Associate Vice President of Finance - Business Office

Join our team of difference makers•Azusa, CA

38d•$190,000 - $225,000

About The Position

APU seeks employees who desire to contribute to our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is edifying to God and one another. The Associate Vice President of Finance (AVP) is a strategic and Christ-centered leader responsible for overseeing the financial planning, reporting, and operational management of Azusa Pacific University. Reporting directly to the VP for Administration and Finance, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the AVP will serve as a key advisor to the CFO and other university leadership, ensuring the institution's financial resources are managed effectively and aligned with its Christian mission and strategic goals. This role requires a blend of advanced financial expertise, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to the values and purpose of Christian higher education.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, with significant experience in a higher education or non-profit setting.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and translate institutional goals into clear, actionable financial strategies.
Leadership & Management: Proven ability to lead and develop professional staff and manage complex projects.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex financial information to diverse audiences.
Integrity & Ethics: Unwavering commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and the ethical use of university resources.
A demonstrated personal commitment to the Christian faith and a desire to support the mission of a Christian university.
Intermittent sitting and standing.
Repetitive wrist and finger motions related to computer usage.
Hearing, talking on the telephone.
Able to reach, grasp, bend, pull, lift up to twenty pounds.
Computer monitor and reading.
Proficient in Google Apps., Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.
Expert knowledge of GAAP, budgeting and forecasting principles, internal controls, and financial reporting.
Advanced proficiency in financial management software and ERP systems.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is highly preferred.
Experience in the oversight of multiple, interdependent financial functions (FP&A, Controller, Payroll).
Experience advising senior-level executive management and working with a Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

Business Office Operational Oversight: Directly supervise the Business Office, which includes the Financial Planning & Analysis, Controller and Payroll and Payments functions.
Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in financial operational processes, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer service for students and staff.
Strategic Advising: Serve as a strategic financial advisor to the CFO and executive leadership on long-range financial planning, resource allocation, and major institutional initiatives.
Budget Management: Oversee the development and management of the university's annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring accuracy, alignment with strategic priorities, and responsible stewardship.
Financial Modeling: Direct the creation and maintenance of complex financial models and projections to forecast trends, assess the financial impact of new programs or policies, and support decision-making.
Performance Reporting: Develop and present comprehensive financial reports, metrics, and analyses to the CFO, President's Cabinet, and Board of Trustees' Finance Committee.
Financial Reporting: Oversee the Controller's function, ensuring timely and accurate preparation of all internal and external financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and relevant regulatory requirements.
Audit Management: Serve as the primary liaison for the annual external audit, managing the preparation of schedules and working papers and ensuring clean audit opinions.
Internal Controls: Maintain a robust system of internal financial controls, policies, and procedures to safeguard university assets and ensure compliance.
Tax Compliance: Ensure timely and accurate filing of all federal and state tax returns, including Form 990.
Grant Management & Compliance: Oversee post-award financial administration, including fund set-up, expenditure monitoring, and ensuring costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable. Direct the preparation and timely submission of all required financial reports, invoices, and federal drawdowns for grants and sponsored programs. Ensure institutional compliance with all federal (e.g., Uniform Guidance), state, and private grant regulations and reporting requirements.
Treasury Functions: Oversee daily cash management activities, banking relationships, short-term and long-term liquidity planning. Debt management.
Payroll & Payments: Ensure the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of all payroll and vendor payments.
Procurement (Purchasing): Oversee and manage the University Procurement function, establishing purchasing policies and procedures that promote cost savings, efficiency, and compliance. Direct the vendor management and contract negotiation processes for major institutional expenditures, ensuring adherence to competitive bidding and ethical standards. Ensure compliance with all purchasing requirements, especially those tied to federal and state contracts and grants.
Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of professional excellence, accountability, and Christian service.
Policy Development: Recommend, implement, and enforce financial policies that promote sound financial management and ethical stewardship of university resources.
Mission Integration: Ensure all financial activities and decisions reflect the university's Christian mission and commitment to ethical conduct.