Position DetailsPosition Information
Position Title Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Job Description Ashland University seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Reporting directly to the President and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the CFO is the University's chief financial executive, senior financial strategist, and trusted advisor. The CFO will align financial resources with institutional priorities and help position the University for long-term financial resilience.
Essential Position Duties and ResponsibilitiesFinancial Leadership- Advise the President and Executive Leadership Team on financial strategy, institutional performance, risk, capital priorities, and major investments.
- Update and work with the Board, particularly the Finance Committee, Investment and Audit, and Compliance subcommittees on issues pertaining to the University's financial health and status.
- Develop long range forecasts that preserve financial flexibility and prepare the University for changing enrollment, revenue, and economic conditions.
- Lead and implement short-term and long-term financial, operational, and capital plans.
- Oversee cash management, debt management, financial planning, operating and capital budgets, accounting services, student accounts, and payroll.
- Provide executive leadership to the Business Office.
Enrollment, Revenue, and Financial Model Oversight- Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of annual operating and capital budgets and ensures timely and accurate reporting.
- Ensures full compliance with federal, state, accreditation, and bondholder requirements; oversees audits and maintains strong relationships with external auditors, regulators, and lenders.
- Partner with Enrollment Management and Financial Aid to support data-informed tuition pricing, discount-rate management, financial-aid optimization, and net-tuition-revenue planning.
- Oversee analysis of enrollment trends, retention economics, tuition dependency, and program-level financial performance to strengthen financial resilience.
- Support the development and evaluation of diversified revenue streams beyond traditional tuition sources.
Liquidity, Debt, Investments, and Asset Stewardship- Lead cash-flow management, liquidity planning, and reserve strategy to support institutional stability and agility.
- Monitor and communicate key indicators of financial health, including days cash on hand, debt capacity, operating performance, and covenant compliance.
- Collaborate with Institutional Advancement and investment advisors to support responsible stewardship of restricted gifts, endowments, grants, designated resources, and long-term assets.
Technology, Process Improvement, and Organizational Effectiveness- Evaluate organizational structure and processes withing finance and administration to promote continuous improvement and efficiency.
- Promote effective use of enterprise systems, financial analytics, management reporting tools, automation, and responsible artificial intelligence to strengthen controls, improve forecasting, streamline work, and reduce avoidable cost.
Required Qualifications - Graduate degree(s) in business or finance required.
- A minimum of five (5) years of executive level financial management.
- Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, financial planning and analysis, forecasting, financial reporting, audits, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.
- Strong knowledge of higher education finance, financial systems, and risk management.
- Strong strategic, analytical, leadership and communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex financial information.
- Commitment to Ashland University's mission, values, and student-centered culture.
Preferred Qualifications - Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.
- Experience with Ellucian Colleague or a comparable higher education enterprise resource planning system.
- Executive level financial leadership in a private, nonprofit higher education institution.
Physical DemandsAnticipated Start Date of New Hire 01/01/2027
Anticipated Number of Hours Working per Week 40+
Shift Required? Varied
Job Duties
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number S1161P
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date 01/01/2027
Job Open Date 10/21/2026
Job Close DateOpen Until Filled Yes
Special Instructions to ApplicantsQuick Link for Internal Postings https://jobs.ashland.edu/postings/8981
