Job Posting: Vice President and CFO

Henry Ford College presents an opportunity for a Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The information below contains only the job description. The Position Profile linked above provides additional essential detail about this role.

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer plans and leads the College’s financial services and budget development. The position may also be assigned to lead information technology services, facilities, risk management, finanicial aid, and/or auxiliary services.

The Vice President interacts with every HFC department and works collaboratively with all college constituencies including national and state governmental entities such as the Department of Education, and our local governing authority, the Henry Ford College Board of Trustees.

Core Required Competencies, Professional Qualifications, And Personal Qualities:

We are excited to start the conversation with applicants whose career reflects the following competencies and qualifications. However, less traditional backgrounds and experience that demonstrate proficiency and the ability to perform the essential duties will be evaluated for equivalency to the education and experience, along with the core competencies and qualifications listed below.

Core Required Competencies

Education: Master’s degree in finance, business, or related field from a regionally accredited institution or CPA licensure (must be current at the time of hire).
Experience: Minimum 10 years’ progressive financial experience as a controlling manager of budget and accounting operations, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.

We seek someone who demonstrates the following Fundamental Values and Personal Qualities:

Unquestionable Integrity: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
Strong Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, respect, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
Ability to Encourage Resolution: Makes healthy use of tension, and disagreement to promote learning and expand team perspectives; encourages parties to work together towards problem resolution; works with parties to identify a range of acceptable solutions; when appropriate, proposes effective compromises that aim to recognize each parties’ needs; ensures mutual commitment to a solution.
Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work as appropriate. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.

Many candidates will have careers and experiences that reflect:

Successful experience in a higher education environment of shared governance and collective bargaining.
Demonstrated experience with facilities planning and management, including scheduled maintenance and new construction.
Experience leading and working with diverse populations.
Commitment to continuous quality improvement efforts both organizationally and individually.
Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership in a collaborative and team based environment.
High level of energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and motivation.
Ability to manage multiple projects and address changing priorities.
Proven problem solving and decision making skills.
A strong commitment to the centrality of the student experience and the mission of community colleges.

Current Essential Duties:

Executive Leadership

Serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet; prepare Board of Trustees agenda items as needed; prepare and deliver presentations concerning Finance, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services, activities, projects, needs, and issues.
Provide consultation and technical expertise to administrators, personnel, and others concerning Finance, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services; respond to inquiries, resolve issues and conflicts, and provide information concerning related laws, codes, standards, requirements, plans, services, accounts, projects, budgets, goals, objectives, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of narrative, financial, and statistical reports, files, and records as required by the President and Board of Trustees. Oversees the preparation of federal and state mandated reporting.

Financial Oversight

Serve as a chief financial officer for the College; guide the President on strategic matters related to budget development, finance administration, investment activities, facilities services, property management, purchasing, and other administrative concerns; provides for proper internal controls and management of College funds.
Manage the college’s investments and spending practices with an emphasis on strong stewardship of funds. Direct the budgeting process effectively to establish sound operating and capital budgets and develop and maintain a multi-year financial planning model for use by administration and the Board of Trustees.
Maintain current knowledge of federal and state policies and directives, and current accounting standards to ensure overall compliance with all governmental agencies impacting College operations, e.g. IRS, US Department of Education, State, etc.; prepare multiple annual and quarterly state reports.
Prepare or direct preparation of financial statements, business activity reports, financial position forecasts, annual budgets, or reports required by The College Board of Trustees, constituencies and regulatory agencies.
Evaluate needs for procurement of funds and investment of surpluses and make appropriate recommendations.
Plan, organize, direct all the staff and functions of the finance operation including payroll, accounting, accounts payable, and student collections.
Plan, organize, and direct all staff and functions of Purchasing as well as Shipping/Receiving.
Coordinate the annual College audit with external audit firm.

Financial Aid

Oversee Financial Aid Department’s responsibility for developing student Pell financial packages, applying scholarship funding to approved students, and addressing Financial Aid eligibility status for students.
Oversee Financial Aid Department’s processing of all grants for students whether they are Federal, State, or Privately funded.
Accountable for department submitting governmental agency reports and applications for future student aid.
Accountable for department monitoring internal and external audits of its operations as well as participating directly with the College’s annual audit.
Create and maintain departmental policies and procedures that ensure compliance with Federal and State laws in awarding student financial aid.

Facilities

Coordinate and direct College-wide operations and activities involved in the inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and repair of buildings, facilities, grounds and equipment; identify construction needs and direct the planning, development, scheduling, design, and implementation of construction and renovation projects to meet the educational and operational needs of the College.
Lead campus sustainability programs, integrating sustainability into the College’s core operating practices, plans, and projects.

Information Technology Services

Provide guidance to Information Technology Services leadership in the oversight of information technology including information systems infrastructure, network administration, the College’s ERP (including integration with 3rd party systems), academic technology support, and telecommunications systems; and replacement and repair of audio-visual, video, and communications equipment used for instructional and operational support by the College.

Auxiliary Services

Direct Auxiliary Services operations, activities, and support services such as the Student Cafe and Bookstore. Administer activities to ensure and enhance cost-effectiveness and quality of related services and products.

Procedures for Application and Nomination

Please review the entire Position Profile (PDF) before you apply for this position.

The salary range for the position is competitive. In determining the salary offer for this role, HFC will consider several key factors such as job knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal and external equity. Under the 2024-2025 Exempt Salary Schedule, the expected hiring range for this position is $154,350 to $181,431.

Additionally, as part of our total compensation package, HFC offers an extensive range of benefits and programs for its employees including excellent health and dental insurance options, generous time off and tuition benefits. More information regarding our benefits can be found by visiting the HFC website and accessing the tabs on competitive compensation packages under Human Resources.

To apply for the role of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, please send a completed package to VPFinanceSearch@hfcc.edu. The Search Committee will begin a review of completed application packages immediately and continue until an appointment is made. For full consideration, complete application packages must be received by February 21, 2025.

Henry Ford College expects the new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to assume duties on April 22, 2025.

A completed application package will include:

Resume or curriculum vitae
Position-specific cover letter
Two letters of recommendation
Unofficial transcripts

To create an applicant profile in our applicant tracking system (ATS), please visit the Henry Ford College Careers page.

Confidential nominations and inquiries about the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer position or search may be directed to the Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy, Dr. Lori M. Gonko at lmgonko@hfcc.edu. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact the Henry Ford College Office of Human Resources at 313-845-9820.

Additional Information:

While we have attempted to capture the core functional responsibilities in the role, this position profile is not meant to be all-inclusive. It is intended to summarize the type and level of work performed by the incumbent and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Therefore, performing additional job-related duties not listed above may be required and assigned as directed by the College President.

For further information about Henry Ford College, please visit us at hfcc.edu or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube.