Vice President, Division of Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Position Title

Vice President, Division of Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer

R0005944

Waltham, MA

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President, Division of Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a member of the President's Cabinet and acts as a key business partner with other Cabinet members to advance the University's mission and strategic plan. The CFO is a strategist, who advises the President, Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees on the alignment of financial resources and business strategies that will allow the University to achieve its short- and long-term strategic goals while ensuring compliance with all accounting and financial regulations.

The CFO serves as a visionary leader, ensuring financial responsibility while fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive institutional success in a complex and evolving economic landscape. The CFO also takes the lead in promoting a campus climate of financial transparency, good stewardship of institutional resources, and open and respectful dialogue about use and alternative uses of university funds. The CFO is responsible for providing strategic as well as tactical leadership for the University's financial operations and physical plant, and is charged with partnering with the President, the Provost, and other members of the Cabinet to align the university's financial resources with its strategic goals.

Critically important is the need for the candidate to be an expert in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and integrated business and strategic planning. Given the challenges facing higher education as an industry, Bentley will rely on the CFO to partner closely with the President and Provost to lead a collaborative process of budgeting, resource allocation, and resource optimization that reflects the changes influencing both the higher education industry and Bentley University.

• Ensure that the financial, capital and operational resources are safeguarded, developed, and managed wisely, deployed with integrity, and aligned with the University's goals and external expectations.
• Direct responsibility for proactive and strategic financial management of the institution's financial reporting/statements, internal financial controls, long range financial risk models, including accountability for the annual operating and capital budgets, fiscal policies and procedures, and the efficiency and effectiveness of financial systems.
• Provide leadership, advice and counsel on campus facilities planning and operations, and financial planning strategies to the President's Cabinet.
• Primary contact and management of the Audit Committee, Administration and Finance Committee, and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees. With the Committee Chair, drive the agenda for each committee.
• Provide timely and accurate Financial Planning & Analysis for the President, Vice Presidents, Associate Vice Presidents, and Board of Trustees.
• Oversee Bentley's investment portfolios, cash management function, and fund managers for assets not managed by the OCIO (outsourced Chief Investment Officer).
• Design, manage, communicate, and execute all aspects of the University's debt strategy consistent with strategic and capital needs and goals.
• Partner closely with the VP for University Advancement to project and monitor gifts for annual and capital purposes.
• Drive an effective risk management and internal audit function, ensuring the organization is deriving value from these efforts.
• Responsible for the University's casualty and liability insurance coverage, ensuring that the program is up to date and provides adequate coverage.
• Ensure the institution's physical plant is maintained and serving the tactical and strategic needs of the community.
• Manage the campus and conference services effectively, serving our students, faculty, and staff, while also generating an important source of revenue diversification.
• Design a procurement function that supports the divisions as they select vendor partners and optimize service and cost.
• Represent the University to diverse external parties including rating agencies, banks, insurance representatives, external auditors, and others.
• Establish strong working relationships with the President, Board of Trustees, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans and key members of faculty and administration, with a strong commitment to collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect.
• Assist the President and Provost in providing regular updates to the campus community about the University's financial resources and performance.

• Degree in a relevant field plus at least 15 years of related experience. Strong financial and operational experience. An MBA and/or CPA is a plus. Solid treasury experience and comprehensive knowledge of capital financing including debt issuance, bond ratings, and other complex financing strategies.
• Proven ability to partner effectively as a fully…