Description
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of Finance and Administration (“CFO”) serves as the senior financial leader of the College and a key strategic partner to the President and Board of Trustees. The CFO is responsible for the overall financial health, sustainability, and stewardship of the institution, including financial planning, budgeting, treasury, investments, compliance, and risk management. The position is now open due to the retirement of a long-serving individual.
The successful CFO candidate will be able to demonstrate strategic thinking, is mission-driven, and has experience as a CFO or Director of Finance in higher education, non-profit, privately held for-profit or a related field. We are seeking an individual who has a collaborative management style and an entrepreneurial spirit.
In a smaller college environment, such as Trocaire College, the CFO plays a highly visible and hands-on leadership role, effectively balancing strategic financial planning with operational execution. Ideally, the role requires a deep understanding of tuition-driven revenue models, enrollment sensitivity, and the regulatory landscape of higher education.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the financial future of a mission-driven college deeply rooted in healthcare education and workforce development in Western New York. The CFO will play a central role in driving sustainability, supporting enrollment growth, and ensuring the College continues to deliver high-impact, career-focused education.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1958, (originally called Sancta Maria College and changed their name to Trocaire College in 1967) is a private, career-oriented institution known for its strength in:
Healthcare and nursing programs
Allied health and workforce-ready degrees
Serving diverse, non-traditional, and first-generation students
The College plays a critical role in addressing regional workforce shortages – particularly in healthcare - across Buffalo and the broader Western New York Region.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required, (Masters preferred) with 7 or more years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience.
Prior CFO or senior finance leadership experience; strong preference for higher education, non-profit, or similarly complex environments.
Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically.
Excellent communication skills; written and oral.
Experience in tuition driven or enrollment sensitive business models is a nice-to-have and will set you apart.
Excellent ability to translate financial data into clear strategic decisions; is competent in interpreting and following generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), FASB, NACUBO and federal/state policies and regulations.
Is knowledgeable regarding facilities management.
Has experience with Debt Financing and Management.
Analyzes and communicates multiple, complex tasks within and external to the College community.
Understands the changing role of technology and its application in an educational environment.
Stays current in the fields of Finance and Accounting.
Proven success partnering with Boards.
Must be collaborative and relationship driven.
High integrity, transparent and analytical thinker.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
Self-Management: Prioritizes and completes tasks in order to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames; independently pursues business objectives in an organized and efficient manner; prioritizes activities as necessary to meet job responsibilities; maintains the required level of activity toward achieving goals without direct supervision; minimizes workflow disruptions and timewasters to complete high-quality work within a specified time frame.
Planning And Organization: Establishes a process for activities that lead to the implementation of systems, procedures, or outcomes; defines plans and organizes activities necessary to reach targeted goals; organizes and utilizes resources in ways that maximize their effectiveness; implements appropriate plans and adjusts them as necessary; consistently demonstrates organization and detail orientation.
Personal Accountability: Accepts personal responsibility for the consequences of personal actions; avoids placing unnecessary blame on others; maintains a personal commitment to objectives regardless of the success or failure of personal decisions; applies personal lessons learned from past failures to moving forward in achieving future successes.
Goal Achievement: Establishes goals that are relevant, realistic, and attainable; identifies and implements required plans and milestones to achieve specific business goals; initiates activity toward goals without unnecessary delay; stays on target to complete goals regardless of obstacles or adverse circumstances.
Results Orientation: Maintains focus on goals; identifies and acts on removing potential obstacles to successful goal attainment; implements thorough and effective plans and applies appropriate resources to produce desired results; follows through on all commitments to achieve results.
Problem-Solving: Reviews all data relative to a problem; divides complex issues into simpler components in order to achieve clarity; selects the best options available to solve specific problems; applies all relevant resources to implement suitable solutions.
Teamwork: Discards personal agenda to cooperate with other team members in meeting objectives; contributes positively and productively to team projects; builds and sustains a trusting relationship with each member of the team; supports other team members and team decisions.
Requirements
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Partner to the President and the Board
Serve as a trusted advisor on all financial and strategic matters and works in collaboration with the President and the President’s Council to facilitate the educational and institutional mission and goals of the College and the development and implementation of the Campus Master Plan.
Present clear, actionable financial insights to the Board of Trustees.
Financial Strategy and Sustainability
Lead long-range financial planning and scenario modeling.
Align financial strategy with enrollment trends and program performance.
Drive initiatives that enhance net tuition revenue and operating margin.
Budgeting and Financial Oversight
Oversee the full institutional operating budget modeling forecasts and other selective financial reports annually for campus leadership and the Trocaire College Board of Trustees.
Serve as the staff liaison with the Finance, Investment and Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees.
Oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of the financial accounting system, monthly financial reports, purchasing, AR, AP, cash management and the annual audit.
Ensure strong financial controls and transparency.
Enrollment and Financial Aid Partnership
Work closely with enrollment and financial aid leadership to:
- Optimize tuition pricing
- Model enrollment scenarios
- Improve predictability of net tuition revenue.
Operations Compliance and Risk
Oversee accounting, audit, tax, and regulatory compliance.
Ensure adherence to requirements from the US Department of Education and other governing bodies.
Oversees the management of the Business Office, contracted services related to campus facilities, grounds and safety, maintenance and housekeeping, and the bookstore.
Maintain strong internal controls and risk management practices.
Treasury, Cash and Capital Planning
Manage cash flow, liquidity, and banking relationships.
Evaluate financing strategies for institutional priorities.
Oversee the College’s investment program, including communications with investment consultants and money managers, compliance with investment guidelines and other financial reporting requirements.
Works with 3rd party providers contracts to ensure cost efficiencies and compliance with state and federal contract guidelines.
Leadership and Culture
Lead and develop a lean, high performing finance team.
Promote financial literacy and accountability across the team.
Operate as a collaborative, mission-aligned leader.
Establishes accountabilities for direct reports and goals used for performance evaluation, conducts performance reviews, recommends wage adjustments, promotions, and dismissals, and takes approved corrective action as needed.
