Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Vermont Law and Graduate School : Job Details

Description

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Deans' Office

Reports to: Graduate School Dean

Full-time, Exempt

On-campus, Hybrid

Salary: $140,000-175,000

VLGS Benefits and PTO include:

- Full benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.).

- 403b including 4% employer contribution.

- 2 weeks of paid vacation in addition to paid personal and sick days.

- 11 paid holidays plus two weeks of paid “Dean's Days” for Summer and Winter breaks.

- Employee Assistance Program.

- VLGS course participation with tuition assistance.

- Flexible schedule potential.

Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. In recruiting for faculty and staff, we seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community.

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Position Summary:

Vermont Law and Graduate School, a small, mission-driven independent college with law and graduate programs, seeks a strategic and experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead its financial operations. The CFO is responsible for overseeing all financial services, including annual operating and capital budgeting, business office management, student accounts, cash management, compliance (including ABA and NECHE), financial reporting and projections, banking, risk management, investments, and internal audits. A member of the senior leadership team, the CFO plays a key role in ensuring the institution's financial sustainability and partners closely with the Deans of the Law School and Graduate School on strategic planning and resource allocation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as a key advisor to the President and a strategic partner to the Deans of the Law and Graduate Schools.
• Lead all aspects of financial planning and budget development, including annual operating and capital budgets.
• Develop and maintain multi-year financial forecasts and long-range planning tools.
• Present financial reports and strategic analyses to the President and Board of Trustees, including its Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees.

Financial and Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), loan covenants, federal and state financial regulations, and higher education accreditors.
• Manage cash flow, endowments, debt service, grant draws, and other complex financial transactions.
• Coordinate interim and year-end financial statements and audits.
• Oversee reporting to regulatory and accrediting bodies such as the American Bar Association and NECHE.

Business Office and Risk Management

• Supervise the Business Office, including functions related to accounts payable/receivable, payroll review, student billing, and procurement.
• Maintain and implement internal controls, financial policies, and risk management procedures.
• Oversee procurements for all departments and grant-funded activities.
• Serve as the point of contact for external banking, investment, and loan service providers (e.g., USDA-RD).

Collaboration and Communication

• Work collaboratively with senior leadership, faculty, and staff to align financial strategy with institutional mission and academic priorities.
• Work with department heads to develop and implement processes to adhere to budgets.
• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees and relevant committees on matters related to finance.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote a culture of transparency, stewardship, and service.

Requirements

Required Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Master's degree in Business, Finance, or related field required; CPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Experience in higher education.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, investments, audits, and financial planning processes in a complex environment.
• Experience with grant funding, endowment management, and financial aid modeling is preferred.
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office and accounting software; experience with ERP systems (e.g., Jenzabar) is a plus.
• Ability to manage and communicate about complex legal and financial matters, including loan obligations and investment instruments.

Other Requirements:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Adaptive and resilient; able to lead under pressure and navigate challenging financial environments.
• Collaborative, ethical, and mission-driven leadership style.
• Ability to perform job duties with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

Application Requirements:

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration. If you are applying from a third party website (Indeed, etc.) and are unable to attach additional materials to your online application, please apply directly at or email required documents to Christine Moyer, [email protected].

As part of our commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, candidates who meet the qualifications for this position and who require accommodations to apply should contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Vermont Law and Graduate School strives to raise the bar for being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, place of birth, marital status, disability, veteran's status, HIV status, pregnancy, genetic information, health insurance status, and crime victim status.

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