Job description

The Associate Vice President for Finance and Chief Accounting Officer will play an important role in this work. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Administration, this individual will lead the College’s accounting and financial operations, strengthen financial reporting and internal controls, and help ensure that Newberry’s resources are managed responsibly and effectively.

This is an opportunity for an experienced accounting professional to make a visible difference. The successful candidate will work closely with institutional leadership, mentor and develop a dedicated financial team, and help build the financial systems and practices that will support Newberry College for years to come.

The Associate Vice President for Finance and Chief Accounting Officer serves as the College’s senior accounting professional and provides leadership for its day-to-day financial operations.

The position oversees financial accounting and reporting, the annual financial audit, internal controls, cash management, banking operations, purchasing, accounts payable, insurance administration, and related financial functions.

The Associate Vice President will also lead efforts to strengthen the College’s financial policies, procedures, and systems, with an emphasis on accuracy, efficiency, accountability, and service.

This is a working leadership position. The successful candidate will be comfortable reviewing financial statements, resolving accounting issues, working directly with staff, and developing practical solutions to operational challenges.

The position works within a collaborative financial leadership structure, partnering closely with the Chief Business Officer/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Budget Officer. This allows the Associate Vice President to focus on accounting excellence and operational effectiveness while contributing to broader institutional financial planning and decision-making.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Lead the College’s accounting operations, ensuring accurate financial records and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Direct the preparation and review of quarterly financial statements for senior leadership and the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee monthly closing procedures, reconciliations, and general ledger accuracy.
• Coordinate the annual financial audit, including financial statement preparation, supporting schedules, documentation, and communication with external auditors.
• Ensure appropriate accounting and reporting for restricted gifts, endowments, grants, and other institutional funds.
• Coordinate required financial reporting to federal and state agencies, lenders, and other external stakeholders.

Financial Operations and Stewardship

• Oversee general accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, cash management, and banking operations.
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of institutional financial policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective internal controls that safeguard College assets, promote accountability, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Monitor compliance with financial policies across College departments and work collaboratively with institutional leadership to improve practices.
• Coordinate banking relationships, debt compliance reporting, and related financial documentation.
• Oversee institutional insurance administration, including renewals, coverage reviews, and coordination with insurance providers.
• Work with Human Resources to ensure accurate transfer, reconciliation, and recording of payroll information in the College’s financial systems.
• Oversee the accounting and reconciliation of student receivables, payments, and related transactions in collaboration with Student Accounts.

Operational Improvement and Technology

• Evaluate financial processes and identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, accountability, and service.
• Lead efforts to improve financial systems, automate routine processes, and reduce unnecessary manual work.
• Establish consistent procedures for financial reporting, reconciliations, documentation, and financial transactions.
• Collaborate with Information Technology and other departments to strengthen financial systems, data integrity, and reporting capabilities.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise, mentor, and develop financial operations staff, including the College’s Controller.
• Establish clear expectations, promote accountability, and support professional development and cross-training.
• Work closely with the Chief Budget Officer to ensure consistency between accounting records, budget reporting, and financial projections.
• Provide practical financial guidance to departments across campus, helping colleagues understand and follow institutional financial policies.
• Identify financial and operational concerns, communicate their implications clearly, and recommend timely, practical solutions.
• Promote a culture of responsible financial management and stewardship throughout the College.

EDUCATIONAL OR OTHER HIRING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field. Substantial progressive experience in accounting and financial operations, including direct responsibility for preparing or overseeing financial statements and supporting external financial audits. Strong working knowledge of GAAP, financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and internal controls. Demonstrated experience supervising or leading accounting personnel and improving financial policies, processes, or systems. Ability to manage deadlines, exercise sound judgment, solve complex accounting problems, and communicate clearly with colleagues and senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential. Significant accounting or financial operations experience at a private nonprofit college or university. Experience leading higher education financial audits and preparing nonprofit institutional financial statements. Knowledge of restricted-fund and endowment accounting, federal and state higher education reporting, and institutional debt compliance. Experience with financial systems modernization, process automation, cash management, and insurance administration.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Human. [email protected] with “AVP for Finance” in the subject line. References will not be contacted without applicant’s permission.

Newberry College does not discriminate against any person or group on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, pregnancy, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or genetic information. Newberry College is building a culturally diverse faculty and staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and encourages applications from people from diverse identities and backgrounds.

E-Verify:

Currently the college uses E-Verify for employment verification. E-Verify is an internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from a n employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) to records available to the US Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm employment eligibility.

College Employment Policy

This job description reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified and shall not necessarily be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job. Job descriptions do not constitute an employment agreement or contract of employment, expressed or implied. Unless designated in writing and signed by the College President, all College employees are considered to be “EMPLOYED AT WILL.” Newberry College reserves the right to change, alter and amend job descriptions, functions and duties at the pleasure of the College President or Board of Trustees.