Jarvis Christian University

Position Music; Hawkins (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins, Texas invites applications for the role of Vice President, Finance and Administration. Reporting to the President, this executive leads the financial strategy, budgeting, and long-term fiscal planning to support the university's mission and growth.

The successful candidate will oversee accounting, audits, compliance, treasury management, and financial operations, while partnering with campus leaders to align resources with academic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University's financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term fiscal sustainability.
• Develop financial models that support enrollment growth, student retention, and institutional priorities.
• Oversee accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, investments, audits, and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, financial aid, grants, and Title III funding requirements.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to strengthen and diversify institutional revenue while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
• Leverage financial data, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve decision-making, forecasting, and financial performance.
• Advise the President and Board on financial performance, risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus leaders to align financial resources with academic and student success goals.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Business and Finance team focused on service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of fiscal stewardship, transparency, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving across the University.
• Set institutional financial objectives in cooperation with President, policy and practice.
• Maintain an internal control system to ensure that financial transactions are based upon established procedures.
• Oversee the development and preparation of all monthly and annual financial reports for the President of the University and the Board of Trustees and other reports as required.
• Coordinate the annual audit, including supplying auditors with all necessary information.
• Prepare the Management Discussion and Analysis (MDA) component of the audit.
• Distribute audited financial statements to banks, rating agencies, clearinghouses, governmental entities, and other stakeholders.
• Present and discuss monthly financial statements at board meetings, to cabinet, and other stakeholders as designated by the President.
• Direct the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of financial policies, procedures, controls, and business processes.
• Ensure the appropriate allocation and stewardship of financial resources in alignment with institutional priorities.
• Provide executive oversight of treasury management, banking relationships, liquidity, debt obligations, and financing arrangements.
• Interact with internal and external constituencies on budgeting, auditing, and other matters.
• Analyze budgets and forecasts.
• Support institutional priority-setting and resolve financial issues consistent with University policies, strategic goals, and available resources.
• Evaluate financial risks, opportunities, and trade-offs and communicate their potential impact on the University and its operating units.
• Develop and maintain strong financial planning, forecasting, and scenario-modeling practices to support executive decision-making.
• Maintain high-level interaction with the President and other administrative staff.
• Advise the President on financial performance, fiscal strategy, financial risks, and major financial commitments.
• Partner with University leadership and external advisors on banking, investments, insurance, financing, audit, tax, and other financial matters.
• Other duties assigned.

Job description

Vice President, Finance and Administration

Hawkins, TX

Reports To: President

Situation Overview

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Vice President, Finance and Administration for Jarvis Christian University.

About Jarvis Christian University

Jarvis Christian University is a historically Black institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), offering degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels. The mission of the University is to prepare a diverse population of lifelong learners intellectually, socially, spiritually, and personally through providing interactive services and using varied modalities of instructional delivery.

In support of its mission, Jarvis Christian University has adopted these Guiding Principles:

Scholarship and Life-Long Learning: To advocate life-long learning by challenging and supporting students and staff to pursue intellectual, personal and professional development.

Service: To intentionally provide a quality experience for students, colleagues, surrounding communities and the nation through community service and civic engagement, as service is the core of their profession.

Integrity: To exhibit ethical behavior in and beyond the academic setting, and be good stewards of their financial resources, acting as persons of high character guided by a commitment to transparency, fairness and honesty.

Position Description

Respect: To embrace the doctrines of Faith, Family and Community, which ensure inclusiveness and diversity, understanding that every individual should be treated with professionalism, courtesy and kindness.

Responsibility: To be responsible and accountable for their actions in every situation, as it relates to the College, the community and the nation.

Christian Ethics: To emphasize that the Christian spiritual path provides an ethical code that, when followed, will make for a better person, a better College, a better community, and a better world.

Mission Statement

Jarvis Christian University is a historically Black institution, affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), offering degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels. The mission of the University is to prepare a diverse population of lifelong learners intellectually, socially, spiritually, and personally through providing interactive services and using varied modalities of instructional delivery.

History of Jarvis Christian University

Founded in 1912, Jarvis Christian University has a rich legacy rooted in a commitment to education, leadership, and service. Located in Hawkins, Texas, the university was established by the Christian Women’s Board of Missions in partnership with the Negro Disciples of Christ to provide educational opportunities to African Americans in the rural South.

The university’s namesake, Major James J. Jarvis, and his wife, Ida Van Zandt Jarvis, donated the land for the institution, laying the foundation for what would become a beacon of higher education for generations of students.

Originally focused on providing high school-level education, Jarvis evolved into a junior college by 1927 and a four-year institution in 1939, offering its first bachelor's degrees.

Throughout its history, Jarvis Christian University has remained true to its founding principles of academic excellence, faith-based values, and a commitment to serving underserved communities. Today, the university offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs, preparing students for leadership roles in a global society.

As an institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Jarvis continues to uphold its mission of empowering students through a transformative, Christ-centered education that fosters leadership, integrity, and a commitment to social justice.

Administrative Divisions of the University

The Vice-President, Finance and Administration serves as the chief fiscal officer for the University. This position is responsible for all aspects of the finances including the Business Office/Controller, Accounts Payables, Accounts Receivables, Payroll, and Purchasing. The Vice President ensures the accurate interpretation and analysis of financial results while providing analyses and justification of budgets, forecasts, and long-range financial plans. The Vice President is responsible for safeguarding the University’s financial resources, strengthening financial controls, and ensuring sound fiscal stewardship in support of the University’s mission and strategic priorities.

Position Description

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the University's financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term fiscal sustainability;
• Develop financial models that support enrollment growth, student retention, and institutional priorities;
• Oversee accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, investments, audits, and internal controls;
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, financial aid, grants, and Title III funding requirements;
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to strengthen and diversify institutional revenue while ensuring long-term financial sustainability;
• Leverage financial data, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve decision-making, forecasting, and financial performance;
• Advise the President and Board on financial performance, risks, and strategic initiatives;
• Collaborate with campus leaders to align financial resources with academic and student success goals;
• Lead and develop a high-performing Business and Finance team focused on service, accountability, and continuous improvement;
• Foster a culture of fiscal stewardship, transparency, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving across the University;
• Set institutional financial objectives in cooperation with President, policy and practice;
• Maintain an internal control system to ensure that financial transactions are based upon established procedures;
• Oversee the development and preparation of all monthly and annual financial reports for the President of the University and the Board of Trustees and other reports as required;
• Coordinate the annual audit, including supplying auditors with all necessary information;
• Prepare the Management Discussion and Analysis (MDA) component of the audit;
• Distribute audited financial statements to banks, rating agencies, clearinghouses, governmental entities, and other stakeholders;
• Present and discuss monthly financial statements at board meetings, to cabinet, and other stakeholders as designated by the President;
• Direct the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of financial policies, procedures, controls, and business processes;
• Ensure the appropriate allocation and stewardship of financial resources in alignment with institutional priorities;
• Provide executive oversight of treasury management, banking relationships, liquidity, debt obligations, and financing arrangements;
• Interact with internal and external constituencies on budgeting, auditing, and other matters;
• Analyze budgets and forecasts;
• Support institutional priority-setting and resolve financial issues consistent with University policies, strategic goals, and available resources;
• Evaluate financial risks, opportunities, and trade-offs and communicate their potential impact on the University and its operating units;
• Develop and maintain strong financial planning, forecasting, and scenario-modeling practices to support executive decision-making;
• Maintain high-level interaction with the President and other administrative staff;
• Advise the President on financial performance, fiscal strategy, financial risks, and major financial commitments;
• Partner with University leadership and external advisors on banking, investments, insurance, financing, audit, tax, and other financial matters;
• Other duties assigned.

Qualifications