Chief Financial Officer

About Curry College:

Curry College, founded in 1879, is a private, four-year, liberal arts-based institution in Milton, Massachusetts. Curry is the only college in Massachusetts to guarantee students a job after graduation via The Curry Commitment program. The College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and offers 28 undergraduate majors, over 50 minors and concentrations, seven graduate programs, and an associate's degree. The College boasts a wide array of co-curricular activities including 40+ student-run clubs and organizations and 19 NCAA Division III athletic teams.

The Curry College mission is to educate and graduate students prepared to engage in successful careers and active citizenship with a global perspective. We are an inclusive community of diverse learners and educators, committed to continuing our legacy of developing effective communicators with reflective and critical thinking skills. We mentor and empower our students, building meaningful relationships that inspire them to achieve their ambitions.

Curry College provides rigorous and relevant academic programs to undergraduate and graduate students, and our rich blend of liberal arts and career-directed programs is enhanced by practical field experiences and co-curricular activities. Learning at Curry extends beyond the classroom and is embedded in all that we do.

Diversity and a culture of equity and inclusion among students, faculty and staff are crucial to the mission statement of Curry College.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sex identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law, including Title IX.

Job Description:

The Chief Financial Officer has management oversight of all financial, Student Accounts, Information Technology Services (ITS), Conference Services, Mail/Copy Center and facilities (Building and Grounds) functions. The CFO reports to the President, and serves as a member of Executive Team, a collaborative body which provides strategic and operational direction to the College. The CFO provides strategic financial guidance and recommendations on the operations to the President and Executive Team, setting and achieving the mission, goals and objectives of the College. This position oversees and manages a wide range of financial functions, including accounting and financial reporting, treasury, investment management, cash management, debt management, budget and planning, and financial analysis. The CFO works closely with the Executive Team as well as Senior Staff and provides support for several committees of the Board of Trustees.

Essential Functions:

1. Strategic Management:

• Provides financial leadership, develops and continually assesses policies, systems and operations.
• Interprets overall enterprise operational results as they affect financial performance and institutional objectives and makes specific recommendations that will result in improved efficiency, cost reduction and effectiveness.
• Develop and oversee the management of fiscal policies, systems that protect College assets, direct long-term budgetary planning and cost management in alignment with College strategic plan.
• Prepare and maintain dynamic short and long-term financial models that incorporate the College's strategic objectives and goals.
• Works with the College community to build an academic, physical and economic infrastructure and campus climate that both differentiates the College and contributes materially to student success.

2. Financial and Operational Management:

• Oversees the financial well-being of the institution.
• Participates with the Executive Team in developing and implementing the College's strategy.
• Develops short- and long-term financial plans, directs the preparation of the annual budget, internal audit, accounting, treasury, and financial analysis/reporting to include preparation of financial statements, tax returns, and reports for both government regulatory agencies and the Board of Trustees.
• Maintains and enhances financial reporting systems for assessing financial performance and provides for the ongoing development of controls and standards necessary to safeguard college assets and comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Offers direction and analysis on long-range economic trends and participates in identifying and evaluating revenue growth opportunities and possibilities for expansion into new areas.
• Reviews and recommends actions to ensure uniform business management and provides guidance on long range plans for physical, technological, and financial resources.
• Responds to all constituencies as needed and appropriate, from the Board of Trustees to external agencies and fund managers.
• Represents the College with lenders, investment managers and various other external contacts.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with Executive Team of the College.
• Serves as a role model in supporting the College's core values and abiding by the College's guidelines, by-laws, and policies.
• Oversee the investment management function of endowment, working closely with investment advisor and any related professional services to ensure compliance with the College's investment policy.

3. Operational Development and Objectives:

• Capital Projects and Facilities:  Oversee the College's Building and Grounds function, managed by Vice President of Facilities, including the College's master planning, space management, sustainability planning and emergency management planning.
• Information Technology Services:  Oversee the College's Information Technology Services Department managed by the Vice President and Chief Information Officer including the department's strategic plan and its alignment with the College's overall strategic plan.
• Accounting/Finance/Student Accounts:  Oversee the College's Accounting and Finance Department with assistance from the Associate Vice President for Finance.  Ensure the College's finances align with the overall mission of the College.  Responsible for all financial and compliance audits, bond and debt compliance, cash management and banking relationships.
• Mailroom and Copy Center: Oversees the College's delivery of mail services and copy center functions to aid in the efficiency and utilization of resources to internal departments to meet business needs.  
• Procurement: Oversee the College's purchasing functions, managed by the Manager of Procurement, including identifying opportunities for and initiating and evaluating Requests for Proposals and developing best practices for its day-to-day operation. Reviews policies and contracts, assess service levels and cost and manages bid process.  The Manager of Procurement /Risk Management works closely with user departments to aid in selecting vendors, negotiating pricing, and processing requisitions and purchase orders.
• Risk Management: Review and assess the College's risk management program, primarily through oversight of insurance program, but also through implementation and monitoring of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and safety programs.
• Suffolk University Shared Services Partnership: work with counterpart at Suffolk University to manage current shared positions and discuss potential new positions.
• Dining Services: In collaboration with the VP of Student Affairs, manage the relationship and performance of the College's dining services vendor.

4. Committee Membership:

• Serves as a member of various institutional committees. Also supports the Board of Trustees Finance and Physical Facilities Committee which includes investment management as well as oversight of physical facilities.

5. Staff Management and Development

• The CFO directs a team of 4-5 and a total staff of 47 across organization,  work allocation, problem resolution and motivating staff to achieve results.  Manages the selection, employment, compensation and evaluation of staff.  Motivates employees to achieve results and makes recommendations regarding division personnel and encourages staff professional growth. 

Essential Characteristics:

• Successful performance of this position demands consistent demonstration of the following uncompromisable performance characteristics:
• A positive, team-oriented, supportive and mission driven leader who is open, genuine and down-to-earth.  They must take ownership of their responsibilities, take the initiative and exercise sound judgement; build strong, respectful and trusted relationships; and be dedicated and motivated to grow strengths and improve the College.
• Must have exceptionally high standards, led by example, make tough decisions and have a sense of urgency. Ethics must be beyond reproach. Have a sense of community that will allow their integration into Curry to be a very natural one. A team player who is comfortable with ongoing ambiguity and has strong emotional intelligence.
• Be a creative leader, manager, coach and mentor, and must successfully attract and retain other talented executives. Specifically, s/he must develop the infrastructure and management team skill set to effectively deliver project objectives. The ability to lead and support, not command and control, is important. This individual should be willing to "go the extra mile" for Curry and their staff. Candidates should be hardworking, and people orientated.

Additional Functions:

• Assess current events and proactively initiate emergency response plans in anticipation of potential issues that could impact the College.          
• Chair or participate as a member on committees as assigned or requested.
• The CFO will provide administrative, professional, or technical services as needed and in accordance with his/her expertise to any and every issue, project, or program assigned by the President in furtherance of the College's mission.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• An advanced degree required, specifically a master's degree in business administration or public accounting with a concentration in accounting, finance or management is highly valued.  
• Must have broad and deep experience serving as the EVP/CFO and overseeing administrative functions of a robust, multifaceted organization. At least ten years of significant fiscal management responsibility with direct responsibility in areas of fiscal analysis, forecasting, borrowing, accounting, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of/experience in higher education financial operations is preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated prior success that is measurable and consistent, in addition to demonstrated advancement of the candidate's career.
• Extensive experience leading and developing individual staff and teams.
• Superb writing and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of federal and state financial regulations.
• The ideal candidate is an innovator who has demonstrated the ability to make high impact improvements while building consensus for change. The ideal candidate must have strong business management and leadership skills and must demonstrate the ability to develop and lead finance, treasury and administrative services for Curry College.
• They must be a strategic thinker who will maximize the College's core businesses, while also implementing new ideas and initiatives to grow the institution.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Executive management experience in education or government.

Salary Range:

$225,000 to $275,000 annually

Additional Information:

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Curry College will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

At the College's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be excepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the College, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Employment in this position is contingent upon the successful completion of all required pre-employment background checks.

Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination

Curry College (the "College") does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that we administer, as required by Title IX and its federal regulations, including in admission and employment.

The Non-Discrimination Policy can be found at

https://www.curry.edu/assets/Documents/About-Us/Curry-College-Nondiscrimination-Policy.pdf

The Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found at

https://www.curry.edu/assets/Documents/About-Us/Curry-College-Sexual-Misconduct-Policy.pdf

Individuals who wish to make a complaint of discrimination or sex discrimination under Title IX, or those with information about conduct that may constitute discrimination or sex discrimination under Title IX may contact the Director of Title IX and Equity Compliance, the Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Inquiries about the implementation of Title IX and its federal regulations to the College may be referred to either or both offices listed below:

Juan M. Hernandez, Ed.D, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, Interim Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator: Office 121, King Administrative Building, 55 Atherton Street Milton, MA. 02186. 617-333-2394, juan.hernandez@curry.edu

Office of Civil Rights ("OCR"): Boston Office, Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 9th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3921, Telephone: 617-289-0111, FAX: 617-289-0150; TDD: 800-877-8339, Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online at https://www.curry.edu/about-us/community-resources/employment/job-opportunities for consideration. Interested applicants must submit the following:

• a cover letter;
• a resume; and;
• a list of three professional references, one of which must be a former or current supervisor, including complete contact information and professional titles.

By submitting an application, you are attesting the following:

I certify that the facts set forth in this Application for Employment are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if I am employed, false statements, omissions, or misrepresentations may result in my dismissal. I authorize the Employer to make an investigation of any of the facts set forth in this application and release the Employer from any liability. The Employer may contact any listed references on this application.

I acknowledge and understand that the company is an "at will' employer. Therefore, any employee (regular, temporary, or other type of category employee) may resign at any time, just as the Employer may terminate the employment relationship with any employee at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice to the other party.