Vice President for Finance and Administration, CFO

Insero Talent Solutions•Rochester, NY

21h•Onsite

About The Position

St. John Fisher University’s Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer is its senior financial officer, reporting directly to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet. The Vice President serves as a strategic partner to the President, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team, advancing the University’s mission through stewardship of financial, physical, technological, and organizational resources. The role manages a $127 million operating budget, $193 million in net investment in the physical plant, and a $187 million endowment. The position leads Financial Affairs and a broad portfolio of administrative functions supporting University operations and strategic priorities. It has five direct reports—the Controller, Chief Information Officer, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction, Director of Facilities Services, and Executive Assistant—and the division includes approximately 140 employees. The Vice President is a primary liaison to trustees and external auditors, ratings agencies, insurance brokers, investment advisors, and other service providers. This is a full-time, in-person position.

Requirements

CPA or a master’s degree in business, accounting, management, or a closely related field.
Eight or more years of executive-level experience in higher education and/or private-industry administration, including significant responsibility for several areas within the portfolio.
Hands-on expertise in financial planning, budget development, audit management, strategic and master planning, construction planning, and special projects.
Experience working with independent auditors, investment managers, and credit rating agencies.
Knowledge of tax and FASB requirements and investment accounting.
Strategic, collaborative senior-level leadership, sound judgment, and commitment to the University’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Ability to manage change and lead through complexity in a diverse environment while maintaining operational excellence.
Demonstrated success in strategic planning and team building.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Strong conceptual, analytical, creative-thinking, interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Commitment to collaborative professional relationships, accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service.
Appreciation for the academic environment and understanding of the role and mission of an independent higher education institution.
Knowledge of current higher education issues and the role of administrative and support services in advancing an institution’s mission.
Demonstrated commitment to students and campus stakeholder groups or comparable constituents.
Expertise in complex budgeting, financial management, financial reporting, internal controls, and long-range financial planning.
Experience with capital planning, construction, facilities management, and university auxiliary services.
Working knowledge of information systems technology and its application to financial and administrative operations.
Experience presenting to and working effectively with trustees, community leaders, and business leaders.
Ability to build trust and credibility with faculty, staff, students, trustees, and external partners.
Understanding of employee insurance, benefits, and other risk management issues.

Responsibilities

Advise the President and senior leadership on financial planning, budget modeling, enterprise risk management, administrative operations, and potential strategic partnerships.
Develop and execute long-range financial strategies aligned with the University’s mission and strategic plan.
Lead institution-wide planning for capital projects, campus master planning, the benefits program, and strategic resource allocation.
Develop and implement effective budget, financial, and administrative strategies, and promote transparency, accountability, inclusive decision-making, and team building.
Oversee the $127 million operating budget, including budget development and execution, financial planning, forecasting, reporting, debt management, and long-range financial needs.
Improve operating and capital budget systems and reporting and forecasting practices; monitor expenditures and resolve budget issues.
Oversee treasury operations, cash flow, banking relationships, liquidity planning, cash management, and investment strategies for University funds.
Monitor internal controls and recordkeeping and ensure appropriate accounting controls over assets, liabilities, and fund balances.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, nonprofit accounting standards, fund accounting, tax requirements, FASB standards, and audit requirements.
Assess and communicate the University’s financial strength to leadership and other stakeholders.
Serve as primary liaison to the Board of Trustees Investment Subcommittee and oversee the outsourced chief investment officer managing the endowment.
Work with the Investment Subcommittee and OCIO to align endowment management with the Investment Policy Statement, spending policies, institutional objectives, and fiduciary standards.
Coordinate endowment performance reporting, committee materials, policy reviews, and communications with investment partners and other stakeholders.
Support oversight of endowment performance, asset allocation compliance, liquidity planning, and long-term spending sustainability.
Supervise the Controller’s Office, Facilities Services, and the Office of Information Technology, ensuring efficient operations aligned with University priorities and applicable standards.
Coordinate planning and implementation of building construction, renovation, maintenance, and repair projects; promote efficient campus operations, safety, and sustainability initiatives.
Oversee contract negotiations and administration, purchasing, and inventory management.
Chair the University’s Retirement Plan Fiduciary Committee and serve on the Faculty Welfare Committee.
Implement and monitor internal controls and risk mitigation strategies and ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, accreditation, and compliance requirements.
Coordinate external audits and financial reviews and ensure timely, accurate reporting.
Collaborate with outside legal counsel on significant contracts and chair the Institutional Risk Committee, leading identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational, strategic, financial, and external risks.
Serve as the University’s key interface and economic and technical buyer for external auditors, rating agencies, insurance providers, investment service providers, technology and equipment providers, leasing companies, and other service providers.
Identify opportunities to advance the academic mission, financial sustainability, operations, and student and employee experience through technology and digital innovation.
Use data and advanced analytics to strengthen planning, forecasting, resource allocation, and operational performance, emphasizing measurable value and return on investment.
Establish governance and risk management for responsible AI use, including privacy, security, ethics, transparency, academic integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Evaluate technology investments, build organizational capability, and support sustainable adoption of emerging technologies.
Serve as liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Audit, Compliance, and Risk Committee, Finance and Facilities Committee, and Investment Subcommittee, supporting their fiduciary responsibilities.
Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to align financial planning and administrative services with institutional needs; engage external stakeholders to advance University interests.
Lead and mentor finance and administrative staff, promote continuous improvement and innovation, and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
Promote belonging through inclusive practices in hiring, onboarding, and professional development.