Associate Vice President for Finance

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for providing leadership and direction for accounting and financial matters of the University, to include Accounting, Accounts Payable, and Grants and Contracts and Procurement. He/she ensures that financial reporting is accurate, timely and compliant with generally accepted accounting standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or related field
• Master’s, MBA and/or CPA licensure preferred 
• Five (5) years’ experience of progressively responsible financial and administrative senior management experience, preferably in a higher education institution 

Essential Job Functions

• Provides leadership and management oversight to assigned accounting and financial functions
• Monitors the University’s cash flow to ensure the availability of funds necessary for daily operations; reviews cash flow reports and compiles cash flow projection reports for review by the Senior VP for Finance, Administrative Services & Operations/CFO, President, and/or Board of Trustees
• Monitors and approves all warrants of the University
• Manages the University’s operating cash and short-term investments and works closely with the Senior VP for Finance, Administrative services & Operations/CFO to develop and enhance banking relationships
• Provides modeling and analysis of University financial operations
• Manages University debt, including bonds, letters of credit, lines of credit, leases and bond covenants; interacts regularly with lenders, creditors and government agencies
• Ensures compliance with standards and best practices issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASBO), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, MS Department of Education and other relevant agencies and entities
• Monitors and collaborates with the Office of Financial Aid in the financial administration and compliance programs of the university, including federal student loans, SEOF, Pell and Work Study
• Provides oversight of pre- and post-award sponsored programs administration and monitoring of grant awards, grant drawdowns and other grant reporting and reconciliation functions and ensures compliance with terms and conditions of awarded grants
• Provides oversight of budgets operating variances and development of remedial action plans with responsible managers
• Develops, promotes and follows sound fiscal practices, procedures and internal controls in the conduct of University business, financial and operational affairs and evaluates financial programs on an ongoing basis to ensure their effectiveness
• Other related duties, as assigned

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of standards and best practices issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Associate of College and University Business Officers, Internal Revenue Service, Mississippi Department of Education and other relevant agencies
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting and cost control principles, including generally accepted accounting principles
• Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems
• Knowledge of federal and state financial regulations
• Innovative leadership and managerial skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills, verbal, written and interpersonal
• Ability to work productively with others in a collegial setting to build, motivate and maintain strong and mutually supportive academic and administrative teems
• Ability to plan, advocate for resources and sustain a commitment to the ongoing development of institutional infrastructures