Director of Finance
SUMMARY
The Director of Financial Services functions as a support to the VP Finance / CFO who has ultimate responsibility as fiduciary manager for Calvin University and is accountable for leading the personnel in the financial services team to provide excellent performance, service, and continuous improvement in alignment with college goals and strategies.
The director’s portfolio supporting the VP Finance / CFO will include financial operations and services including the staff responsible for such functions;
oversight of endowment, investment, and debt consistent with university policies; external financial reporting, rating agency reporting, management of risk including contract management for the University and management of the insurance program, procurement, tax compliance and planning, and the annual budget.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Fiduciary Management : In support of the VP Finance / CFO, the Director of Finance is entrusted with the financial oversight of university resources and responsible for oversight of the university-wide reporting of financial information including management of the annual audit process working with the university external audit firm.
Responsible for university financial statements, fund accounting, capital budgeting and all external financial reporting to various regulatory bodies and agencies.
The Finance Director serves as an advisor to the VP Finance / CFO, the President’s Council, the Board of Trustees’ Administration and Finance, Investment, and Audit committees.
Financial Services Team : Manage general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, budgets, grant accounting and general treasury management functions.
Serve as the manager of the financial services team responsible for all day-to-day financial operations. The director needs to be committed to a philosophy of service and integrity in all financial matters with our students, faculty, and staff.
Investments and Debt : Manage investments including the endowment and other university funds by coordinating with our fiduciary investment advisor, receiving income, processing security sales, reporting status and results, managing gifts and their proper accounting, completing surveys and serving as a fiduciary resource to the investment committee and operating within established investment policies and portfolio purposes.
Also manage debt by evaluating the need for debt, assisting with the issuance of debt, evaluating debt reduction strategies;
ensuring debt service payments are made in a timely manner; analyzing the relationships between the unrestricted operating budget and debt covenants to ensure the prudent use of debt, compliance with all debt covenants, payment terms and other debt provisions.
Risk, Insurance, Contracts, Procurement and Tax Operations and Compliance : Manage university tax processes related to payroll taxes, unrelated business income taxes, nonresident alien taxes and treaties, property taxes, and annual tax filings, responding to questions and issues as they arise, and establishing polices to ensure university compliance with all applicable tax regulations working with external tax providers where appropriate.
Oversee university risk manager and partner with university risk and insurance providers and oversee the insurance program, evaluating adequate coverage, risks facing the university including overseeing policies and procedures related to risk, response to claims, and effective service to our university functional management and students.
In support of the VP Finance / CFO, and working with outside counsel as necessary, set and maintain policies and procedures for approval and execution of contracts and manage the contract database for the university.
In addition, in support of the VP Finance / CFO, establish and maintain proper policies and procedures for the University’s procurement of goods and services.
Maintain appropriate systems to track and document appropriate approval procedures are followed for the appropriation of all such services.
Budget, Forecasting, and Financial Planning : Manage annual budget process for university operations. Formulate financial forecasting and modeling for future periods.
Analyze inter-operational costs for determining the allocation of costs among university divisions, auxiliaries, institutes, seminary and denomination as well as significant external providers (dining and facilities) to maintain equitable distribution of commonly incurred expenses.
Assist with university-wide analysis reviewing costs associated with new and existing programs.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage financial services office staff; Assist VP Finance / CFO as required in relationship with external partners in audit / tax providers, investments, banking and treasury services, financing, insurance, legal, dining and facilities.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE
This position requires a Master’s degree or Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) or equivalent as well as a minimum of 10-15 years of related experience with progressive responsibilities and management experience.
Requires a broad knowledge of advanced technical procedures and practices. Pay commensurate with experience.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Must have a personal commitment to the Christian faith, embrace the Reformed tradition, and energetically support the mission of Calvin University.
Must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be committed to the development of a diverse, anti-racist and multicultural community.
Demonstrated commitment to personal and professional integrity. Possess a service orientation.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (preferred) or Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- This position requires the ability to manage the process and people who navigate the university’s finances regularly, regularly negotiate major purchases;
- solicit financial donations from companies or individuals; write proposals; plan, supervise and appraise the work of others;
interpret Calvin policies in situations requiring judgment and persuasion; and manage activities requiring excellent communication skills.
Is able to comfortably handle highly sensitive and / or confidential university information.
COMPLEXITY
The position requires the ability to define problems, collect date, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Technical instructions are furnished in a variety of mathematical or diagram form.
Deals with situations involving several abstract and concrete variables.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The position has independent authority to take actions or make decisions that will affect processes, policies, and people throughout the organization and to the customers who are served.
DECISION MAKING / JUDGMENT
This position requires broad latitude in decision making while establishing goals, plans and policies for an area of responsibility subject to cabinet-level review.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The position requires frequent participation with people from various perspectives, and deals with items that may be controversial.
Participants make decisions and solve problems through expertise, influence, persuasion and / or other interpersonal skills with infrequent supervision.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
The work in this position is performed within routine office conditions, usually without exposure to hazardous or unpleasant conditions.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT
1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.
2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.
DIVERSITY COMMITMENT
Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.