TITLE: Executive Director of Finance/CFO
DEPARTMENT: Business
REPORTS TO: President
SUPERVISES: Controller, Business Office, Financial Aid
CREATED: April 26, 2026
STATUS: Exempt
POSITION FUNCTION:
The Executive Director of Finance (EDF) serves as the senior financial leader for the Baptist University of the Americas (BUA) and a key member of the President’s executive leadership team. The EDF provides leadership regarding financial strategy, planning, and oversight of all financial operations, ensuring fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance, and quality reports. The EDF partners closely with the President, Cabinet, and Board of Trustees to provide vision, leadership, sound fiscal stewardship, and alignment with the university’s Christian mission and values. A balance of technical financial leadership with servant leadership, and a commitment to the institution's statement of faith are requirements for success.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Faith and Mission Alignment
- Demonstrate a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, a lifestyle consistent with the university’s Core Values, and mission-centered stewardship; aligning financial strategy with the University's Baptist identity, strategic plan, and commitment to student success.
- Provide servant leadership to staff, students, and community, and participate in the spiritual life of the campus community.
B. Financial Leadership and Strategy
- Develop and execute long-term financial strategies, policies, and plans that support institutional growth and sustainability in accordance with the President’s priorities. Lead efforts for financial modeling, forecasting, and scenario planning, and advancement efforts.
- Develop, create and publish timely, accurate monthly and quarterly financial and statistical reporting for the President (including key staff) and Trustees.
- Advise the President and Board of Trustees on significant anomalies/areas of concern, financial planning, tuition and financial aid strategy, risk management, and economic trends.
- Ensure proper accounting, reporting, and stewardship of all gifts and donor-restricted funds through work via Raiser's Edge.
- Must have a good working knowledge of Financial Edge software.
C. Budget & Financial Management
- Oversee the development and administration of the annual operating and capital expenditure budgets, and align all financial strategies and resource allocation with the university’s Christian mission and educational philosophy.
- Oversee and participate in the operations of the business office, including student billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, vendor relations, banking activities, payroll, and employee benefits programs. Ensure that all processes and procedures such as receipting, distributing, reconciling credit card and bank statements, as well as posting and reconciling of all General Ledger activities are carried out correctly in a timely manner. Ensure that all donations and gifts are accounted and reported correctly.
- Monitor financial performance and ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources. Provide regular financial reports and dashboards to leadership and Trustees; provide cash flow information to the President.
- Maintain regular/monthly communication with the Trustee Finance Committee and attend scheduled meetings of this committee.
- Maintain and enhance the University’s financial and accounting system controls and standards.
D. Human Resources (HR) Oversight
- Oversee the human resource work through business office managers and key staff to ensure effective liaison and action. Serve as action officer on key items as needed.
- Ensure that all necessary and appropriate human resource documentation and HR processing such as timecard, holiday, vacation, Personal Time Off, trip expenses (staff and students), and other related HR items are maintained and processed in timely and accurate manner.
- Ensure effective liaison and action with brokers of employee benefits programs (e.g. health insurance and 403(b)).
- Ensure compliance with all applicable human resource related statutes, regulations, and policies.
- Maintain Property and Casualty liability insurance, workers compensation programs for protection of the University’s assets and employees.
E. Investments and Endowments Oversight
- Oversee the University investment portfolio for endowment, capital, and long- and short-term operating funds. Seek and recommend the most prudent investments balancing safety and return on investments. Monitor the performance of the investment portfolios and make recommendations to President and Trustees for changes when needed.
- Seek the best tools, methods, and firms for investments and endowments, and serve as the primary liaison for the University with legal services, business community bankers, investment firms. Advise the President when new or updates are needed, and recommend best practices to the president.
F. Business Office Administration
- Manage staff of the business office to ensure that all activities are performed in a timely, accurate, and effective manner according to directives, strategies and plans implemented by the President in conjunction with the COO and Board of Trustees.
- Develop and update the responsibilities, authorities, procedures, and protocols for business office. Ensure that these policies and procedures are written, defined, and understood by the employees.
- Supervise, monitor, evaluate, motivate, provide feedback to, and conduct performance evaluations in accordance with approved policies, procedures, and methods for managers and staff who are assigned to the EDF.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance or Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentration in accounting or finance is required. Highly prefer a CPA or a Master’s Degree (MBA/MA).
- Experience:
- A minimum of 8 years of experience with focus on accounting or finance
- A minimum of 2 years of leadership experience is preferred (supervisory experience is desired)
- Specific knowledge of non-profit or higher education accounting preferred.
- Skills and Competencies (Technical Proficiency):
- Must have the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently and effectively. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred. Must have excellent public speaking skills, the ability to create visual and written presentations, and the ability to successfully communicate clearly and articulately in a professional manner with a multi-ethnic population base.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite including advanced Excel applications.
- Skills and Competencies (Technical Proficiency):
- Must have the ability to speak, read and write English proficiently and effectively. Bilingual in Spanish is preferred. Must have excellent public speaking skills, the ability to create visual and written presentations, and the ability to successfully communicate clearly and articulately in a professional manner with a multi-ethnic population base.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite including advanced Excel applications.
- Experience with specialized higher-ed software (Blackbaud) and financial modeling tools is desired.
- Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including an ability to synthesize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue.
- Demonstrate strong organizational and stress-management skills such as effectively managing multiple tasks and deadlines and remaining flexible as priorities change while working under pressure.
- Exemplary Character and Personal Attributes
- Alignment with BUA’s Faith and Mission
- Active faith and commitment to Jesus Christ
- Steeped in moral purpose, clarity, conviction, and integrity
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Willingness and ability to work as part of a team by being service-oriented, flexible, and reliable
NOTE: These requirements represent minimum levels in order to perform the job on a satisfactory basis. Candidates must have the ability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job.
NOTE: Baptist University of the Américas complies with all the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The purpose of the Baptist University of the Américas’ job description is to describe the basic function, major responsibilities/tasks and essential functions of each job so that applicants can better know what is expected of them. The description also provides information useful for recruiting, training, and performance appraisal. This document does not create an employment contract, nor does it modify the at-will employment status of all employees.
A job description is not meant to inhibit employee creativity or innovation. The description will be revised if job responsibilities change materially.
