VP for Business & Finance - Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

The Chief Financial Officer ( CFO ) is a key member of the senior leadership team — serving as both chief steward of the College's financial and operational resources and a strategic architect of its future. Reporting directly to the President and serving as an officer of the College, the CFO ensures that Hope's resources are managed strategically with integrity and discipline to advance the mission and realize the ambitions of the Strategic Plan 2030.

This leader will be a strategic partner who blends financial acumen with operational insight, ensuring that budgets, capital planning and infrastructure investments are fully aligned with the College's priorities of affordability, academic excellence and long-term sustainability. The CFO will also be a trusted advisor to the Board of Trustees, equipping them to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities and positioning the College to thrive for generations to come.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as the chief architect of the College's financial strategy, aligning resources with the mission and goals of the Strategic Plan 2030.
• Provide forward-looking analysis, forecasting and modeling to inform presidential and board decision-making.
• Lead the design and implementation of innovative financial models that enhance affordability and long‑term sustainability.
• Steward the endowment and investment strategies to ensure strength and stability for future generations.

Operational Excellence & Integration

• Oversee a diverse division including Business Services, Human Resources, Computing and Information Technology, Operations and Physical Plant and Auxiliary Enterprises.
• Champion the integration of financial strategy with operational execution, ensuring efficient, data‑driven decision‑making across the institution.
• Lead capital planning, campus infrastructure, and technology investments that sustain excellence in the student experience and academic mission.
• Advance sustainability, resiliency and risk management across all operational areas.

Board & Institutional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted partner to the President and a key advisor to the Board of Trustees, equipping them to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities with transparency and clarity.
• Provide clear, timely, and strategic reporting to the Board on financial performance, capital planning, and institutional risk.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students to ensure that resource stewardship is broadly understood and mission‑aligned.
• Serve as co‑chair of the Investment Subcommittee, overseeing the management and investment activities of the college's $300M endowment.

Leadership & Culture

• Model integrity, transparency, and stewardship as core values of the College.
• Build and lead a high‑performing team across finance and operations, fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Champion a culture of innovation, inclusion and service in all areas under the CFO's leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, management, accounting or related field required; advanced degree or certification (MBA, CPA, CFA, CIMA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in finance and operations within a complex organization; higher education or mission‑driven nonprofit experience strongly valued.
• Deep commitment to Hope College's mission, values and Christian Aspirations.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi‑functional teams across finance, HR, IT, facilities and auxiliary enterprises.
• Proven track record of developing and executing long‑term financial strategies, including capital planning, endowment management and innovative affordability models.
• Experience partnering with governing boards and senior executives to ensure fiduciary oversight, strategic alignment, and transparent communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage organizational risk, regulatory compliance and sustainability initiatives.
• Visionary and strategic thinker with the ability to integrate financial management and operational execution.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the capacity to translate complex financial and operational data into clear strategies and actionable decisions.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; able to engage effectively with trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and external partners.
• Ability to lead cultural and organizational change with integrity, transparency and accountability.
• A leadership style that reflects stewardship, service, collaboration and a commitment to the flourishing of the entire community.