Vice President of Finance and Operations

Wilkes University invites applicants for the vice president of finance and opearations. The vice president serves as an integral part of the Wilkes University executive leadership team, with responsibility for guiding the high-level direction for all financial and business operations of the university. The vice president supervises the areas of finance, physical plant, information technology, university police, and risk/compliance.

The vice president, working in close communication with the president, serves as the chief financial liaison to the Board of Trustees, communicating with the Finance Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Investment Sub-Committee while implementing the investment decisions for the endowment.

The vice president of finance and operations supports campus-wide strategic analysis and planning in a complex university setting, manages the annual budget process in alignment with the university's strategic priorities and goal of moving towards an accountability-based budget approach, effectively manages operational cash flow for the institution, is responsible for capital planning and improvements and addressing deferred maintenance, and will bring new and creative ideas for the overall financial and operational improvements at the university.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• Master's degree in finance or related discipline, with five or more years of demonstrated senior-level experience in higher education (other industry experience may be considered, depending upon an individual's background) in related areas of responsibility.
• Advanced financial, operational, and administrative knowledge with a keen understanding of risk management and minimizing university exposure, including cybersecurity, liability, safety and property risk experience, and knowledgeable in areas of technology.
• Strong data analytics experience, budget and forecasting experience, and cash flow management.
• Must be capable of budget transparency and building trust in the budget process.
• Systems and technical expertise, with demonstrated ability to improve business processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required, as well as the ability to engage in close collaboration with diverse stakeholders effectively, with respect and understanding of the role and value of shared governance.
• Must show evidence of being a strong leader, capable of strengthening staff as a team, respecting the history of accomplishments, and willingness to be a partner.

Overview of the Department

The division of finance and operations is responsible for the overall financial, business, and operational management of the university. Reporting units consist of:

• Finance Office
  • Bursar's office
  • Accouts Payable
  • Budget and Analysis
  • General Accounting and finance projects

• Investor relations
• Physical Plant Department
• Information Technology Department
• Police Department
• Risk/Compliance Department

Institutional Overview

Since 1933, Wilkes has been preparing students for lifelong success. National rankings recognize its commitment to access and making a Wilkes education as affordable as possible, while highlighting the ongoing return on investment for graduates. Wilkes offers the , activities, and opportunities of a large university in the close mentoring environment of a small college. The university has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and close to 3,000 (total headcount) students at the graduate and first professional levels. Faculty members work side by side with students in pursuit of solutions to the most pressing questions of the day. Contributing 2,300 jobs and over $250 million in impact to Pennsylvania's economy, as well as more than 120,000 annual hours of hands-on community service by students, faculty, and staff. The university is located in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a city of approximately 45,000, part of the metropolitan area home to more than 550,000. Wilkes-Barre is within two and one-half hours driving distance of Philadelphia and New York City.Application
Review of applications will begin May 7, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. To learn more about the role and apply, please visit .

Applicants will be asked to complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email .

Wilkes University is committed to providing a welcoming environment for all members of our community and to ensuring that all educational and employment decisions are based on individuals' abilities and qualifications.

Wilkes University prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, employment, admissions or any activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local laws. Discriminatory conduct including sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct or violence such as rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and coercion will not be tolerated.

Consistent with this principle, Wilkes University will comply with state and federal laws such as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act or other applicable state law, Title IX, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Ethnic Intimidation Act of 1982 (P.L. 537-154) and other laws that prohibit discrimination.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.