Vice President for Finance and Administration

: Position Category: Staff (Exempt) FLSA: Exempt FTE: 1 Location: Thousand Oaks University Background: The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person's dignity. Basic Function: Executing multiple high-impact initiatives to achieve overall university goals, the Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA) serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) responsible for developing the university's overall financial policies and setting the strategic direction of all financial functions including accounting, budget, credit, insurance, tax, and treasury. The VP for Finance and Administration ensures that proper financial controls are in place and that financial transactions support the overall business strategy while conforming to applicable laws and regulations. This VPFA reports directly to the President as part of the executive leadership team. Through a divisional leader, the VPFA also serves as the Chief Auxiliary Services Officer who provides oversight to several administrative units at the institution. As part of this role, the VPFA supervises the facilities management area which includes the following: development and management of physical and natural assets; maintenance operations-custodial services and landscaping; construction and design; space planning; asset management; oversight of owned and leased property; and campus safety. Also through a divisional leader, the VPFA provides oversight to Auxiliary Services, including housing, dining/hospitality services, and the university bookstore and the management of the Auxiliary Services functions. As part of this role, the VPFA negotiates service-provider contracts; recommends to the cabinet the housing, dining rates, and preschool rates; and reviews the profitability of Auxiliary Services. Representative Duties: Oversees, reviews, develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures for internal and external financial reporting, budgeting and financial operations. Plans, develops, and implements financial strategic goals, priorities, policies, and procedures across multiple finance functional areas to ensure efficient financial resource deployment. Provides expertise and oversight of the Business Office, including financial management and reporting, budget and forecast preparation and control, payroll, purchasing, fiscal record management, tax compliance, and systems and processes related to the disbursement of funds. Provides oversight and leadership to Facilities Services, including helping to guide space planning, asset management, the Campus/Master Planning process and related programs. Provides oversight and leadership to Auxiliary Services and identifies (in ongoing ways) how these areas contribute to the overall campus experience, the university mission, and the financial sustainability of the overall enterprise. Provides strategic financial leadership to the institution, contributing to the overall strategy and operational goals of the university form a broad business perspective and with a focus on both influencing change and most effectively deploying the university's financial resources, making recommendations and solutions to the President, the President's Cabinet, and department heads for resolution and future consideration. Prepares long-range projections to manage a financial strategy. Plans, coordinates, and presents the annual university budget and ongoing forecasting, adjusting the direction to the university and updates throughout the year to the Board. Implements appropriate fiscal contingency planning and ensures the university is appropriately responsive to external changes and trends. Manages and reviews the investment of the endowment, trust, and other funds subject to the guidelines and limitations prescribed by the President and the Board of Regents. Serves as a divisional representative and subject matter expert to institutional leadership and internal and external stakeholders providing financial direction and information, fostering collaborative relationships across multiple functional areas, and representing the interests of the division. Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, and disciplining. Knowledge Of: Full range of the financials as well as a thorough understanding of financial planning models and areas of risk and core financial issues. Strategic financial management, annual budgeting and planning process, financial forecasting, and internal controls. Trends in enterprise resource management systems. External and internal auditing principles and effective operational implementation. Ability To: Partner with the President and President's Cabinet as well as key university leaders, and the Board. Develop and lead detailed financial analysis of various business strategies and options facing higher education. Organize and present financial data in an effective format for various levels of the organization. Think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into financial planning. Provide constructive feedback to team members to support continuous improvement. Implement change with direct reports while collaborating with strategic partners in other areas toward a broad, strategic mandate. Analyze complex problems and devise innovative solutions; perceive the implications and potential consequences of various situations, and assess the potential impact of alternative courses of action. Adjust to changing circumstances, respond to internal and external stress constructively, and manage conflict. Be relationship-driven and a proactive and responsive communicator orally and in writing; be astute and have relevant experience navigating complexity and different personalities. Exercise high-level problem identification/mitigation/resolution/leadership skills to successfully make and implement decisions. Facilitate progressive organizational change and staff development. Minimum Qualifications: Any combination equivalent to: a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, or business administration (with a major in accounting or finance) plus a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Managerial Accountant certification, or Master's degree in Accounting or Finance, or MBA (with emphasis in Finance), or equivalent combination of education and work experience; and fifteen years of related progressive responsibility in the field of finance with at least ten years of significant management and supervisory experience.. Preferred Qualifications: Higher Education experience in a private institution.Experience overseeing administrative functions including Facilities and Auxiliary Services. Licenses and Other Requirements: None. Physical Abilities: Detect to understand appropriate written correspondence; operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer; communicate to exchange information in person, in writing, on the telephone and by email; stationary position for extended periods of time; move or transport light objects; position self to store and/or retrieve files Working Environment: Dynamic office environment; diverse campus community; multiple interruptions; multiple project deadlines; professional commitment; occasional weekend work; some travel. Hiring Range $200,000-$250,000 Posting Number: Staff004282022 Open Date: 05/21/2025 Close Date: 6/22/2025 Application Procedure/Special Instructions To apply, visit California Lutheran University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment for all persons, regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility of the University on the basis of these factors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University's policies, procedures, and processes. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process can be provided to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information or to request an accommodation. jeid-0db5ad8a4dfe944ba260690d0b3e6727