Vice President of Finance and Administration

Gardner-Webb University; Shelby (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement matching

Tuition remission

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short term/long term disability

Life insurance

Paid time off

Paid sick leave

17 paid holidays

Wellness opportunities

On-campus health center

Job summary

Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina invites applications for the Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA), the chief financial officer reporting to the President. The VPFA leads financial planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, compliance, and long-range forecasting, and oversees HR, Technology Services, and other administrative operations.

The role requires strategic leadership, sound judgment, and collaboration with senior leaders to sustain private higher education,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management with leadership responsibility for budgeting, accounting, reporting, and planning.
• Knowledge of higher education finance, enrollment revenue dynamics, financial aid, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with federal grant financial management, compliance, and reporting.
• Ability to develop multiyear financial projections and long-range strategies.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audits, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience providing executive leadership of administrative functions including HR and technology services.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to ethical leadership and the Christian mission of Gardner-Webb University.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and oversight of the University’s financial operations and related administrative functions.
• Lead development and monitoring of annual operating budget in collaboration with President and Cabinet.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records, policies, compliance, and stewardship of resources.
• Oversee cash flow, debt, liquidity, and endowment accounting and reporting.
• Coordinate annual financial audit and other required examinations.
• Provide leadership for HR and Technology Services and contractual partnerships.
• Report financial forecasts and scenarios to inform presidential and institutional decisions.
• Collaborate with leadership to align finances with academic and strategic priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Executive collaboration

Budgeting and forecasting

Regulatory compliance

Organizational governance

Communication skills

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Master's degree in accounting/finance/Business administration or higher education administration

Job description

The Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA) serves asthe Chief Financial Officer of Gardner-Webb University, reportsdirectly to the President, and is a member of the President'sCabinet. The VPFA provides strategic leadership and oversight ofthe University's financial operations and designated administrativefunctions, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutionalresources and supporting the University's mission, strategicpriorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

As a strategic advisor to the President and institutionalleadership, the VPFA is responsible for financial planning,budgeting, accounting, reporting, compliance, and long-rangefinancial forecasting. The position also provides executiveleadership for Human Resources, Technology Services, and designatedadministrative operations and contractual partnerships. Thesuccessful candidate must demonstrate strong financial acumen,sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and an understanding ofthe opportunities and challenges facing private highereducation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Leadership, Management, and Stewardship

• Provide executive leadership and oversight of the University'sfinancial operations, including accounting, budgeting, accountspayable, payroll, student accounts, financial reporting, andrelated financial functions.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of theUniversity's annual operating budget in collaboration with thePresident, Cabinet, and institutional leadership.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records andreporting while maintaining effective financial policies, internalcontrols, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship ofinstitutional resources.
• Oversee cash flow management, banking relationships, debtobligations, liquidity, and other institutional financialcommitments.
• Provide oversight of endowment accounting, investment-relatedfinancial reporting, and endowment distribution planning incoordination with appropriate Board committees, UniversityAdvancement, and external investment advisors.
• Coordinate the University's annual financial audit and otherrequired financial examinations, ensuring timely completion andappropriate follow-up.

Strategic Financial Planning, Forecasting, andSustainability

• Develop and implement financial strategies that strengthen theUniversity's long-term financial position and support its mission,strategic plan, and institutional priorities.
• Develop, maintain, and routinely update a rolling three- tofive-year institutional financial forecast incorporating enrollmentprojections, tuition revenue, institutional financial aid anddiscount rates, personnel expenses, operating costs, capital needs,endowment distributions, debt obligations, and other significantfinancial factors.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership to evaluate thefinancial feasibility and sustainability of academic programs,enrollment initiatives, staffing structures, capital investments,and other strategic opportunities.
• Monitor financial performance indicators, identify emergingrisks and opportunities, and recommend strategies for revenueenhancement, cost management, resource allocation, andinstitutional sustainability.
• Provide timely financial projections, scenario analyses, andactionable recommendations to support presidential andinstitutional decision-making.

Capital Planning and Financial Analysis

• Collaborate with the President and appropriate institutionalleadership in developing short- and long-term capital budgets andcapital improvement plans.
• Maintain and analyze financial data related to physical assets,including age of plant, depreciation, deferred maintenance,facility condition assessments, and capital renewal needs.
• Evaluate the financial implications and affordability ofcapital projects, infrastructure improvements, and major equipmentinvestments, including potential funding through operatingresources, reserves, philanthropy, or debt financing.
• Coordinate with campus operations leadership to ensure capitalplanning reflects institutional priorities, operational needs, andavailable financial resources.

Direct supervision and operational management of PlantOperations and facilities are not responsibilities of this positionat this time.

Federal Grants, Restricted Funds, and FinancialCompliance

• Provide executive oversight of the financial administration offederal grants and externally restricted funds, ensuring compliancewith applicable regulations, grant agreements, and institutionalpolicies.
• Ensure accurate expenditure tracking, account reconciliation,financial reporting, and timely financial closeout of awardedgrants and restricted funds.
• Establish appropriate internal controls and coordinatefinancial documentation for grant-related audits, reviews, andcompliance examinations.
• Collaborate with principal investigators, grant administrators,and institutional leadership to manage grant-related financialobligations, matching requirements, and ongoing institutionalcommitments.

Human Resources and Technology Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of HumanResources and Technology Services, ensuring both functions supportinstitutional effectiveness, operational excellence, and theUniversity's mission and strategic priorities.
• Partner with Human Resources leadership to guide institutionalworkforce planning, compensation and benefits strategies, employeerelations, talent acquisition and retention, professionaldevelopment, and compliance with employment laws and institutionalpolicies.
• Support the development and implementation of human resourcepolicies, practices, and initiatives that promote organizationaleffectiveness, employee engagement, accountability, and a positiveworkplace culture.
• Partner with Technology Services leadership to establish andadvance institutional technology strategy, including enterprisesystems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, technologyinvestments, and long-term technology planning.
• Ensure technology initiatives support academic andadministrative operations, institutional security, businesscontinuity, operational efficiency, and the effective use ofinstitutional resources.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and accountability fordepartmental directors, fostering collaboration, innovation,service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Administrative Operations and Contractual Partnerships

• Provide executive oversight of the University Campus Shop,Campus Post Office, motor vehicle fleet, and institutional campoperations and management.
• Oversee the University's dining services contractual partnership with Aramark, ensuring effective contractadministration, financial accountability, service quality, andalignment with institutional expectations.
• Establish appropriate operational and financial accountabilityfor assigned administrative functions, including budget management,vendor relationships, service delivery, and compliance withapplicable policies and regulations.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative efficiency,strengthen contractual partnerships, and enhance services to theUniversity community.

Institutional Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet, contributing toinstitutional strategic planning, policy development, and executivedecision-making.
• Serve as the principal financial advisor to the President,providing sound financial counsel and recommendations on mattersaffecting institutional operations and long-termsustainability.
• Work closely with the Board of Trustees and appropriate Boardcommittees, particularly those responsible for finance,investments, and institutional resources.
• Present financial reports, forecasts, budget recommendations,and strategic analyses in a clear and understandable manner toaudiences with varying levels of financial expertise.
• Collaborate across institutional divisions to align financialand administrative decisions with academic, enrollment,operational, and strategic priorities.
• Model ethical leadership, accountability, collaboration, and acommitment to advancing Gardner-Webb University's Christianmission, institutional values, and student success.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in accounting, finance, businessadministration, higher education administration, or a closelyrelated field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsibleprofessional experience in financial management, includingsubstantial leadership responsibility for budgeting, accounting,financial reporting, and organizational financial planning.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the highereducation landscape, including institutional financial models,enrollment and tuition revenue dynamics, financial aid, regulatoryrequirements, and the financial challenges facing private collegesand universities.
• Demonstrated experience with federal grant financialmanagement, compliance, reporting, and reconciliation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop multiyear financialprojections, financial models, and long-range financialstrategies.
• Strong understanding of financial accounting principles,internal controls, audit processes, financial reporting, andregulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to provide executive leadership andstrategic oversight of administrative functions, including HumanResources and Technology Services.
• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, andinterpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively withexecutive leadership, governing boards, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, financialtransparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
• Commitment to supporting the Christian mission and values ofGardner-Webb University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation or comparableprofessional financial credential.
• Senior-level financial leadership experience within highereducation, particularly at a private, nonprofit college oruniversity.
• Experience with endowment management, institutionalinvestments, debt financing, and capital planning.
• Experience providing financial and administrative leadershipwithin a complex organization with multiple operating divisions andfunding sources.
• Experience working directly with a governing board and itsfinance or investment committees.
• Demonstrated success in developing financial strategies thatstrengthen organizational sustainability and support strategicgrowth.

Competitive Benefits

• Retirement matching
• Tuition remission
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short term/long term disability
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• 17 paid holidays
• Wellness opportunities
• On-campus health center

Gardner-Webb University is a Christian university committed to helping individuals become more in faith, learning, and service.Located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, GWU offers the benefitsof a close-knit community with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville,and the greater Greenville-Spartanburg region. Founded in 1905 androoted in the Baptist tradition, the University now servesapproximately 3,000 students across more than 80 undergraduate andgraduate programs. As a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional institution,Gardner-Webb is dedicated to academic excellence, leadershipdevelopment, and meaningful service to others.

Our community reflects a shared commitment to One Webb,creating an environment where people support one another, pursuetheir purpose, and work together to make a lasting impact. GWUattracts students from across the nation and around the world andcompetes in NCAA Division I athletics with 22 teams and more than500 student-athletes.