Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration

Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration

About the University

Michigan Tech was founded in 1885 with a mission to train mining engineers in Upper Michigan’s Copper Country. The University has evolved into a leading public research institution, home to more than 7,000 students from 60 countries around the world. It offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, science and technology, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences through seven colleges and schools. Its beautiful campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.

Michigan Tech’s enabling legislation calls on the University to provide the means for residents of Michigan to acquire knowledge that will contribute to industry. Throughout its history, Michigan Tech has focused on application-oriented research and education in alignment with this charge from the legislature. Michigan Tech receives a greater proportion of its research funding from industry than any other university in the state.

About the Position

Reporting to the President, the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration advises on all matters pertaining to the management and operation of accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, budget management and control, bursar, student aid disbursement, budget preparation, financial information systems, credit management, collections, fiscal planning, financial statement preparation, investing, procurement, risk management, Human Resources, facilities, auxiliary services, information technology, safety and security, and payroll. The CFO exercises a major responsibility for the accounting and investing of the Michigan Tech Fund and serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and as the Treasurer to the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer helps to promote a customer-oriented service attitude and serves as the executive officer directly responsible for providing leadership and general management of the following financial service units:

• Facilities Management

• Training, Reporting, Biosafety, Chemical Safety, General Safety, Departmental Safety & Chemical Hygiene Liaisons, Hazardous Waste, Safety Policy and Procedures, SDS

• Institutional Planning and Innovation

• Bookstore, Dining, Student Union, Ski Hill, Golf Course, Room, Reservations, Housing Operations, Continuous Improvement, Mineral Museum, Police, Parking, Shuttle, Fleet, Facilities Operations

• Staff Employment, Academic Employment, Benefits, Wellness, Talent Acquisition, Employee Training and Dev., Onboarding and Orientation, Performance Mgmt., Immigration & Visa

• Accounting Services, Cash Mgmt., Investment Mgmt., Debt Mgmt., Purchasing, Payroll, Travel, MTF, Payment Plans, Loans, Collections, Student Billing, Cashiers, Banner, Report Writing, Software Support, Website, SPO, SPA

• Telecommunications, Security and Compliance, IT Operations, IT Service Mgmt., Media Tech. Services, Tech. Services, Enterprise Application Services, Research Computing, IT Business Operations, Help Desk, Project Mgmt., Presentation and Classroom Support

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; a CPA or a Master's degree is preferred.

• Extensive financial and budget management experience in an institution of higher education is required.

• Strong leadership and strategic planning abilities are required.

• Strong ability to lead and manage teams of people, and the ability to partner with and influence senior management, peers and others using a collaborative mentality and style, is required

• The ability to project a strong positive image of the University through interaction with all constituencies conducting business with the University, including the media, is required.

• Executive problem-solving skills and the ability to organize and manage complex functions are required.

• Ability to drive and manage change in an academic environment is required.

• Exceptional aptitude in financial activities management is required.

• Must be skilled in using financial management software commonly used in higher education.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

• Demonstrated success in working with persons from diverse backgrounds is required.

• Demonstrated experience promoting a diverse workforce is preferred.

• Successful track record of innovation is preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Promotes the financial well-being of the University by providing budget management, monitoring appropriate investments of temporary cash balances, exercising executive control over University budgets, and safeguarding all financial assets of the University.

• Advises the President, senior University administration officers, and members of the Board of Trustees on issues relating to the financial status of the University by serving as a member of the President’s Council, reporting financial information at Board of Trustees meetings, and by preparing reports, recommendations, findings, and other correspondence as required.

• Helps to ensure achievement of the goals and objectives of the University by overseeing the preparation of an annual appropriations request to the State of Michigan and overseeing the preparation of an internal budget using budget models to project future revenue and following established policies for expenditures.

• Ensures compliance with professional accounting standards, rules, regulations, and laws by directing, supervising, and facilitating the preparation and maintenance of required and appropriate financial records, monthly and annual financial reports, and all other financial reporting as may be required by federal, state, local agencies, or established accounting standards.

• Facilitates the governance of the University by providing financial information to the Board of Trustees and implementing the Board’s decisions through the establishment of policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Prevents institutional liability in financial operations by facilitating the access of the independent auditors to requested records during the conduct of the University's annual audit.

• Ensures compliance with the institutional mission of the University by working with unit managers to develop and review unit plans, goals, and objectives, assuring development of effective business processes incorporating automation with appropriate technologies, designing systems of effective controls to guide work toward expected outcomes, and evaluating progress towards their accomplishment.

• Ensures that Financial Services has the resources necessary to provide financial information to support the academic program, such as preparation of financial reports and the development of incentive funding and cost recovery models that support innovation and growth.

• Ensures efficient and effective operation of the procurement function by overseeing procurement services, property and receiving as well as all University real estate transactions and risk management/insurance analysis and transactions.

• Enables employees to perform their assigned tasks by overseeing the preparation and implementation of the annual budget for Financial Services.

• Explores innovative and forward-thinking models of higher education funding to ensure financial viability and success of the institution.

• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

• Remains competent and current by reading professional journals and literature, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as appropriate.

• Ensures that miscellaneous assignments are completed in the best interests of the University by accepting and accomplishing all other tasks assigned by the President.

Application Procedure

The Search Committee invites nominations, applications (a letter of interest, resume, and the names and contact information of five or more references) or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting Michigan Technological University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted to the search firm prior to February 4, 2019.

For additional information, please contact:

Laurie C. Wilder, President

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2900

Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-804-1996 x109 or x112
pwilliams@parkersearch.com | rmcneal@parkersearch.com

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes proving equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.