Strategic CFO & VP of Administration - Higher Ed (Remote)

Friends University; Wichita (KS); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Friends University seeks a Chief Financial Officer/VP of Administration to lead the university's financial operations and serve on the President’s Cabinet. The role provides executive direction for budgeting, forecasting, accounting, controls, and reporting, and guides long‑term campus planning and capital projects.

You will oversee investment management, endowment activities, debt management, and vendor contracts, while ensuring compliance with accounting standards and financial health.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 to 10 years of experience in finance and/or accounting management with supervision.
• Higher education and nonprofit experience is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting and/or finance, business, higher education administration or related area.
• Masters and/or CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day operation of the finance department and the budgeting/forecasting systems.
• Oversees investment and endowment activities, debt management, and vendor contracts for university services.
• Provides tools for financial benchmarking and presents key data and trends to leadership and the Board.
• Ensures compliance with accounting standards and maintains the university's financial health.
• Supervises Finance, Student Account Services, Information Technology and Physical Plant; leads staff development.
• Acts as primary liaison for legal, accounting, audit, and tax services; reports to the Board of Trustees.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Financial analysis

Budgeting

ERP systems (higher ed)

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business/higher ed admin

Masters and/or CPA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Ellucian Banner

ERP systems

Job description

Friends University seeks a Chief Financial Officer/VP of Administration to lead the university's financial operations and serve on the President’s Cabinet. The role provides executive direction for budgeting, forecasting, accounting, controls, and reporting, and guides long‑term campus planning and capital projects.

You will oversee investment management, endowment activities, debt management, and vendor contracts, while ensuring compliance with accounting standards and financial health.