Colorado College - Associate Vice President for Finance

Colorado College, one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges and home to the creative and innovative block plan, seeks a strategic and exceedingly astute financial leader for its Associate Vice President for Finance (AVPF).

A private, four-year liberal arts college with roughly 2,300 undergraduates, Colorado College is located on a beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs and is the only institution of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. The campus features historically recognized buildings and innovative contemporary architecture. Best known for its Block Plan, where students take, and professors teach, only one class at a time, Colorado College attracts top students seeking new perspectives and an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (VPF/CFO), the AVPF will work across divisions to optimize the college’s decision-making capabilities and inspire the highest standards of financial performance. The new leader will serve as the Deputy Finance Officer and as a strategic partner to the VPF/CFO, in financial administration and in the college’s accounting operations including finance, endowment, accounting, payroll, taxes, student business operations, contract review, budget, purchasing/procurement, audit control and compliance, and technology resources.

The AVPF will help to develop and implement strategies and procedures that will ensure the continued financial viability of the college, enabling Colorado College to continue to advance its educational mission. Additionally, the AVPF will oversee a team of approximately fourteen dedicated, technical, and experienced professionals and functional areas including general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, cashiering, student loans and accounts, payroll, and investment administration. The AVPF provides a range of financial services and operations to support the fiscal integrity of the college. Through strong stewardship of the college’s financial resources, enforcement of effective policy, procedures, and internal controls, and through accurate financial reporting, the team strives to serve the institution’s constituents and build upon a reputation of trust and responsive and reliable financial management.

The AVPF will join Colorado College at a pivotal moment in the institution’s history. L. Song Richardson became the college’s 14th president in July of 2021 with the vision “to prepare students to create a more just world by igniting their passions and potential, and encouraging them to reach across differences to find common ground and understanding.” Working alongside the VPF/CFO, the AVPF will advance a strategic budgeting process for Colorado College that reaffirms and builds upon the president’s vision and the long-standing mission to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country.

The ideal candidate for the AVPF position will embody Colorado College’s core values and will not only value the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion — but will subscribe to the institution’s anti-racism commitment and deliver meaningful results and outcomes in their daily work, including the budgeting choices they make and the ways they mentor and communicate with their staff. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related area and a minimum of ten years of proven leadership experience in finance and administration that includes progressively responsible management experience in accounting, audits, investments, and debt, and a broad range of business operations is required. Prior experience in higher education and knowledge of accounting standards established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board for private institutions preferred. Some public accounting experience is a plus.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. WittKieffer is assisting Colorado College in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by May 29, 2023. Application materials should be submitted to WittKieffer’s candidate portal using the buttons below.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Sarah Palmer and Kim Migoya

ColoradoCollegeAVPFinance@wittkieffer.com

Compensation Range: $175,000 – $200,000

Benefits: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/humanresources/benefits/index.html

At Colorado College, we are dedicated to dismantling systemic and institutional discrimination. We embrace diversity and support a community where all individuals, without exception, feel valued, empowered, and treated equitably. Guided by the College’s Antiracism Plan, we work to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all who teach, learn, work, and live in our community.

Colorado College aims to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country. As a leading institution in higher education, we strive for inclusive excellence in access to, and development and delivery of, outstanding learning opportunities and success for our diverse community of individuals who teach, learn, and work at the college. We pursue the equal opportunity of individuals to fully participate in our mission.

Colorado College is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship—including (but not limited to) recruiting, hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, and access to training—without regard to race, creed, color, caste, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or gender expression, perceived gender, sexual preferences and sexual orientation), disability, marital status, veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.