Chief Financial Officer - Compass Business Solutions, Inc.

Who We Are
Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges with the unique requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas.  This multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold to provide creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing them for careers of the 21st century. 

Located in western Pennsylvania, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives.” In its 2024 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country’s top 100 national liberal arts colleges — and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate research and creative activities.

For more information, please visit the Allegheny College Web Site at www.allegheny.edu. 

The Opportunity
Allegheny College is seeking its next Chief Financial Officer.

Reporting to the President, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the strategic financial leader for the liberal arts College including current and new programs/ventures, providing leadership and oversight to ensure the long-term financial health and sustainability of the institution. The CFO collaborates with the President, Board of Trustees, and other senior leaders to translate the College's mission and strategic goals into a sound financial plan. The CFO fosters a culture of collaborative financial stewardship across the College, promoting efficient resource allocation and cost-effectiveness to support the College's core mission of education and the values of excellence, innovation, inclusion, community, and sustainability.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Financial Forecasting: Prepare and maintain long-term financial forecasts for all college funds and funding streams, monitoring both short and long-term internal and external financial and operational developments to ensure accurate forecasts.
2. Strategic Financial Analysis: Support and motivate administrators and department heads in conducting financial analysis of current and proposed activities, aligning with the campus master plan to meet the College's strategic objectives.
3. Financial Evaluation: Establish, coordinate, maintain, and systematically review the process for financial evaluation of the college's instructional and non-instructional programs and activities; serve as a resource for determining the cost-effectiveness of current and proposed initiatives.
4. Annual Budget Preparation: Oversee the preparation of the annual budget by identifying organizational needs, gaining consensus on priorities, and translating this into a feasible and fiscally responsible financial plan.
5. Endowment Fund Management: Collaborate with Institutional Advancement to strategically understand, track, and manage the use of the College Endowment Fund for stewardship purposes.
6. Integrated Planning Procedures: Develop procedures that integrate business and strategic planning into the annual budget process.
7. External Monitoring: Monitor external events and developments to ensure that budget preparation incorporates the most current information.
8. Cash Flow and Investment Management: Strategically monitor cash flow and oversee investment activities to ensure an appropriate supply of cash at the highest possible yield while complying with statutory limitations on types of investments.
9. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the college complies with financial regulatory, legal, administrative, contractual, procedural, and accounting standards; manage annual audit processes.
10. Leadership and Mentoring: Provide overarching and executive coaching and mentoring through an inclusive leadership strategy to the facilities, technology, and sustainability departments, ensuring alignment with the campus master plan.
11. Board Engagement: Serve as a Cabinet Member for the Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees of the Board of Trustees.

1. Minimum of twelve years of progressive and successful roles in finance, operations, and strategy. 
2. Minimum of five years of management or leadership experience, preferably in higher education, non-profit, or diverse and progressive cross-functional corporate verticals; prior experience in the top finance role within an organization preferred.
3. Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or other related field required; master’s or other advanced degree preferred.
4. CPA or CMA preferred, but not required.
5. Substantial experience in strategic planning, budget management, financial reviews, policy review, financial analysis, and capital project planning and oversight. 
6. Expert ability to interpret and appropriately apply general accounting principles and regulations.
7. Expert ability to develop and administer fiscal plans, financial systems, policies and procedures.
8. Expert ability to communicate financial information to all levels of staff and the public effectively, both verbally and in writing.

The compensation range for this role is between $185,000-$210,000 annually, based on experience and alignment to the needs of Allegheny College.

Allegheny College is deeply committed to creating an inclusive community that actively challenges racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious bigotry, and other forms of bias (see Allegheny College Statement of Community).

Allegheny College is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. The College does not discriminate and will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, creed, national/ethnic origin, ancestry, veterans, handicap or disability as those terms are defined under applicable law, or members of other underrepresented groups.

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