Position Summary

Conestoga College is a leader in polytechnic education, recognized for its commitment to excellence, industry-aligned programming, and community impact. Delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research, the college prepares students for success with skills and knowledge that reflect Ontario’s changing job market and serve workforce needs, promoting economic prosperity in the communities it serves and across the province.

As the College advances its strategic priorities and continues to evolve in a complex financial and regulatory environment, Conestoga is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a senior member of the executive leadership team, the CFO will play a critical role in shaping the College’s long-term financial sustainability and strategic direction. This individual will provide trusted counsel to the President, executive team, and Board of Governors, while ensuring strong financial stewardship, institutional accountability, and alignment with Conestoga’s future growth plans.

The CFO will lead the development and oversight of the College’s operating and capital budgets, financial forecasting, performance metrics, and investment and asset management strategies. In addition, the CFO will ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and all applicable Ministry regulations, supporting transparent reporting and sound governance.

A key priority of this role is the integration of procurement and financial planning, ensuring sourcing strategies align with organizational goals, risk tolerance, and long-term sustainability. The CFO will champion adherence to purchasing protocols across the institution and foster collaboration between Finance and Procurement functions.

The CFO will also provide leadership across Finance, Accounting, and Procurement teams, supporting a culture of excellence, mentorship, and accountability. As a member of the steering committee for the College’s C3 initiative (new cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning software implementation), the CFO will help ensure that this major transformation initiative aligns with financial strategy, internal controls, and successful stakeholder adoption.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will bring a minimum of a four-year degree and a CPA designation, along with extensive senior-level financial leadership experience, ideally within the broader public-sector or post-secondary environment. The ideal individual will demonstrate exceptional strategic acumen, collaborative leadership, and the ability to thrive within a complex, unionized institutional setting.

To learn more about leading Conestoga College and the CFO recruitment, please contact Paul Marshall and Collin Ritch (critch@boyden.com) of Boyden Executive Search. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume directly at: boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3159.

Conestoga College is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where diverse perspectives strengthen the community. The College welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership.

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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer