Vice President for Finance and Administration

John Carroll University invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for Finance and Administration. As one of 28 Jesuit Catholic universities in the United States and the only Jesuit private higher education institution in Northeast Ohio, John Carroll is committed to preparing students for lives of engaged leadership and service through intellectual discovery in liberal arts, sciences, and business education. The institution seeks a dynamic, innovative and accomplished financial and business leader who will share in its commitment to Jesuit values in higher education.

With more than 3,000 undergraduate and 700 graduate students engaged in more than 60 majors, John Carroll is well known for its academic excellence and has steadily improved its ranking in the Midwest Regional Universities over the past three years and is now ranked 4th in the region. More information about the university may be found at www.jcu.edu.

John Carroll University has made tremendous progress in its financial and academic condition over the past two years and is now well-positioned to invest and expand its academic capability. With an endowment of more than $200 million, an annual operating budget in excess of $97 million (excluding financial aid), and an improved Moody's rating of “A3 stable,” the university is able to support its strategic initiatives.

The Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA) will report directly to President Michael D. Johnson, who assumed his position on June 1, 2018 as the institution’s first lay president. The VPFA will be a member of the university’s senior leadership team. The VPFA will be expected to have a comprehensive understanding of the key issues affecting private higher education, and all units within the business and finance portfolio. The VPFA also will serve as the corporate treasurer for the university. The Vice President will be a key partner with the president and the provost and academic vice president in the development of the upcoming 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

The VPFA is responsible for leading and managing the university’s finances and budget, treasury operations, investment management, human resources, information technology, facilities, purchasing, risk management, and external properties functions. The VPFA is the key staff liaison to the Finance Committee, Investment Committee, and Properties, Facilities and Technology Committee of the JCU Board of Directors and interacts with the board’s Audit Committee. The VPFA oversees a division of 78 staff, and serves as the focal point for the development of the finance and administrative organization.

John Carroll University welcomes all expressions of diversity that are in keeping with the Ignatian tradition of fostering an inclusive, compassionate, and respectful environment for our students, faculty, staff, administrators, and guests. Within this tradition, John Carroll University values the unique qualities in all individuals and the opportunity to learn from their many life experiences. The institution's pursuit of excellence demands that we come to understand and embrace the richness of ideas and ways of thinking that each person brings to the university community. We are committed to creating a campus climate in which our differences are explored openly and respectfully.

John Carroll University seeks to enable all members of the John Carroll community to develop their intellectual, spiritual, and vocational interests. This can only be realized in an environment that recognizes both the distinctiveness of each person’s experience and the common humanity that unites us all, taking full advantage of everyone’s talents, skills, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Credential review is underway and will continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, candidates should submit no later than June 7, 2019, a resume and a cover letter that addresses the responsibilities described in the Leadership Profile which can be found at www.wittkieffer.com. Nominations, application materials or confidential inquiries may be sent to the Witt/Kieffer consultants supporting this search, Lucy Leske and Kim Brettschneider at: JohnCarrollVPFA@wittkieffer.com.

John Carroll University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation,  veteran status, or any other status protected by law.