Description
The Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Dean (CFO/AD) is a senior leadership position responsible for the finances and human resources of the institution, as well as providing oversight of several areas such as the business office, facilities/safety, energy/sustainability, and information technology. Reporting to the president, the CFO/AD partners closely with institutional leadership and the Board of Trustees to guide financially sound decision-making and ensure the college’s long-term financial health in alignment with its mission and goals.
Essential job functions
Lead financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning
Serve as senior HR leader, overseeing policies, benefits, and systems for employee recruitment and retention, liaising with legal counsel as needed, and chairing the college’s Personnel Committee
Oversee cash flow management and financial performance
Provide clear financial reporting and analysis to the president, cabinet, Board, and other stakeholders including students, faculty, and staff
Support institutional sustainability through revenue planning, cost management, and risk mitigation
Partner with academic leadership to align financial and programmatic priorities
Serve as staff liaison to Board Finance, Investment, and Audit Committees
Supervise direct reports including the controller, chief facilities and safety officer, IT staff, Title IX coordinator, and the director of energy
Oversee audits, compliance, internal controls, and institutional risk management
Foster a collaborative, transparent, and accountable organizational culture
Serve as a member of the president’s cabinet
Other duties as assigned
Compensation
Annual salary range is $105,000-$130,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits package includes health, dental, and life insurance, retirement, vacation, short- and long-term disability, and College of the Atlantic tuition relief for employee and dependents.
Equal opportunity
COA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering learning and working environments free from discrimination. The college adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. In employment, admissions, and access to our educational programs, COA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex or gender (including gender identity and expression), pregnancy, sexual orientation, religion, religious practices, mental or physical disability, genetic predisposition, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, marital or partnership status, or any other legally protected status.
About College of the Atlantic
COA enriches the liberal arts tradition through a distinctive educational philosophy—human ecology—which integrates knowledge from all academic disciplines and from personal experience to investigate, and ultimately improve, the relationships between human beings and our social, natural, and built environments. The human-ecological perspective guides teaching, learning, research, and engagement at the college. Our approximately 350 students, 30 full-time faculty, and 75 staff members share a commitment to place-based, interdisciplinary, experiential learning, while envisioning a world where people value creativity, intellectual achievement, and the diversity of nature and human cultures.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Heather Albert-Knopp, Chief Operating Officer, cfo-search@coa.edu: a cover letter describing your interest in, and qualifications for, this position; a resume or curriculum vitae; and contact information for three professional references.
Application review will continue until the position is filled.
Requirements
Required
Bachelor’s degree
Significant leadership experience in nonprofit financial and administrative management
Expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and organizational strategy
Knowledge of accounting principles, investments, cash management, HR practices, and risk management
Experience leading diverse teams and complex operations
Ability to manage multiple tasks, shifting priorities, and time-sensitive work
Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
Integrity, sound judgment, and ability to manage confidential information
Preferred
Advanced degree in a relevant field
Experience in higher education finance, especially small institutions
Experience working with boards and shared governance
Demonstrated ability to build and retain strong teams
Familiarity with institutional facilities and technology operations
