Chief Financial Officer

Since our founding in 1950, we've been on a mission to reimagine higher education, reshaping it around the dynamic needs of our students. Motivated by our motto inserviendo consumere (consumed in service), we believe education is not just about classrooms and textbooks"”it's about nurturing passions, fostering innovation, and embracing a spirit of relentless curiosity. Whether you're a trailblazing high school graduate, a college transfer, or a seasoned professional seeking new horizons, Mercy University is your launchpad to excellence. About the Organization At Mercy University, we have been helping to empower generations of learners to break new ground, achieve forward momentum, and create lasting impact that ripples beyond themselves, to their families and communities. We offer more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs across six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Our student body of more than 9,000 students, including full-time and part-time undergraduates and graduates, thrives across our campuses in Westchester, the Bronx, and Manhattan, as well as online. Mercy University stands as the largest private minority-serving institution and Hispanic-Serving Institution in the region, reflecting our long-standing commitment to educational access, and we have one of the lowest tuition rates of private, four-year colleges in the region. We have been ranked nationally among top colleges in the country for Hispanics by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and by Excelencia in Education, earning their prestigious Seal of Excelencia for intentionally serving Latino students. We proudly serve a highly diverse student body that reflects the vibrancy of the New York metropolitan area and for the fifth consecutive year, Mercy University ranked in the Best Regional Universities North category. We are also a regional leader in preparing health care professionals and are a leading provider of teacher education for New York City schools and surrounding communities. We are proud to have been recognized as the Best College in Westchester County in 2019, 2020, and 2022 by Westchester Magazine. We bring an unwavering dedication to the motivated student and our commitment to quality, student support, affordability, and innovation remains as strong today as ever. And in this pivotal moment, we recognize that our mission of transformative education is more important than ever before. That's why we are expanding our reach"”adding new services, new programs, and new ways to educate even more students as we continue to grow and evolve. To discover more about us, click here. About the Role What You'll Do As Mercy University positions for deepened impact and continued growth, we are seeking an outstanding financial leader to become our next Chief Financial Officer (CFO), overseeing an annual operating budget of $150M and an endowment of $350M. Accountable for Mercy's financial, investment, and risk management, the CFO will develop, drive, and embed an effective and innovative financial and operational strategy, complete with controls, systems, processes, and metrics that enable the organization to operate effectively and realize its growth potential. As a key member of the Leadership Team, the CFO will serve as the organization's primary financial leader, providing strategic counsel and championing and rallying the team in driving business priorities. This is an ideal opportunity for a proven financial leader who is accustomed to managing a complex portfolio and aligns with our mission to provide quality, accessible education that helps students succeed and make a lasting impact on their communities. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Financial Leadership and Management Oversee the development and execution of all fiscal planning, resource allocation, and financial policies, ensuring effective management of restricted and unrestricted funds, in alignment with Mercy University's goals and while fostering a customer-focused approach to financial operations Manage cash and investments for endowment, operating, and capital funds, monitor debt covenants, and serve as the liaison with rating agencies and auditors to maintain fiscal health and compliance Lead all risk management activities, including overseeing insurance coverages, claims management, and the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, to safeguard Mercy's assets and operations Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and provide regular reports to the President, Board of Trustees, and College Administration Ensure efficient handling of accounts payable and receivable, maintaining strong internal controls, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and reporting requirement Organizational Leadership and Strategy Manage and develop the finance team to ensure each team member is coached, developed, and well-positioned to achieve their goals and develop as professionals Foster a positive, collaborative, and service-oriented culture within the finance team; serve as a role model for the team and key collaborators Serve as strategic advisor to the President and others, effectively communicating and presenting financial matters to the President, the Leadership Team, Department Leaders, Board Committees - including acting as liaison to the Finance and Control, Audit, and Endowment Management committees - the full Board of Trustees, and serve as a staff liaison to the Faculty Senate and College Committees on Strategic Planning and Economic & Fiscal Matters In partnership with other senior leaders, drive organizational strategy and accomplishment of goals and advise on key strategic issues and decisions, informed by rigorous financial analyses, risk assessments, "what if" scenario modeling, and due diligence Collaborate closely with other senior leaders, including the Chief HR Officer, General Counsel, and other leaders on matters related to payroll, benefits, union negotiations, real estate and capital planning activities, and review of all contracts Who You'll Work With You will report to Mercy University President, Dr. Susan Parish . You will supervise a team of 11-12 , including two direct reports, the Controller and the Executive Director of Budget & Analytics . You will frequently collaborate with across the Board of Trustees , Leadership Team , program and faculty leads , and other key stakeholders across the Mercy University ecosystem. Required Skills and Experience A minimum of 15+ years of overall professional experience, including at least five years in an executive-level financial leadership role. Experience in leading financial management, partnering with an executive team, providing strategic counsel, and knowledge of working with a Board. Prior experience in higher education is ideal and preferred Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, including financial planning, forecasting, modeling, and data analysis; able to leverage financial information to drive organizational decision making Track record of building and leading effective teams; evidence of building a customer-centric, data-driven team culture and coaching/developing others to maximize their potential Experience developing and/or improving financial systems, processes, and controls in an equally complex and dynamic environment Cooperative approach to executive leadership, and the ability to work effectively with cross functional teams to meet goals and improve organizational performance Strong communication, influencing, and listening skills with the demonstrated ability to articulate reasoning and thought process to diverse audiences Demonstrated capability to partner with academic and administrative leadership to set and achieve financial, strategic, and operational goals Expertise managing external resources, including auditors, benefit providers, and other professionals Extensive knowledge of financial planning and management systems Commitment to Mercy's mission and unwavering dedication to providing a quality education, student support, affordability, and innovation A bachelor's degree demonstrating exemplary strategic and financial acumen is required; MBA, MPA, MS in Accounting or Finance, and/or CPA or Certified Management Accountant highly preferred Salary The salary range for this role is $300,000-$350,000, with the final offer depending on the candidate's experience and alignment with the key skills required for the CFO position. Benefits Comprehensive health care coverage through UnitedHealthCare Oxford Dental plan options provided by UnitedHealthCare Generous paid time off : vacation time, sick time, summer days, holidays, personal days & winter break Job-protected leave for qualifying family or medical need Retirement Plan includes Defined Contribution and Deferred Compensation plans, plus up to a 9% employer contribution for eligible employees Tuition remission for employees, spouses/ domestic partners & dependents Tuition exchange for dependents at participating schools Gym reimbursement of $200 every 6 months for qualified employees Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Commuter Benefits Application Instructions Qualified individuals, please apply at: On-Ramps is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. We're partnering with the team at Mercy University to build a diverse team. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. On-Ramps is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact .

Created: 2024-11-02