JOB PURPOSE
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the organization's financial strategy, stewardship, integrity, & long-term sustainability. The CFO provides enterprise-wide leadership across accounting, financial planning & analysis, treasury, investments, capital structure, loan portfolio finance, tax & regulatory reporting, internal controls, audit, & financial risk management.
The CFO serves as a strategic partner to the President & CEO, COO, Board of Directors (BOD), & management team translating complex financial, portfolio, & market information into decisions regarding resource allocation, pricing, liquidity, reserves, capital deployment, investments & organizational risk. The CFO leads budgeting and multi-year financial planning, financial reporting, BOD & committee governance & financial controls, while overseeing the performance & sustainability of INvestEd’s lending & refinancing activities, including portfolio analytics, credit performance, loan loss reserves, funding structures, servicing economics & new products & partnerships.
This role requires technical depth, executive judgment, a collaborative leadership style, & an authentic commitment to INvestEd's mission & statewide impact.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy & Enterprise Leadership
- Develop & execute INvestEd’s long-term financial strategy, advising the President & CEO, COO, BOD, & management team on financial sustainability, capital structure, resource allocation, pricing, investment priorities & enterprise risk
- Lead financial modeling and scenario planning for strategic initiatives, partnerships, new loan products, mission programs, acquisitions, and asset transactions translating financial & market data into clear recommendations for executive & BOD decision-making
- Partner with executive leadership to incorporate financial considerations into organizational planning & major decisions, including assessing the impact of economic & capital-market conditions, interest rates, credit cycles on INvestEd’s balance sheet, loan portfolio, & long-term financial plan
Accounting, Reporting, Budgeting, and Controls
- Oversee accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, & financial administration including the annual operating & capital budget process, rolling forecasts, & multi-year financial plans
- Ensure timely & accurate financial reporting & maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, approval authorities, & documentation; oversee annual independent audit, tax & regulatory filings, coordination with external auditors, advisors, & service providers
- Drive continuous improvement & appropriate automation across finance processes, systems, data architecture, & reporting tools to strengthen efficiency, accuracy & financial oversight
Loan Portfolio Finance & Credit Performance
- Provide financial leadership for INvestEd’s private education loan & refinancing portfolios, including profitability, credit performance, pricing, funding, liquidity, & long-term sustainability
- Monitor portfolio performance & risk, including originations, disbursements, delinquencies, defaults, prepayments, recoveries, servicing costs, net interest margin & portfolio concentration; oversee reserve methodologies, stress testing, credit loss analysis, & capital adequacy
- Evaluate the financial impact & risk of new products, underwriting changes, servicing arrangements, capital sources, lending partnerships, collaborating across internal teams & external service providers to support responsible lending & accurate financial execution
Treasury, Investments, Capital, & Liquidity
- Lead treasury strategy, cash forecasting, liquidity management, reserve policy, investment oversight & the prudent deployment of organizational assets, including compliance with investment policies, debt covenants, reserve requirements & restrictions on designated or restricted funds
- Assess & manage interest-rate, liquidity, counterparty, market, & funding risks, & support debt issuance, refinancing, credit facilities, securitization, structured funding, & other capital transactions aligned with INvestEd’s strategy
- Manage relationships with banks, trustees, investment managers, rating agencies, lenders, capital providers & other financial counterparties
Governance, Audit, Compliance, & Risk Management
- Serve as the primary finance liaison to the BOD & relevant committees, providing clear financial reporting, forecasts, portfolio & liquidity trends, risk analysis & recommendations to support informed governance & strategic decision-making
- Partner with the COO & other leaders to maintain an integrated enterprise risk framework addressing financial, credit, operational, regulatory, cybersecurity, vendor & reputational risks
- Ensure compliance with nonprofit, lending, tax, accounting, financial reporting & regulatory requirements; maintain effective relationships with auditors, regulators, counsel, consultants, & other advisors & oversee timely remediation of identified findings or control gaps
External Representation and Strategic Partnerships
- Represent INvestEd with financial institutions, capital providers, investment partners, auditors, regulators, public officials, education partners, & other external stakeholders, clearly communicating the organization’s financial model, stewardship practices, & mission impact
- Develop & support strategic relationships that strengthen INvestEd’s financial capacity, mission reach, market credibility, & long-term sustainability while promoting transparency, prudent financial management, & responsible lending
WORKING CONDITIONS
Office environment, Remote/Work-from-home days, deadline oriented
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Leadership/Organizational Capability
- Build, lead, mentor, & retain a high-performing finance organization, establishing clear roles, performance expectations, succession plans, & professional development priorities across finance functions
- Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, constructive challenge, disciplined analysis, responsiveness, & continuous improvement, ensuring finance capabilities, systems, & staffing evolve with organizational & regulatory needs
- Collaborate effectively with the COO, CMO, operational leaders, program teams, & external partners while maintaining appropriate financial independence, controls, and accountability
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
INvestEd seeks a disciplined, mission-driven financial executive who combines strong technical expertise, strategic judgment, & a commitment to sound financial stewardship. The ideal candidate will bring significant leadership experience in financial services, lending, nonprofit or public finance, banking, insurance, higher education finance, or another asset-intensive and regulated environment. Experience overseeing loan portfolios, investments, liquidity, capital structures, or other complex financial assets is highly valued, along with the ability to move effectively between detailed financial matters & enterprise-level strategy.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong governance, sound judgment, transparency, & the ability to earn the confidence of executive leadership, the BOD, auditors, regulators, financial partners, & staff. They must be able to challenge assumptions, identify emerging risks, & provide clear financial counsel while remaining focused on INvestEd’s mission & long-term responsibilities. The role also requires a collaborative leader who will strengthen the finance team, modernize systems & processes, & improve financial understanding across the organization. The successful candidate will lead with integrity, humility, emotional intelligence, & a commitment to developing others.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & CHARACTERISTICS
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience, including significant experience in a senior finance role with enterprise-wide responsibility
- Demonstrated experience leading financial strategy, accounting, budgeting & forecasting, treasury, investments, audit, internal controls, & BOD reporting within a complex organization
- Experience in lending, banking, consumer finance, public finance, nonprofit finance, asset management, insurance, or another regulated financial environment; education finance or student lending experience preferred
- Strong understanding of loan portfolio economics, credit performance, reserves, liquidity, capital deployment, interest-rate risk, financial modeling, & scenario analysis
- Deep knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, audit practices, internal controls, tax & regulatory reporting, & governance requirements applicable to nonprofit or public-benefit organizations
- Demonstrated ability to present complex financial information to executive leadership, BOD & establish credibility with auditors, regulators, financial institutions, investment managers, capital providers, & other external stakeholders
- Proven success building & developing high-performing teams & improving financial systems, processes, controls, reporting, forecasting, & analytical capabilities through effective use of technology
- Exceptional integrity & judgment, with a collaborative leadership style & ability to identify risk, challenge assumptions, influence across functions, & support INvestEd’s mission & long-term interests
MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, or a related field required.
PREFERRED CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
CPA strongly preferred. An MBA, CFA, MPA, or other relevant advanced degree or professional credential is desirable.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
COMPENSATION RANGE $200,000 - $240,000
BONUS OFFER Annual Bonus
INvestEd offers a competitive executive compensation package, including base salary, a performance-based incentive opportunity, and a comprehensive benefits program. Final compensation will be commensurate with experience and approved in accordance with INvestEd's governance and compensation practices.
