Chief Financial Officer (ACPE) (PCN 05-0209)

Salary: $4,463.25 - $4,686.75 Biweekly
Location : Anchorage or Juneau, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 55751
Department: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Division: Finance
Opening Date: 10/14/2026
Closing Date: 11/9/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Division: Finance
Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only
Bargaining Unit: Exempt
Range: 25

Job Description
Do you thrive on analyzing complex financial data, leading teams, and guiding key decisions that positively impact higher education in Alaska? Do you enjoy turning challenges into actionable solutions, collaborating with boards and executives, and have a desire to make a real difference in the financial future of ACPE and ASLC?

If so, this is your opportunity to lead.

Position Summary:

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is seeking a strategic and experienced financial leader to serve as Chief Finance Officer for both ACPE and the Alaska Student Loan Corporation (ASLC). Reporting to the Executive Director, this position leads the Finance Division and oversees critical financial functions including accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, contracting, and investment performance evaluation. The Chief Finance Officer plays a key leadership role in managing the Corporation's banking and financing activities, coordinating complex financing initiatives, and providing financial expertise to the Commission and ASLC Board in support of the organizations' missions and long-term financial stability.

Office Location: This position is located in either Anchorage or Juneau. ACPE's Juneau office is located in the Vintage Business Park area of Mendenhall Valley, and our Anchorage office located on Bragaw Street near Northern Lights. Both locations are conveniently close to public transportation and have ample parking available.

Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: This position offers a flexible/hybrid work schedule. However, during the probationary period, employees are required to work full-time, in person, at the Anchorage or Juneau office, Monday through Friday. For more information, please review the State of Alaska

Upon successfully completing the probationary period, employees become eligible to telework from the Greater Anchorage area or Juneau, AK. Employees may telework up to four days per week and work in-person at the Anchorage or Juneau office one day per week. Currently, all staff work in-office on Wednesday; this schedule may change based on agency needs, operational needs, special projects, meetings, or other job responsibilities that may require employees to work in the office more frequently. Employees should be prepared to report to the office as needed.

Benefits: As a State of Alaska employee, you may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Actual benefits vary based on bargaining unit, position type, and full - or part-time status.

For complete information about insurance, retirement, and leave benefits, visit the website.

Insurance Benefits:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance (additional optional coverage may be available)
• Optional insurance plans, including long- and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), long-term care, and supplemental survivor benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits:
• Membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) or Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), as applicable
• Employer contributions to defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, depending on date of hire
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity in lieu of Social Security
• Optional participation in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program

Paid Leave and Other Benefits:
• Personal leave that increases with years of service
• Twelve paid State holidays each year

What You'll Do:

• Lead the Finance Division, including supervising professional, technical, and support staff; establishing priorities; evaluating performance, and supporting staff development.
• Provide strategic financial leadership to the Corporation; including identifying opportunities for revenue growth, cost minimalization, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead the preparation of ASLC Financial Statement reports and annual audit
• Manage cashflow and liquidity
• Develop, implement, and direct accounting policies, procedures, and financial controls to ensure compliance with GASB, GAAP, bond documents, and other legal or regulatory requirements.
• Propose annual interest rates for ASLC loan products based on analysis of internal finances, economic and market conditions, management goals, and mitigation of financial and operational risks.
• Develop and maintain financial forecasts, models, and projections to support management objectives, in consideration of legislative, regulatory, or policy changes.
• Assess and recommend strategic opportunities for increased revenue, investment policy amendments, monitoring national models of non-profit state education lenders.

• Plan, develop, and oversee operating and capital budgets for ACPE and ASLC, coordinating with other state departments as needed.
• Assist in the development and implementation of new or amended education loan programs.
• Coordinate Corporation financing activities, which include, but are not limited to: collaboration with financial advisors and legal counsel, investment proceeds outcomes, and debt issuance.
• Serve as the primary financial liaison with state agencies, financial institutions, and other external financial stakeholders.
• Testify before legislative committees on financial and budget matters as requested or in the absence of the Executive Director.
• Serve on agency senior management teams and
• Participate in agency-wide strategic planning initiatives in coordination with senior management to support continued advancement and evolution of ACPE and ASLC.
• Serve in acting status in the absence of Executive Director when needed.

What We're Looking For - Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Financial Statement preparation including Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Statement of Cashflows, footnotes and Management Discussion and Analysis.
• Financial analysis techniques and applications
• Accounting & Budgeting theories and practice
• Finance and investment concepts
• Investment management
• Procurement management
• Cashflow and liquidity management
• Personnel management/Management theories, principles, and techniques
• Board (FASB) rulings and pronouncements
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards

Skills:

• Interpret and comply with state statutes, regulations, rules, procedures and practices,
• Interpret and comply with federal Internal Revenue Service regulations,
• Applying accounting and management theories, practices and techniques
• Gathering facts and information; conducting research and analysis; developing recommendations
• Writing business correspondence, testimony, executive summaries, reports, requests for proposals and contracts
• Negotiating and administering contracts
• Strategic planning and goal setting
• Evaluating program effectiveness
• Strong interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisors, the general public, etc.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, including the ability to articulate complex financial information to the Corporation Board of Directors, the Commission, the Legislature, and with the Governor's Office in a manner that is clear, concise, informative and professional.
• Basic office equipment, computers, word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Abilities:

• Manage and array of different technologies used by ACPE and its staff
• Multi-task and successfully meet strategic priorities and deadlines.
• Clearly and effectively communicate with managers and staff regarding project status and initiatives, as well as, security restrictions and reasoning
• Anticipate, monitor and meet the needs of customers responding in an effective, appropriate manner.

Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college with major course emphasis in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Banking, Economics, or closely related field, which must include the completion of the intermediate accounting series and at least one theory related course;

AND

at least seven years of professional experience in financial management or accounting, including three years of supervisory experience.

Substitutions: Graduate study in an appropriate field may be substituted for two years of the required professional work experience.

Preference: Preference given to applicants who hold a CPA designation or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or closely related field

Additional Required Information
Other Information:

This is a fully exempt job class under AS 39.25.110(11).

Cover Letter Required

In accordance with the State of Alaska Cover Letter Policy, this position is a Range 17 or higher. The duties of this position require the evaluation of competencies that cannot be fully assessed through the application alone; therefore, a cover letter is required and must be submitted with your online application. You cover letter should be no more than one page (2-3 paragraphs).

In your cover letter, describe how your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience align with the key responsibilities and desired qualifications outlined in this job bulletin. If you reference work experience that is not already documented in your application, include the employer's name, job title, dates of employment, whether the position was full-time or part-time, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

Applicants who do not submit a cover letter or who fail to adequately address the requested information may not advance to the next stage of the recruitment and selection process.

Education: If postsecondary education is being used to meet minimum qualifications, you must complete the Education and Training section of the application and attach your transcripts to your application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the "Degrees Obtained" field.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Interview:
Applicants invited for an interview will be required to provide the following at the time of the interview:

• List of three (3) professional references including current daytime phone numbers.
• Copies of your two (2) most recent performance evaluations. Letters of reference may be substituted for evaluations.