CFO/VP Finance

Description:

Vice President, Finance and Administration / Chief Financial Officer

Division: Finance and Administration

Reports To: President

Direct Reports:

• Controller
• Executive Director, Procurement and Administrative Services
• Executive Director, Public Safety
• Executive Director, Facilities Management
• Internal Auditor

Position Summary

Our post-secondary education client is seeking an accomplished andstrategic financial executive to serve as its next VicePresident, Finance and Administration / Chief Financial Officer.

As the chief financial and administrative officer and a memberof the President’s Cabinet, the CFO provides executiveleadership, strategic direction, and institutional stewardshipfor the school's financial operations, administrative services,public safety, and facilities.

This position ensures the responsible management ofinstitutional resources while advancing the school's mission,vision, and strategic priorities. Serving as a trusted advisorto the President, the CFO helps shape institutional strategy,provides sound financial counsel, and partners with executiveleadership to maintain the school's fiscal strength, operationaleffectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

The successful candidate will bring an institution-wideperspective and contribute to college-wide initiatives,organizational culture, governance, strategic planning, andexecutive decision-making.

Executive Leadership Philosophy

The school's Vice Presidents serve as institutional leadersfirst and functional leaders second. As members of thePresident’s Cabinet, they share responsibility for advancing theschool's mission through collaborative leadership, strategicplanning, innovation, and responsible stewardship of publicresources.

The CFO will balance financial discipline with innovation,operational excellence with exceptional customer service, andlong-term sustainability with the evolving needs of students,employees, and the community.

Success will be measured not only by the performance of assigneddepartments, but also by meaningful contributions to the overalleffectiveness, reputation, and future of the college.

Core Executive Responsibilities

Cabinet and Strategic Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the President’s Cabinet andexecutive leadership team.
• Advise the President on strategic, financial, operational, andorganizational matters.
• Participate in institutional planning, executivedecision-making, and policy development.
• Collaborate across divisions to advance college-wideinitiatives and strategic priorities.
• Represent the school before governmental agencies, financialinstitutions, professional organizations, and communitypartners.
• Develop long-range financial and operational strategies thatsupport the school’s Strategic Plan.
• Evaluate emerging trends, risks, and opportunities affectinghigher education and public finance.
• Champion innovation, continuous improvement, and responsibleresource management.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate executive leaders andmanagement staff.
• Build high-performing teams committed to operationalexcellence and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion,professionalism, and exceptional customer service.
• Promote employee engagement, leadership development, andsuccession planning.
• Establish measurable goals and performance expectationsaligned with institutional priorities.

Stewardship and Governance

• Ensure responsible stewardship of the college’s financial,physical, and operational resources.
• Support the Board of Regents through executive reports,recommendations, and presentations.
• Develop and implement policies, administrative regulations,and business practices that strengthen institutionaleffectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, accreditationstandards, Board policies, and administrative regulations.
• Maintain effective systems of internal control, enterpriserisk management, and institutional accountability.

Division Leadership Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Serve as the college’s chief financial officer and principaladvisor to the President on financial strategy, fiscalsustainability, and institutional stewardship.
• Provide executive leadership for all financial operations,ensuring the integrity, transparency, and long-term health ofthe college’s financial resources.
• Deliver financial analysis and recommendations that supportinformed decision-making by the President, Cabinet, and Board ofRegents.
• Through the Controller and Finance team, provide strategicoversight for:
  • Budget development and administration
  • Accounting and financial reporting
  • Payroll administration
  • Treasury, cash, investment, and debt management
  • Annual financial audits and internal controls
  • Financial forecasting and analysis
  • Grant accounting and financial compliance
  • State and federal financial reporting
  • Financial systems and business process improvement

Procurement and Administrative Services

• Provide executive leadership for procurement andadministrative support operations, ensuring services areefficient, compliant, transparent, and customer-focused.
• Promote responsible stewardship of public resources whilesupporting operational effectiveness and service to the collegecommunity.
• Through the Executive Director of Procurement andAdministrative Services, oversee:
  • Purchasing and procurement
  • Contract administration and competitive solicitations
  • Vendor relations
  • Administrative services
  • Auxiliary enterprises, including the campus bookstore, café,and merchandise store
  • Shipping and receiving

Facilities Management

• Provide strategic leadership for the planning, maintenance,operation, preservation, and improvement of the college’sphysical assets and campus environment.
• Ensure facilities remain safe, functional, attractive, andsupportive of teaching, learning, student engagement, andcommunity use.
• Through the Executive Director of Facilities Management,oversee:
  • Facilities maintenance and operations
  • Custodial services and utilities management
  • Preventive and deferred maintenance
  • Capital improvement, construction, and renovation projects
  • Campus infrastructure
  • Sustainability initiatives
  • Space utilization and facilities planning

Public Safety

• Provide executive oversight of the school’s public safety andemergency preparedness functions, fostering a secure environmentfor learning and institutional operations.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership and externalagencies to maintain a comprehensive approach to campus safetyand emergency management.
• Through the Executive Director of Public Safety, oversee:
  • Campus security
  • Emergency preparedness and response
  • Business continuity planning
  • Safety compliance
  • Threat assessment and risk mitigation
  • Emergency communications and crisis response

Minimum Qualifications

Required

• Chartered Professional Accountant designation in goodstanding.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance,Accounting, Public Administration, Higher EducationAdministration, or a closely related field.
• At least eight years of progressively responsible executiveleadership experience in finance and administration.
• At least three years of senior leadership experience withinhigher education, government, or another similarly complexorganization.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple administrativedivisions and managing complex organizational budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership, manageorganizational change, and build collaborative relationshipsacross a complex organization.

Preferred

• Experience within an Ontario college or public highereducation institution.
• Experience with public-sector budgeting, capital planning, andcommunity college funding.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• Provide visionary executive leadership while maintainingstrong fiscal stewardship.
• Develop and communicate long-term financial strategies thatadvance institutional priorities.
• Analyze complex financial and operational issues and developpractical, sustainable solutions.
• Build collaborative relationships across the institution andwith external stakeholders.
• Lead organizational change with transparency, professionalism,and integrity.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, accountingstandards, and Board policies.
• Communicate effectively with the President, Board of Regents,executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, governmentalofficials, and community partners.
• Lead multiple complex operational areas while maintaining aninstitution-wide perspective.
• Develop high-performing leadership teams through coaching,mentoring, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration,continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain the highest standards ofethics, professionalism, and confidentiality.