Chief Financial Officer, Higher Education — Strategic Leader

Philander; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Disability Coverage

FSAs and Health Savings Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

403B Retirement Savings Plan

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR seeks a seasoned Vice President for Fiscal Affairs & Chief Financial Officer to lead budgeting, treasury, reporting, and financial strategy. The role reports to the President and participates in the Executive Cabinet, guiding all financial planning and performance.

Executive leadership, GAAP compliance, and collaboration with institutional offices are essential. Private/HBCU experience and enrollment-revenue modeling are valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• CPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible financial leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, audits, treasury, debt, financial reporting, and financial systems.
• Senior financial leadership experience in higher education strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the University's chief financial strategist and principal financial advisor to the President.
• Develop long-range financial strategies and models supporting institutional priorities and sustainability.
• Evaluate the financial implications of major institutional initiatives and advise on resource allocation.
• Direct accounting and financial operations and ensure timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Maintain financial records in accordance with GAAP and applicable standards.
• Establish and maintain financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Oversee cash management, treasury, banking relationships, investments, and liquidity planning.
• Lead annual operating and capital budget development and administration.
• Maintain multi-year financial forecasts incorporating enrollment, tuition and fees, institutional aid, personnel costs, debt, capital needs, and other significant drivers.
• Partner with Enrollment Management to model enrollment, retention, discounting, net tuition revenue, housing, and auxiliary revenue.
• Monitor budget-to-actual performance and recommend timely corrective actions.
• Maintain a forward-looking executive financial dashboard and provide regular reporting to key bodies.
• Lead debt portfolio management, capital financing strategy, and long-term capital obligation planning.
• Coordinate annual external financial audit and implement corrective actions.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Treasury

ERP systems

GAAP knowledge

Communication

Leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

CPA strongly preferred

Tools

Ellucian Colleague

ERP systems

Job description

Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR seeks a seasoned Vice President for Fiscal Affairs & Chief Financial Officer to lead budgeting, treasury, reporting, and financial strategy. The role reports to the President and participates in the Executive Cabinet, guiding all financial planning and performance.

Executive leadership, GAAP compliance, and collaboration with institutional offices are essential. Private/HBCU experience and enrollment-revenue modeling are valued.