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
The College is seeking an accomplished and strategic financial executive to serve as its next Vice President, Finance and Administration / Chief Financial Officer (VPFA/CFO).
As the College’s chief financial and administrative officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet, the VPFA/CFO provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and institutional stewardship for the College’s financial operations, administrative services, public safety, and facilities.
This position ensures the responsible management of institutional resources while advancing the College’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. Serving as a trusted advisor to the President, the VPFA/CFO helps shape institutional strategy, provides sound financial counsel, and partners with executive leadership to maintain the College’s fiscal strength, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.
The successful candidate will bring an institution-wide perspective and contribute to College-wide initiatives, organizational culture, governance, strategic planning, and executive decision-making.
Executive Leadership Philosophy
The College’s Vice Presidents serve as institutional leaders first and functional leaders second. As members of the President’s Cabinet, they share responsibility for advancing the College’s mission through collaborative leadership, strategic planning, innovation, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
The VPFA/CFO will balance financial discipline with innovation, operational excellence with exceptional customer service, and long-term sustainability with the evolving needs of students, employees, and the community.
Success will be measured not only by the performance of assigned departments, but also by meaningful contributions to the overall effectiveness, reputation, and future of the College.
Core Executive Responsibilities
Cabinet and Strategic Leadership
- Serve as an active member of the President’s Cabinet and executive leadership team.
- Advise the President on strategic, financial, operational, and organizational matters.
- Participate in institutional planning, executive decision-making, and policy development.
- Collaborate across divisions to advance College-wide initiatives and strategic priorities.
- Represent the College before governmental agencies, financial institutions, professional organizations, and community partners.
- Develop long-range financial and operational strategies that support the College’s Strategic Plan.
- Evaluate emerging trends, risks, and opportunities affecting higher education and public finance.
- Champion innovation, continuous improvement, and responsible resource management.
Organizational Leadership
- Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate executive leaders and management staff.
- Build high-performing teams committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, professionalism, and exceptional customer service.
- Promote employee engagement, leadership development, and succession planning.
- Establish measurable goals and performance expectations aligned 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 institutional effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, accreditation standards, Board policies, and administrative regulations.
- Maintain effective systems of internal control, enterprise risk management, and institutional accountability.
Division Leadership Responsibilities
Financial Leadership
- Serve as the College’s chief financial officer and principal advisor to the President on financial strategy, fiscal sustainability, and institutional stewardship.
- Provide executive leadership for all financial operations, ensuring the integrity, transparency, and long-term health of the College’s financial resources.
- Deliver financial analysis and recommendations that support informed decision-making by the President, Cabinet, and Board of Regents.
- Through the Controller and Finance team, provide strategic oversight 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 and administrative support operations, ensuring services are efficient, compliant, transparent, and customer-focused.
- Promote responsible stewardship of public resources while supporting operational effectiveness and service to the College community.
- Through the Executive Director of Procurement and Administrative 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’s physical assets and campus environment.
- Ensure facilities remain safe, functional, attractive, and supportive of teaching, learning, student engagement, and community 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 College’s public safety and emergency preparedness functions, fostering a secure environment for learning and institutional operations.
- Collaborate with institutional leadership and external agencies to maintain a comprehensive approach to campus safety and emergency management.
- Through the Executive Director of Public Safety, oversee:
- Campus security
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Business continuity planning
- Clery Act and safety compliance
- Threat assessment and risk mitigation
- Emergency communications and crisis response
Minimum Qualifications
Required
- Active Certified Public Accountant designation.
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field.
- At least eight years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience in finance and administration.
- At least three years of senior leadership experience within higher education, government, or another similarly complex organization.
- Demonstrated experience leading multiple administrative divisions and managing complex organizational budgets.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership, manage organizational change, and build collaborative relationships across a complex organization.
Preferred
- Experience within a Texas community college or public higher education institution.
- Experience with public-sector budgeting, capital planning, bond financing, and Texas community college funding.
- Knowledge of the Texas Education Code, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements, state procurement regulations, and governmental accounting standards.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
- Provide visionary executive leadership while maintaining strong fiscal stewardship.
- Develop and communicate long-term financial strategies that advance institutional priorities.
- Analyze complex financial and operational issues and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
- Build collaborative relationships across the institution and with external stakeholders.
- Lead organizational change with transparency, professionalism, and integrity.
- Interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, and Board policies.
- Communicate effectively with the President, Board of Regents, executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, governmental officials, and community partners.
- Lead multiple complex operational areas while maintaining an institution-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 of ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality.
