Job Description:
In collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President of Finance will lead Berklee’s financial, budgeting, and reporting infrastructure across all Berklee campuses. They will oversee a staff of approximately 25 full-time employees and will manage Berklee’s $350+ million operating budget and a capital budget of approximately $20 million. The Vice President will be a critical financial leader who is driven by a strong vision and has a passion for transformational change.
Role Responsibilities:
Working with the CFO and senior leadership, the Vice President will implement best practices, create an efficient and effective financial operation, and drive innovation and change for the institution across the following areas:
Strategic Leadership & Management:
Manage and drive financial resourcing and transformation initiatives in the finance division.
Oversee and support preparation of board committee materials for the Finance & Budget, Investment Committee, and Audit & Risk Committees including financial performance updates, financial outlook, investment analysis, risk management updates, and committee memos.
Serve on key internal committees including the President’s Council and data governance.
Collaborate with the Office of Enrollment and Institutional Research, support the annual accreditation requirements and reports, and annual rating agency update process, including annual data requests.
Participate in The Boston Consortium (TBC), to effectively leverage learnings, best practices across its membership, and information exchange as needed.
Partner with General Counsel to support the contract management and execution while supporting the risk management function within the GC office as appropriate.
Support the college rating agency process, including yearly reviews, reporting requirements, and relationships.
Manage all major financial vendors (banks, financial advisors, auxiliary organizations, etc.) for all requirements and annual reporting.
Provide supervision and mentorship to the finance leadership team charged with delivering best practices financial services and operations to campus constituents.
Budgeting & Reporting:
Oversee budgeting and financial planning, including the annual budgeting process and financial forecasting.
Oversee the design and implementation of budget vs. actual reports of both revenue and expenses and timely projections to year-end.
Drive implementation of best practices and process enhancements around institutional budgeting, timely budget development, improved budget/analysis tools, and monthly reports.
Help drive optimization of Workday Finance and Adaptive Insights (within Workday) and/or equivalent tools for budgeting, monitoring, and forecasting both revenues and expenses.
Collaborate and partner with key stakeholders on enrollment, tuition setting, net tuition revenue, and all other major budgeting assumptions.
Optimize the quarterly financial review process to ensure better communication and financial transparency at the institutional level and for the President, the CFO, executive leadership team, learning environments, and individual units.
Ensure the development of critical management reporting to the President and the CFO, making use of the existing templates and dashboards and updating them as appropriate.
Accounting & Financial Operations:
Oversee all monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes in conjunction with the Controller and other finance leadership.
Lead the delivery of quarterly and annual financial statements. Ensure timely development of supporting financial reports, such as enrollment details, tuition analyses, donor gifts, financial roll-forwards, etc.
Drive improvements in internal controls, including documentation and knowledge transfer as the Accounting team continues to strengthen.
Oversee all cash management/treasury functions of the organization.
Oversee the investment accounting function, including Fundriver support for investments, all reconciliations, audit requirements, and working with external financial investment advisors.
Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and regular financial reporting in accordance with GAAP.
Manage the relationship with independent auditors and support the Controller in working with auditors including annual Financial Statement Audit, Pension and 403B audit, State audit requirements and the Uniform Guidance audit.
Partner with auditors on developing ongoing internal controls training for key areas in the institution including Finance, Berklee Online, Student Accounts, and Student Financial Services.
Lead audit preparation and oversee the audit process to ensure financial compliance.
Coordinate internal audit work with The Boston Consortium, ensuring appropriate stakeholders from the College are involved and the Audit & Risk Committee is updated.
Campus Business Services:
Lead enhancement and innovation to ensure Berklee continues to have a cost-effective program facilitating procurement of goods and services.
Oversight of the management of the contract process in partnership with General Counsel and in compliance with budget and policies.
Ensure key vendor performance and oversee the RFP process and evaluation of vendors.
Administer the college's two-card program and procurement module.
Oversee Controller and AP team to manage and enhance the procure-to-pay process.
Oversee the Auxiliary Services within the Campus Business Service unit as it relates to the contracts, budgets, RFP, and on-going business relationships.
Qualifications:
10+ years in a financial leadership role within complex higher education or non-profit environments, with prior experience in accounting or audit functions strongly preferred.
Prior experience in preparing and leading the process to produce annual audited financial statements.
Strong understanding of and experience with strategic financial management, annual budgeting and planning process, financial forecasting, and internal controls.
Experience in Workday, Adaptive Insights, Fundriver or comparable enterprise financial systems.
Excellent analytical skills and a proven track record of financial modeling and analysis.
A track record of transformational leadership, with experience in change management, building teams, and continuous optimization/innovation.
Experience in collaborating at the C-suite/Board level.
Thorough understanding of the full range of university business functions and systems including business analysis, finance and budgeting, auxiliary services, and financial information systems.
Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends and incorporate them into financial planning.
A CPA strongly preferred and/or MBA.
Personal Characteristics Desired:
Sound judgment and problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution.
A high level of emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and relationship building.
An entrepreneurial spirit and passion for transformation.
An orientation toward student and customer service.
An appreciation for music and the arts.
Demonstrated competence and a strong, genuine commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
High level of cultural competence and values, ethics, and principles that align with the Berklee community, in which every voice is valued and respected and where a diverse, inclusive, work and learning environment is essential.
Comfortable working in a complex and fast-paced work environment, including a nimble, flexible, and adaptable working style.
Talent for building relationships across an institution to facilitate synergistic problem-solving toward achieving institutional and financial priorities.
Ability to coach staff and implement change with direct reports while collaborating with strategic partners in other areas toward a broad, strategic mandate.
Superior leadership capability and the judgment and confidence to successfully make and implement decisions.
Berklee has retained Stanton Chase as executive search partners to assist in conducting this search. Confidential applications, inquiries, nominations/referrals, should be sent electronically to the Stanton Chase executive search team as indicated below:
Charles Nailen
Managing Director
Stanton Chase DC
Email:
c.nailen@stantonchase.com
Jeff Perkins
Managing Director
Stanton Chase DC
Email:
j.perkins@stantonchase.com
Prianka Maharaj
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Stanton Chase DC
Email:
p.maharaj@stantonchase.com
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at
hroperations@Berklee.edu
or call 617-747-2375.
Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Executive