Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer

The UNC System Office

$150K — $200K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required; advanced degree preferred.
  • 7+ years of relevant professional experience; or 5+ years with a post-baccalaureate degree.
  • Demonstrated strategic thinking and executive judgment essential.
  • Solid knowledge of risk management and internal controls required.
  • Experience in business process improvement with a focus on customer service.

Responsibilities

  • Formulate and oversee financial policies and procedures compliant with regulations.
  • Provide strategic leadership for fiscal operations to ensure integrity and transparency.
  • Direct the preparation and administration of SEAA's annual budget, adjusting as necessary.
  • Establish and maintain strong internal controls, focusing on fraud prevention and risk mitigation.
  • Oversee the preparation of annual audited financial statements and address audit findings.
  • Manage State-funded grants, scholarships, and education loan programs.
  • Lead operational strategy and risk management initiatives within SEAA.

Benefits

  • Participation in state employee retirement plan.
  • Generous leave policies including vacation and sick leave.
  • Opportunity for professional development and training.
  • Health and wellness program offerings.
  • Work-life balance with required on-site presence predominantly three days a week.
Full Job Description
The Chief Financial Officer(CFO)/Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a State Education Assistance Authority(SEAA) executive reporting directly to the Executive Director and advises theExecutive Director and the Board of Directors on fiscal and operational mattersas well as assisting the Executive Director in strategic financial andoperational planning and ensures that programs, services, and administrativefunctions are delivered efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with SEAA'smission and strategic goals. This position also works closely with SEAA'snon-profit partner, College Foundation, Inc. (CFI) on programs administered onSEAA's behalf.

CFO Duties
  • Formulates, develops, and oversees implementation of policies and procedures for fiscal management, consistent with federal and State laws and regulations.
  • Provides strategic leadership and oversight of all financial operations ensuring SEAA's fiscal integrity, transparency, accountability, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Direct the preparation and administration of SEAA's annual operating budget and monitor revenues and expenditures and recommend budgetary changes as necessary.
  • Establish and maintain strong internal controls and oversee fraud prevention and financial risk mitigation efforts.
  • Oversee the preparation of SEAA's annual audited financial statements, including working closely with SEAA's outside auditor in the preparation of those statements and address any audit findings.
  • Provide oversight of State-funded grants and scholarships including both higher education and North Carolina's private K12 financial aid programs (Opportunity Scholarships and Personal Education Savings Accounts (ESA+)) as well as SEAA's forgivable education loans for service program.
  • Work with SEAA's General Counsel, outside financial advisor, and outside bond counsel on bond transactions entered into by SEAA to fund loan programs for students attending postsecondary institutions (NC Assist Loans) administered by CFI.
  • Provide investment manager oversight for the North Carolina National College Savings Program (NC 529) administered by CFI.

COO Duties

  • Work closely with the Executive Director to develop and implement organization strategy.
  • Works closely with SEAA senior leadership to encourage and facilitate business process improvement and ensure excellent customer service.
  • Direct and coordinate daily operations across SEAA's divisions.
  • Identify and address operational risks and inefficiencies.
  • Oversee SEAA's Information Technology division, including systems developed and maintained by CFI on SEAA's behalf.
  • Ensures the maintenance of data security to protect SEAA's systems and data to ensure compliance with federal and State IT requirements.
  • Oversee Human Resources functions and staff and work closely with the General Counsel on workplace policies and compliance with applicable federal and State laws and regulations.

This position is required to work at least three days per week on site at SEAA's office in Raleigh, NC. NCSEAA employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required with seven years or greater of related professional experience or a relevant post-baccalaureate degree and five years or greater of related professional experience.

Required Competencies• Demonstrated strategic thinking and executive judgment; ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and maintain focus on long-term outcomes while managing near-term operational demands.• Knowledge of risk management, including segregation of duties and related internal control concepts and practices, and data security principles and methods. • Experience in business process improvement to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, security, and excellent customer service. • Ability to demonstrate sound judgment, strong planning and analytic skills, and commitment to quality and innovation. • Demonstrated leadership and management ability in supervising and developing staff. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and team-building skills.• Demonstrated ability to lead internal and external teams with responsibility for both strategic direction and operational execution. • Exceptional communication and influence skills, with the ability to translate complex operational or technical concepts for internal staff and external stakeholders and partners while also providing clear direction and support to frontline teams. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook and Word, and intermediate knowledge of Excel. Ability to develop intermediate skills in using PeopleSoft and multiple proprietary software systems used for account management, accounting, and financial reporting.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills• Master's degree (MBA, MPA, or related field)• Higher education finance experience • Experience with public sector authorities or quasi-governmental entities.• Experience with bond financing or other debt management• Experience overseeing technology organizations or projects• Experience managing large-scale financial aid or public benefits programs• NC CPA license
  • Classification: Chief FinancialOfficer (CFO)/Chief Operating Officer (COO)
  • Appointment Type: Permanent
  • Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
  • Employment Type: EHRA
  • EHRA Category: Exempt Professional Staff (EPS)
  • Location: Raleigh, NC USA
  • Special Instructions to Applicants: The posting remains open until filled, but applications received by June 19, 2026, will receive priority consideration.

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