Vice President for Finance and Administration

Saint Mary’s College of California (Saint Mary’s), a comprehensive university, grounded in the liberal arts, Catholic and Lasallian traditions, invites inquiries and applications for the position of vice president for finance and administration (VPFA).

This is a role for an experienced individual with deep expertise in budgeting and financial management who has demonstrated success in working collaboratively as a trusted partner with multiple stakeholders.  A track record of improving budgeting and financial management within a complex organization is a must, as is a record of creating systems characterized by accuracy, timeliness, transparency, and accountability. Strong candidacies will require extensive experience as a leader of varied support functions within a complex environment and experience with modeling and forecasting different choices about the future. An analytical approach, effective negotiation skills, a willingness to propose difficult decisions and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with demonstrated experience in equity-driven leadership, management, and operations, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills, are critical to this role’s success.  
One of the oldest universities in the West, for more than 150 years Saint Mary’s has provided educational programs to meet the needs of a changing world—including a grounding in the liberal arts and a commitment to preparing students for lives of success and joy. Saint Mary’s is a beautiful campus just 23 miles east of San Francisco distinguished by the white walls and red tile roofs of its Spanish Renaissance–California Mission-style architecture and surrounded by grass-covered hills that are sometimes crowned with fog blown in from the Pacific. The campus is accessible by freeway, public transit, and train, and is within easy distance of two major metropolitan airports.

The VPFA will have an exciting chance to partner with a relatively new President and many new members of the Senior Staff, to help the College rethink how it conducts its business, grows enrollment and net tuition revenue, and establishes a long-term model of financial sustainability. This individual will have the opportunity to establish a budgeting process that is structured, timely, transparent, and oriented to the future; oversee the upgrading of information systems and financial reporting to provide timely data; appoint and develop a new leadership team within the Finance & Administration Division; and work with other key leaders to adapt the College’s teaching and service functions into a new hybrid style of operating.

The VPFA reports to the President and advises the President on leading the College toward financial stability and sustainability. The VPFA exercises direct responsibility for budgeting, financial reporting and analysis, investments, cash management, debt, risk management, compliance, human resources, and outsourced legal services. In addition, the VPFA works collaboratively with other senior leaders, board members, faculty, and other key members of the College community to achieve the College’s mission in a sustainable way.

Additional Information about Saint Mary’s College may be found at:  www. https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/

Nominations and Applications

The Vice President for Finance and Administration Search Committee will begin reviewing candidate materials in mid-January.  To receive full consideration, materials should be received on or before January 23, 2023.

The search profile, with additional information about the College, the opportunities for the VPFA, and instructions for application, may be found above.

Applications should include:

• A letter of interest that aligns the candidate’s interest, experience and skills with the requirements set forth in the position profile; 
• A curriculum vitae; and
• A list of five professional references with current email addresses, telephone numbers, and your professional relationship with each individual. (Note: The listed references will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant.)

All application materials (Word or PDF formats) will be received in full confidence and should be submitted electronically to: SaintMarys-CA-CFO@agbsearch.com

Inquiries and nominations should be directed to:

Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Plympton, Principal, margaret.plympton@agbsearch.com / (484) 554-4542

Larry Ladd, Executive Search Consultant, larry.ladd@agbsearch.com / (508) 274-0910

Saint Mary’s College of California is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Saint Mary’s College of California is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse student and employee population and does not discriminate in its admission of students, hiring of employees, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its employees and its educational programs, activities, benefits and services to its students, including but not limited to scholarship and loan programs, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability.