Vice President for Finance and Management

Company: Inside Higher Ed
Location: Cortland
Posted on: April 9, 2021

Job Description:

Budget Title:VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND MANAGEMENTCampus Title:Vice President for Finance and ManagementSchool/Division:Finance and Management, Division ofDepartment:Finance and Management OfficeStaff Sub-Type:Staff & AdministrationSalary Level:MP2Salary Range:CompetitivePosition Effort:Full-TimePosition Summary:SUNY Cortland, a top public university of approximately 6,900 students located in the geographic center of New York state, prides itself on being a popular destination for students and employees alike. The university's campus has transformed in the past decade, with emerging academic programs, an increasingly diverse population and more than $350 million in construction and renovation. The Division of Finance and Management seeks a people-first leader who embraces the opportunity to strategically lead SUNY Cortland's fiscal matters.Home to approximately 265 employees, the Division of Finance and Management includes all Business Office functions and the Facilities Management unit. The Vice President for Finance and Management (VPFM) oversees these areas and serves as chief business and financial officer of the university. This person ensures financial solvency through oversight; plans and implements appropriate fiscal policies; serves as the campus operations manager for the Research Foundation of SUNY; and fulfills the role of primary campus liaison to the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center and Cortland Auxiliary Services, which provides dining and other essential services to campus. This position reports directly to the President and serves as a key member of the President's Cabinet.For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic and social experience. The university ranks highest among SUNY comprehensive colleges on Money magazine's "Best Colleges for Your Money List," fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.Major Responsibilities:Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as a key member of the six-person President's Cabinet, working to develop, refine and advance the institution's overall strategic goals.
• Work as a collaborative leader to establish strategic goals and objectives for the Division of Finance and Management that support and align with the institution's overall mission and vision.
• Lead the development, implementation and oversight of appropriate fiscal policies and procedures to most effectively monitor the university's budgets and promote continued stability and growth. Collaborates with the Resource Advisory Council (RAC) which is charged with reviewing and implementing consistency and transparency in fiscal related decision making.
• Formulate and present operating and capital budgets as well as compliance with control procedures and audit recommendations for campus functions.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with outside stakeholders to acquire information and appropriate legal guidance, especially as it relates to funding and completing capital projects. Outside groups may include SUNY System Administration; the State University Construction Fund; the State University Business Officers Association (SUBOA); state or local government officials; and various professional organizations.
• Monitor and direct as needed the implementation of financial directives from SUNY System Administration, the Office of the State Comptroller and other agencies, as appropriate.
• Serve as the university's official liaison to SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Service (CAS), the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center, an ex-officio, non-voting director on the Cortland College Foundation, and a member of relevant committees such as the Facilities Master Plan and Oversight Committee.
• Provide a level of leadership that promotes enthusiasm, confidence and a cooperative attitude among campus community members as well as a work culture that encourages staff members to appreciate diversity and embrace opportunity in their respective areas.
• Research ways to improve allocations of funding and personnel; work with other SUNY institutions to share savings and increased efficiencies; and seek out opportunities to improve efficiency and effect cost reductions.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication on behalf of the Division of Finance and Management, ensuring that appropriate departments are made aware of campus needs and the campus is informed about relevant activities within the division.
• Attend important campus functions and other official meetings or events as required.Job Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
  • Ability to collaborate and support the strategic direction and decisions of the institution at the highest level and be able to identify and allocate the university's resources to most effectively support the achieving identified goals, objectives and direction of the institution.
  • Ability to understand and evaluate financial information from multiple funding sources with various rules and regulations and be able to provide sound strategic financial forecasting and recommendations to maintain and ever increase the financial stability of the institution.
  • Ability to understand, interpret, and explain complex budget information to a wide audience with a commitment to transparency in the sharing of information.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgement and to include others in decision-making processes as warranted.
  • Knowledge and understanding of shared governance and ability to collaboratively approach decision-making with a strong focus on students.
  • Commitment to an openness to different viewpoints and communicate in a manner which demonstrates empathy and respect for diverse backgrounds and differences in lived experiences.
  • Ability to gain trust of colleagues, show respect for others, value diversity, equity and inclusion, demonstrate honesty and integrity, and uphold others to the same expectations.
  • Uphold high ethical and moral standards.
  • Ability to develop staff members and possess flexible interpersonal styles to effectively interact with others at all levels of the organization.Functional and Supervisory Relationships:Reports to the presidentCurrent direct reports:
    • Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
    • Executive Director of Finance
    • Director of University and Student Accounting Services *Administrative Assistant IIUniversity affiliated roles:
      • Liaison to Executive Director of Cortland Auxiliary Services.
      • Liaison to Director of the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center.
      • Ex-officio, non-voting director on the Cortland College Foundation.
      • Operations Manager for The Research Foundation of SUNY programs at SUNY Cortland.Collaborates and works closely with other members of the President's Cabinet:
        • Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
        • Chief of Staff
        • Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
        • Vice President for Institutional Advancement
        • Vice President for Student AffairsRequired Qualifications:
          • Master's degree
          • Demonstrated successful experience as a senior-level leader in higher education or similarly complex organization.
          • Experience in accounting, finance or business operations.
          • Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills.
          • Record of collaborative problem-solving, planning and implementation.Preferred Qualifications:
            • Master's degree in a related field (e.g., business, public or educational administration, finance, or accounting).
            • Doctorate degree highly preferred.
            • Several years of experience with progressive responsibility in business, accounting and/or financial management.
            • Significant university budgeting and financial management experience, highly preferred.
            • Experience as a senior-level administrator in a higher education environment
            • SUNY experience highly preferred
            • Experience in a unionized environment
            • Record of cultural competency and active engagement in diversity, equity and inclusion initiativesEEO Statement:The State University of New York College at Cortland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (AA/EEO/ADA) employer. The College actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the College.Posting Number:S20064Review Start Date:05/10/2021Open Until Filled:YesQuick Link for Direct Access to Posting:https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/4735Special Instructions to Applicant:Professional references will be requested and reference checks will be conducted utilizing an online, automated reference checking solution prior to extending campus interview invitations.Priority consideration will be provided to applications received by May 10, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Keywords: Inside Higher Ed, Syracuse , Vice President for Finance and Management, Executive , Cortland, New York