Chief Financial Officer, NAU Foundation

Workplace Culture

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU’s culture of excellence.

Job Description

The NAU Foundation’s Chief Financial Officer is accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the Foundation, including the development of a financial and operational strategy and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to reserve Foundation assets and report accurate financial results. Concurrent responsibilities within the university’s division of Advancement | Foundation include oversight of financial analysis and Prop 109 scholarships and leverage strategic real estate, intellectual property, or venture capital projects. The position reports to the NAU Foundation Chief Executive Officer/Advancement Vice President.

Essential Functions

Financial Records and Reporting - 60%

• Manage the Foundation’s accounting and financial reporting operations in a manner that most effectively and efficiently supports the mission of the Foundation.
• Supervise the maintenance of complete and accurate financial records in compliance with GAAP.
• Oversee annual external audit, including meeting with auditors, providing requested documentation, ensuring staff preparation of necessary paperwork, and communicating audit report findings with the NAU Foundation Board.
• Review all IRS and State tax filing.
• Coordinate all legal work and contract negotiation for the Foundation.
• Work with university community in setting up and maintaining Foundation accounts.
• Prepare annual budget in coordination with the Foundation CEO / Vice President and Finance Committee.
• Report on Foundation’s financial condition to the CEO and the Foundation Board.
• Serve as staff to the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees of the Foundation Board.
• Manage the leasing program for Educational Broadband Service FCC licenses including all legal interactions, lease negotiations, device placement, and usage monitoring.
• Advise Investment Committee of any matters deemed appropriate about the status of the endowment investment performance and make recommendations to the Committee concerning any such matters.
• Serve as point person for contact and transaction of business with investment consultants.
• Assess and inform Investment Committee of investment plans, programs, and procedures of other similar organizations and make recommendations thereby for the Foundation.
• Manage the state charitable registration program.
• Under the direction of the Foundation CEO, oversee operations of Northern Arizona Real Estate Holdings and NAU Ventures, two subsidiaries of the NAU Foundation, and support additional revenue-generation initiatives.
• Coordinate all transactions related to subordinate entities: corporate initiation, legal and tax issues, accounts payable, general ledger, budget, and university reporting.
• Oversee the Foundation scholarship program in compliance with state law.
• Help lead the development and execution of NAU Foundation goals and strategies in alignment with NAU’s strategic priorities.

University Financial Records and Reporting - 30%

• Perform duties for Advancement | Foundation including university budgeting, departmental expense reporting, and ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Work closely with NAU Comptroller’s office for audit reporting and compliance with Arizona Board of Regents component unit agreement.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the university offices of comptroller, budget, human resources, office of scholarships and financial aid, and institutional analysis.
• Supervise the Advancement | Foundation financial oversight team.
• Ensure that all gifts are accepted according to Foundation policies, implemented according to donor intent, and reported in compliance with CASE standards.

Administration - 10%

• Serve as a member of the division’s executive leadership team guiding division-wide fundraising and engagement strategy.
• Serve on university committees as a division designee.
• In collaboration with service delivery teams and NAU Human Resources, coordinate division all hiring, orientation, and talent management.
• Manage division administration including purchasing, scholarships, logistics, and facility management

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field of study, with a preference for an advanced degree in a relevant field of study and/or a CPA and/or CFA Certificate.
• Four or more years of leading across organizations OR a minimum of five years of management or supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, marketing, or related field.
• 7-10 years of related experience.
• Five or more years in public education institution or in a nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience working with external auditors, internal controls, and compliance related issues.
• Experience working and collaborating with a nonprofit board of directors.
• Possess a broad understanding of best practices in financial management, operation, technology, and organizational development.
• Experience working with endowment investments and public markets.
• Experience working with higher education forms of revenue-generating initiatives such as real-estate development, intellectual property, etc.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrated experience working in and with culturally diverse communities.
• Demonstrated ability to set the tone for a department driven on professionalism, productivity, responsiveness, a strong work ethic, responsibility, collaboration, open communication, mutual respect, and achievement.
• Flexibility and the demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, complex, academic environment while juggling numerous projects and satisfying numerous constituents simultaneously.
• An ability to serve as a motivator and mentor to staff while increasing the level of performance and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans, implement programs and manage and implement change.
• Understanding of GAAP, GASB, FASB, SOX.
• Experience with a constituent database and accounting software.
• Experience with ERP Systems (Peoplesoft preferred).
• Experience with accounts payable and receivable accounting duties.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Excellent communication skills including verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Experience working with real estate, intellectual property, or venture capital projects.

General Information

Northern Arizona University has a student population of 29,569, including approximately 21,000 on its main campus in Flagstaff and the remainder at more than 20 locations statewide and online.

Committed to a diverse and civil working and learning environment, NAU has earned a solid reputation as a university with all the features of a large institution but with a personal touch, with a faculty and staff dedicated to each student’s success. All faculty members are expected to promote student learning and help students achieve academic outcomes.

While our emphasis is undergraduate education, we offer a wide range of graduate programs and research. Our institution has carefully integrated on-campus education with distance learning, forming seamless avenues for students to earn degrees.

Flagstaff has a population of about 70,000, rich in cultural diversity. Located at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff is 140 miles north of Phoenix at intersection of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40.

For information about diversity, access and equity at NAU, see the Center for University Access and Inclusion webpage .

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

As of 12/10/21, the Safer Federal Workforce employee vaccination requirement is currently suspended pending the outcome of a federal court-issued injunction. This injunction has suspended the recent executive order issued by President Biden requiring all employees of federal contractors to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. For current status of the vaccine requirement and/or questions, please visit FAQs for Employee Vaccination Requirement .

Background Information

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting.

If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report . The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities.

If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Salary range begins at $145,713. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Benefits

This is an Administrator (ADM) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP); 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified family members. More information on benefits at NAU is available at the NAU HR benefits page .

NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.

Administrators are hired on a contract basis renewable each year according to terms of the Conditions of Administrative Service. These terms can be found on the Arizona Board of Regents website .

Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). Employees will have 31 days from date of hire to enroll in benefits, and their benefits will then be effective the first day of the pay period following their completed enrollment.

If a new employee chooses the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) retirement option, participation in the ASRS Plan (and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it) will begin on the first of the pay period following 183 days of employment. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP; an alternative to the ASRS plan) will begin to participate on the first day of employment. The long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following 90 days of employment. More information about NAU benefits is available at the NAU HR benefits page .

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submission Deadline

This vacancy will be open until filled or closed. Committee review of applications is expected to begin on March 28, 2022.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button at the end of the job description if viewing this position through the NAU HR website. Otherwise, to view the original post and to apply, proceed to nau.jobs , follow the 'Faculty and Administrator Openings' link, locate vacancy 605830, and then "Apply" at the bottom of the page.

The NAU Advancement Foundation is partnering with WittKieffer, a national search firm in this search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited.

Candidates should upload with the NAU application, as two separate documents, a résumé and a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Chief Financial Officer Leadership Profile .

Inquiries and nominations may be sent via email to NAU's consultants Ben Haden and Lisa Meyer at NAUFCFO@wittkieffer.com .

If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the HR website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD - 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.