Office of the President

The VPFA provides support to the following committees of the board: Audit, Finance, Investment and Building and Grounds. Together with the provost, the VPFA co-chairs the college’s institutional effectiveness and budget committee. The VPFA assures that the financial and services infrastructure of the institution is appropriate to its goals; employs an understanding of systems and the technology tools available to facilitate institutional effectiveness; focuses appropriately on the ever-increasing need to proactively improve the financial control environment and protect the institution’s data and systems from cyber attack; and provides clear communication that enables the entire college to function optimally.

As an integral member of the college’s senior team, the VPFA provides leadership and managerial oversight for the following direct reports:

• Comptroller
• Associate Vice President for Facilities
• Associate Vice President for Information Technology
• Executive Director of Auxiliary Services
  

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership

The new VPFA will join the college at a critical moment in its history as the institution embraces an exciting new president and embarks upon a planning process to maintain fiscal stability while realizing the highest aspirations for the future. This is not a status quo position. The successful candidate will be a thought leader who partners with the new president and a strong senior leadership team in imagining, developing and implementing an ambitious and forward-thinking strategic plan that will guide the college through today’s challenging higher education environment into an even stronger future.

The VPFA will bring an understanding of a variety of budget models and the ability to translate the implications of complex financial decisions to a diverse set of audiences. The VPFA must be entrepreneurial and creative in seeking out new sources of revenues and external partnerships that reflect an understanding of and commitment to the college’s overall strategic priorities, its mission and its commitment to access and academic excellence.

Specifically, the new VPFA will be asked to address and execute on the following critical and inter- related leadership themes:

Partner with the president and serve as a principal steward of Ithaca College

The VPFA joins a president who has a clear and compelling vision for the future and who welcomes a partner to provide strategic financial thinking and analysis to support institutional planning. A member of the college’s executive leadership team, the vice president will work closely with all senior leaders and build strong relationships throughout the college. The next VPFA will bring an understanding of and respect for faculty work and the faculty world and will be eager to connect with and support the academic and intellectual enterprise of the college with students at its center. The new leader will be able to take a principled position, even in times of crisis; to ask good questions and listen well; and to embrace the Ithaca College culture and mission, modeling the college’s core values, championing diversity and inclusion, and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to transparency, democratic engagement, openness and communication.

Provide strategic financial leadership and communication

The new VPFA will contribute significant executive leadership to enhance the overall effectiveness of the college’s strategic and financial planning efforts. President Collado is especially eager to enhance a strong academic-financial partnership focused on the college’s academic mission. The new VPFA will have responsibility for maintaining and enhancing an environment in which financial planning and fiscal challenges and trade-offs are discussed broadly and frequently.

At the heart of this position, the new VPFA will partner with the president and board in pursuit of a new fiscal paradigm that will provide a strong scaffolding for the tuition-dependent college of the future.

Maintain a credible and transparent budget process

Thanks to a strong financial base, prudent choices in budgeting and disciplined fiscal practices, the college has closed each of the last several years in a favorable position. As chief financial officer, this leader has responsibility for maintaining and enhancing an environment in which campus-wide budgeting and reporting can be provided to all units, as well as ensuring the appropriate information technology environment for support of these initiatives. Having tested several budget models in the last decade, the college needs its next VPFA – who must understand the strengths of a variety of budget models – to bring stability and even greater strength to budgeting and the budget process.

Provide leadership, improve efficiency and enhance service

As a steward for the financial resources of the college, the VPFA is expected to model and promote proactive and progressive strategies for a high level of employee engagement within the finance division, fostering a culture of shared goals and developing cohesive teams that are customer-service and results-oriented. Ithaca College seeks a leader who will set high standards for professional growth, integrity and accountability; actively mentor and encourage staff to pursue professional development opportunities; instill a culture of service excellence; and provide a supportive, collegial, team-based environment that promotes productivity and continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the institution’s operations.

Qualities and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a visionary, transformative, inclusive, collaborative and entrepreneurial leader who is committed to the highest standards of excellence, integrity and accountability and recognizes the importance of human capital. The new vice president for finance and administration will be a strong and visible leader who leads open and honest dialogue throughout the campus community and with important external partners. The VPFA will possess all the traits of effective leadership including integrity; emotional intelligence and maturity; honesty; intelligence; optimism; prodigious energy; a commitment to excellence; outstanding judgment; creativity; decisiveness; diplomacy; and a sense of humor.

The VPFA will demonstrate the capacity to understand the complex issues facing higher education and shared governance; a deep appreciation for the mission of the college; and the ability to develop financial strategies that will support the college’s academic and student- centered agenda. Equally important, the VPFA should have successful experience with

strategic budget development, financial analysis and cost containment, as well as a demonstrated understanding of facilities, capital construction and the strategic value of information technology. Familiarity with enterprise risk management is desired.

Specifically, the ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

• Commitment to the Ithaca College mission with a strong orientation to service; a visionary, strategic, collaborative and inclusive leadership style; and commitment to the highest standards of excellence including high ethical standards, sound judgment and personal and professional integrity
  
• Understanding of and deep commitment to the academic enterprise as the central mission of the college
  
• Prior experience working with senior leadership teams and boards
  
• Demonstrated commitment and contribution to fostering and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion
  
• Demonstrated experience and success in all aspects of business and finance including financial and budgetary acumen, fiscally responsible management practices, fiduciary transparency and accountability; and superior financial planning and analytical skills and an in-depth knowledge of strategic financial analysis and modeling, and ability to analyze complex financial and accounting matters
  
• Track record of successful leadership within a complex organization with multiple stakeholder groups; and strong interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills with an ability to build trust and confidence with multiple and diverse constituencies such as faculty, staff, students, corporate partners, community leaders and the public
  
• Considerable experience as a manager with a demonstrated success in leading, empowering and delegating effectively to a successful team; significant project management and change management experience; and open, accessible and transparent approach to management along with significant experience in building teams and the capacities of the members of those teams
  
• Experience in private higher education administration and/or the non-profit sector is desirable, though the college is open to considering strong candidates who come from the for-profit, commercial world
  
• Master’s degree in finance, accounting or business administration or equivalent combination of education and experience