financial institutions, auditors, and external partners.
• Participates in statewide higher education finance organizations and professional associations.
• Serves on College committees and provides leadership for institutional initiatives.
• Collaborates with academic and administrative leadership to advance institutional priorities.
• Works closely with the New College Foundation on matters involving accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Provides leadership, direction, mentoring, and performance management for finance and business office personnel.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, customer service, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Promotes professional development and succession planning across the Finance division.

Builds effective partnerships with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Remains current on developments in higher education finance, accounting standards, governmental regulations, and emerging best practices.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by the Vice President for Finance and Administration.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and seven years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and nine years of appropriate experience.

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization (business, accounting, finance, or related field) and eight years of fund accounting experience in a higher education environment.
• Experience in Florida’s Higher Education System; experience using Ellucian’s Banner Finance, Student and HR/PR systems; active Florida CPA license.