Vice President For Finance & Strategy

The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) in Duluth, Minnesota, announces the search for a Vice President of Finance and Strategy.

The Vice President of Finance and Strategy (VPFS), reporting directly to the President and a vital member of the President’s Cabinet, occupies the dual role of the organization’s chief financial officer and strategist. This position is responsible for guiding financial strategies to secure long-term sustainability. Additionally, the VPFS oversees human resources, facilities, campus safety and security and institutional effectiveness, which is part of the College’s strategic plan. The VPFS ensures that the strategic plan aligns with budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning goals. The VPFS will be keenly aware of where the markets are heading, the competition and best practices in business development, long-term planning and operational effectiveness.

The VPFS will partner with fellow Cabinet members to support and promote St. Scholastica’s Catholic Benedictine mission and values. The VPFS will also partner with the President to shape a strong and sustainable future vision for the institution. The successful candidate will be a “systems thinker” with strong analytical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills. In addition, the VPFS will possess strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with others.

In relation to the Board of Trustees, the VPFS will be the lead administrator staffing the Audit and Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees Investment Committee and work closely with the committee chair.

The Vice President of Finance and Strategy’s primary areas of responsibility include:

• Financial Operations

• Facilities Operations

• Human Resources

• Office of Institutional Effectiveness

• Strategic Planning

The successful candidate should have strong character and deep integrity and be committed to service, student success and the values that drive the College’s mission.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Over five years of progressive experience in senior-level management in finance or accounting.

• Working knowledge of debt management, risk management, financial audits, human resources laws and regulations and strategic planning.

• Experience in higher education and/or non-profit organizations or similar, with proven ability to engage diverse constituent groups in a consultative and collaborative manner.

• Highly developed understanding of investments and high-level competence with innovative techniques and tools for financial planning, forecasting and analytics.

• Excellent technical, management and leadership skills.

• Strong communication skills, emotional intelligence and the ability to work with various constituent groups.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and foster strong working relationships.

• Proven success in creating, implementing and assessing bold strategic initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability and experience with diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• A graduate degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university.

• Experience with human resources, facilities management and long-term planning.

• Understand the current trends, challenges and opportunities in higher education.

• Commitment to working in a shared governance environment and building relationships across the College.

• A strong understanding of and experience with audits and the ability to create and communicate an inclusive financial plan.

• Experience working effectively with board members, including providing complex information clearly and concisely to support their fiduciary responsibilities.

• Ability to provide leadership over human resource functions, services and activities, including compliance, regulations, recruitment, employment, labor relations, employee relations, compensation and professional development.

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