Higher Education Principal - Industry Specific Consulting and Outsourcing (ISCO) Group

CliftonLarsonAllen • Arlington, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 9,000 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you. CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other. CLA is seeking a Higher Education (ISCO) Principal working nationally, with periodic presence in the Arlington, VA office. This leader will scale Higher Education consulting specific to program profitability and related services serving community colleges, private universities and public institutions, drive business development, and build an infrastructure of talent to support growth across Higher Education with support to Healthcare and SLG.

Requirements

• BA/BS in accounting, finance, economics, data analytics, or related field required.
• 10+ years preferred leading consulting or advisory services in Higher Education; strong record building practices and delivering cost/revenue analytics.
• Experience leading teams delivering HE cost allocation, program margin analysis, and operating model redesign; Single Audit/governmental audit exposure optional but beneficial.
• Monthly presence in the Arlington, VA office; client travel as needed for pursuits, delivery, and speaking engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Current CPA licensure highly preferred (or equivalent HE/analytics credentials welcome).

Responsibilities

• Lead Higher Education consulting engagements focused on business model redesign, financial strategy, and performance improvement.
• Stand up and lead cost and revenue analytics, program margin modeling, and scenario planning (enrollment, tuition, retention, and program viability).
• Advise Presidents, CFOs, and Provosts on operational redesign and governance; deliver cost allocation, cost identification, and revenue optimization recommendations specific to Higher Education.
• Establish KPI dashboards for HE leaders (e.g., net tuition revenue, retention, instructional cost per credit hour, program margin, research/auxiliary performance) and track outcomes.
• Ensure project teams deliver defensible methodologies and documentation aligned to HE leading practices and sponsor/federal requirements where applicable.
• Drive adoption of best‑practice HE methodologies; codify playbooks and accelerators for repeatable delivery (cost models, revenue analytics, benchmarking).
• Demonstrate deep understanding of HE economics (student lifecycle, aid, auxiliaries, research, clinical/continuing education) and relevant accounting/OMB guidance as applicable.
• Own a prioritized pursuit plan; manage multiple HE engagements; mentor and scale a delivery team with consistent quality and client satisfaction.
• Stay current on HE regulatory and operating trends (financial aid, cybersecurity, ESG reporting) and technology transformation (cloud, AI, data analytics).
• Develop and execute a segmented business development plan targeting community colleges, private universities, and public institutions.
• Establish thought leadership via associations (e.g., NACUBO, regional CUBOs, CCCU) and speaking engagements.
• Pursue partnerships and marketing campaigns (e.g., with Pilbara Group) using case studies and podcasts to highlight cost/revenue analytics.
• Support selective cross‑industry work in Healthcare and State & Local Government, where specialized cost and performance expertise is applicable.

Benefits

• Wellness at CLA To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.
• To view a complete list of benefits click here .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal