Chief Financial Officer
Location: Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas
Full-Time, Exempt Position, Reports to President
 

About Donnelly College
Donnelly College, located in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas, is a non-profit, Catholic institution of higher education founded by the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The College was established in 1949 to meet the needs of urban immigrants and the working class with a special concern for those who might not otherwise be served. Today, Donnelly continues that tradition by providing the most accessible and affordable Catholic college education in the country. Our community joyfully participates in the mission of Jesus Christ in our time by making the love of God tangible in our world. Through a strong core curriculum and general education, Donnelly offers programs leading to bachelor’s and associate degrees and certificates. To find out more, please visit www.donnelly.edu.
 

Job Summary

The College seeks a respectful, collaborative, and proactive Vice President of Business Affairs/Chief Financial Officer who resonates with the College’s mission and will direct the College’s financial activities to fund operations, maximize investments, and increase efficiency. The College wants a strategic leader who has business acumen to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit among faculty and staff, and who operates the College efficiently and in a fiscally responsible manner.

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Report directly to the President and serve on the President's Cabinet. Provides executive level vision, leadership, planning and direction for the business affairs of the College.
• Develop cost-effective financing strategies to fund the College’s programs and services, facilities operations, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Analyze operations to evaluate performance of the College and its staff in meeting strategic objectives and determine areas of revenue enhancement, cost reduction, operational improvement, and policy change.
• Direct, plan, and implement policies, objectives, and activities to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, and to increase productivity.
• Responsible for directing the financial planning, implementation and administration of comprehensive policies and procedures necessary to monitor and maintain the financial stability of the College. Regularly reports to the President, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Trustees on the soundness of financial planning activities, financial conditions affecting the College’s financial performance and plans for responding to indications of financial problems.
• Directly supervise all business office and related staff and activities, including the accounting functions, payroll, student accounts, investment/endowment management, legal and risk management, and contractual relationships with third party vendors providing services to the College. Indirect oversight responsibility for the areas of information technology/computer services and facilities/security.
• Assist in the administration of an information technology plan necessary to determine and meet the College's technology needs.
• Review all operations, systems and policies in his/her portfolio to ensure that they are efficient and effective and appropriately taking advantage of technological solutions.
• Play a key role in strategic planning and lead the development of the related financial plan working closely with the President, senior colleagues, and the board.
• Mentor and develop staff, inspiring them to do their best work and ensure that they work as a high performing team and sustain a high level of customer service.

 

 

 

Other Duties

• Work with the President, Chief Operating Officer and department leaders to develop the College’s annual operating budget and financial forecasts.
• Supervise monthly, quarterly and annual balance sheet and income statement account reconciliations and all related journal entries and accruals, and produce monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements.
• Oversee all aspects of cash management and perform cash flow projections.
• Collaborate with department leaders to facilitate the continuous monitoring of budget/actual expenditures and other financial analysis, as needed.
• Collaborate with Federal and State grant coordinators to ensure compliance with grant requirements, including but not limited to Student Financial Aid and Title V.
• Collaborate with facilities/security to prepare the required annual Clery/VAWA security report.
• Prepare and present information at Finance Committee and Board of Directors meetings.
• Coordinate the annual financial statement and federal grants audits.
• Lead the Business Office in the development and implementation of relevant accounting policies, procedures, guidelines, and applicable system upgrades.

 

Qualifications

• Proven success with strategic financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and investment/endowment management.
• An active approach to servant leadership by example and influence along with a collaborative, team-oriented, inclusive, and highly communicative personal style will be essential skills for this position.
• Committed to diversity and serving a diverse population. 
• Philosophically aligned with the mission and values of the College.
  • Practicing Roman Catholic preferred or able to support Catholic identity.
  • For more information on Catholic identity please use the link https://www.donnelly.edu/staff/careers > Click “Questions” and review the article “Catholic Teaching on Special Issues of Concern”

 
Specific Requirements

• Minimum of ten years of relevant, increasing levels of experience and responsibility with financial management and leadership with a proven history of significant accomplishment.
• Minimum of ten years supervisory experience leading teams representing multiple functional areas.
• Excellent listening, writing, speaking, and analytical skills are required for this position, as are integrity and candor.
• Hands-on experience with high level, multi-year financial modeling and analysis that support strategic plans with multiple interdependencies and competing priorities.
• Strong knowledge of business and management principles involving strategic financial planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, adept coordination of financial resources, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset.
• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required. A master's degree and/or CPA is strongly preferred, or a combination of experience and education.
• Experience in higher education or a nonprofit or government setting is preferred.

• Extensive experience with Microsoft Excel and Word and financial accounting software – Microsoft Dynamics, Great Plains and Management Reporter a plus.
• Experience in utilizing integrated software systems. Student information systems experience a plus.
• In-depth understanding of accounting principles, practices, and procedures.
• In-depth knowledge of payroll systems and employment taxes.
• Experience in coordinating, planning, and performing annual audits with outside CPA firm.
• Discretion in all business matters. Must be able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information relating to the College’s finances and operations.
• Must be a team player with excellent communication skills and have a commitment to customer service.
• Must be able to pass a background check and complete Virtus training.

 How to Apply
Please email the following to hr@donnelly.edu with your last name and CFO in the subject line.

• Cover Letter
  • How do you understand the Donnelly College mission and how would you contribute to it (see link below).
• Resume reflecting education and professional background
• Salary requirements
• Names and contact information of three professional references

• Donnelly College’s mission, vision, and value