Chief Financial Officer

St. Catherine University•Saint Paul, MN

15d

About The Position

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be responsible for managing the financial affairs of the organization. This includes strategic financial planning, budget development, debt and investment portfolio management, financial analysis, and cost containment. The CFO will also oversee capital construction financing, including financial planning, funding strategy, and debt management for major capital projects. Additionally, the CFO will be responsible for external financial reporting, including financial tax and ERISA filings. A key aspect of this role is analyzing financial data to determine strategic implications and communicating these findings effectively to make recommendations for action. The ideal candidate will value diversity, coach staff, empower decision-making, and celebrate successes in a nimble, transformative environment. This role requires a strong commitment to the University's mission, collaborative work with leadership and stakeholders, and a deep understanding of the complexities facing higher education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of ten (10) years of significant, successful, and progressive experience in financial leadership and/or as a CFO.
Minimum of ten (10) years of successfully analyzing and determining the strategic implications of financial data, communicating information effectively and making appropriate recommendations for action.
Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working with Boards and external partners.
Strategic orientation with a track record of driving revenue growth, strategic budget development, debt and investment portfolio management, financial analysis, and cost containment.
Experience overseeing capital construction financing, including the financial planning, funding strategy, and debt management associated with major capital projects.
Proven competency in external financial reporting, including financial tax and ERISA filings.
Ability to coach staff to pursue stretch goals and resolve challenges.
Ability to empower staff to make large as well as small decisions needed in a nimble, transformative environment.
Ability to celebrate individual and team successes.
Value diversity in all its forms and organize people around their individual strengths and potential.

Nice To Haves

CPA and/or MBA preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing institutional investment portfolios or endowments, including working with outside investment advisors, consultants, and asset managers.
Proven track record of driving measurable revenue growth through new business lines, strategic partnerships, or diversified funding strategies.
Experience structuring and executing public-private partnerships (P3) or alternative capital financing arrangements, including bond issuance and debt structuring, to support capital construction and campus investment.
Commitment to the core elements of the University’s mission: Catholic, women, and liberal arts.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a president, leadership team, and the President’s Cabinet.
Works collaboratively in multi-leveled decision-making processes within a complex organization.
Demonstrated capacity to understand the complex issues facing higher education.
Works effectively on a collaborative basis with a wide range of constituencies and stakeholders in a diverse community.
Excellent organizational, written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
A strong understanding of university-wide governance and faculty roles within that structure.

Responsibilities

Manage complex financial affairs.
Oversee financial planning, funding strategy, and debt management for major capital projects.
Ensure competency in external financial reporting, including financial tax and ERISA filings.
Analyze and determine the strategic implications of financial data.
Communicate financial information effectively and make appropriate recommendations for action.
Drive revenue growth, strategic budget development, debt and investment portfolio management, financial analysis, and cost containment.
Coach staff to pursue stretch goals and resolve challenges.
Empower staff to make decisions needed in a nimble, transformative environment.
Celebrate individual and team successes.
Work collaboratively with a president, leadership team, and the President’s Cabinet.
Work collaboratively in multi-leveled decision-making processes within a complex organization.
Develop financial strategies that support revenue growth and the student experience.
Identify strategic opportunities to build support for change and innovation through systems thinking and best-practice orientation.