Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

OVERVIEW:

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Chief Financial Officer for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc.

ABOUT SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS:

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas is a faith-based organization working for a more just and inclusive world for all people. Rooted in the Catholic faith, they value spirituality, community, service, social justice, and works of mercy.

An international community of Roman Catholic women, the sisters dedicate their lives to the Gospel of Jesus and take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service.

Inspired by the life of Jesus and by their founder, Catherine McAuley, they envision an improved world for people who are economically poor, sick, and uneducated.

They commit their lives to God and their resources to serve, advocate, and pray for those in need around the world.

With over 1,700 sisters in the Americas, they strive to make a difference in the lives of those in need in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam, and the Philippines. Including over 5,000 Sisters of Mercy in 30 countries around the world, they are part of a global network.

Employed by Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc., a highly dedicated staff of over 700 employees support the work and lives of the sisters.

The organization supports a number of convents, operates care centers, oversees ministries, and has a national portfolio of several hundred properties with a wide range of purposes, sizes, scopes, ages, needs, requirements, challenges, and opportunities.

MISSION & VALUES

The Sisters of Mercy carry out the mission of mercy guided by prayerful consideration of the needs of their time. Their daily lives as Sisters of Mercy are rooted in four core values inspired by the life of their founder, Catherine McAuley.

Spirituality: The example of Jesus leads them, the Gospel guides them, and Catherine McAuley’s spirit enlivens them. Theirs is a life of contemplation and action, prayer, and service.

Community: Living in community deepens their relationship with God, strengthens them for mission, and continually inspires them in their call to serve others.

Service: They see Jesus in the most marginalized people and take a vow of service to perform works of Mercy that alleviate suffering. They strive to follow Jesus’s example in all that they do.

Social Justice and Critical Concerns: They hear the cry of their suffering world. The impoverishment of people, the devastation of Earth, and oppressive social norms and systems all call them to act in this moment. In response, they have identified five interconnected “Critical Concerns” which demand their attention currently:

• Earth
• Immigration
• Nonviolence
• Racism
• Women

POSITION:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc. (SMA) leads Institute-wide financial planning and management, supporting the long-term sustainability of the Institute to provide lifetime support for its members' living, healthcare, and spiritual needs, as well as its ministries. The CFO position reports administratively to the COO. The CFO will carry out responsibilities in close collaboration with Institute-wide financial leadership through the Institute President/Leadership Team, the Institute Ministers' Finance Liaisons, the COO, and the Chief Investment Officer and COO for Mercy Investment Services. This includes identifying and disseminating shared best practices and services and recommending appropriate financial strategies to leadership.

Sustained and inspired by their relationship with God and one another, the mission of the Sisters of Mercy is to respond with vision and compassion to the needs of people who are poor, sick, and uneducated. This mission serves as a motivational force in the day-to-day activities of the employees of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc., as they extend compassion and mercy to others, practice and encourage social justice, and strive to live mercifully.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Strategic Leadership

• Partners with and takes direction from the Institute Leadership Team and the COO to assess financial health and recommend short- and long-term strategies aligned with mission, culture, and demographic trends.
• Engages leadership and financial committees regarding issues, trends, metrics, and organizational changes; provides mission-aligned recommendations and follow-up actions.
• Assists in setting yearly financial objectives, meeting agendas, and selecting outside consultants.
• Oversees long-term/capital budget planning and annual budgeting including planning for community initiatives, long-range property needs, and demographic trends.
• Develops actuarial forecasts regarding the assets of the community in the context of planning for future community needs and ministry goals.
• Advises on and supports activities to maximize financial and mission impact, including investing, philanthropy, and shareholder advocacy, consistent with socially responsible investing principles.
• Works with all SMA departments and collaborates with Mercy related corporations to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Maintains and facilitates complete corporate records regarding governance, board resolutions, and appropriate signatories.

Member Support

• Ensures that sister services support the banking and financial needs of the Sisters delivered with sensitivity, clarity, and patience for varied financial literacy.
• Manages wills and estates settlements for deceased sisters.
• Ensures management of probate issues for deceased sisters.

Financial Oversight

• Coordinates administration and stewardship of financial resources within SMA’s current structure.
• Provides oversight for Stewardship Department services, including budgeting, accounting, audit, monthly financial statements (corporate and departments), cash management, corporate banking, risk management, and staff supervision for both internal and contracted finance resources.
• Oversees financial interests, including reporting, systems, forecasting, and opportunities for economic improvement.
• Assesses risk and determines insurance coverage to mitigate organizational risk.
• Provides regular reports on finances, planning, and business partnership opportunities.
• Identifies, develops, and manages business plans to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Manages expense processing and payment to ensure proper controls and oversight.
• Directs SMA Stewardship Department's support operations for all related entities.

Operations, Legal & Risk Management

• Oversees the use and implementation of information technology services for business and operational systems, including selection, training, troubleshooting, and security.
• Manages procurement and supply chain for access, quality, efficiency, and selection for support of the critical concerns of Earth.
• Oversees and manages legal support for the Institute and SMA, including selection of law firms, management of issues/matters, data support, billing, and payment of invoices.
• Ensures that organizational contracting has proper review, correct signatories, document retention, and streamlined processes.
• Leads thoughtful, culturally sensitive modernization and process-improvement efforts for financial systems and information technology.

Regulatory Compliance & Security

• Ensures compliance with non-profit regulatory requirements and accounting standards; ensures an annual clean audit.
• Develops and manages a risk assessment plan.
• Ensures planning around emergencies and business continuity.
• Implements best practices for asset protection and cybersecurity.
• Maintains relationships/collaborations and coordinates with Mercy related corporations in this arena.

Department Management & Operations

• Plans, implements, coordinates, and directs department-level services for the Institute/SMA, Inc.; manages financial and physical resources in the process.
• Lead transformation and innovation efforts for the department and related functions.
• Directly supervises and oversees department functions and staff, including hiring, training, goal setting, professional development, and performance evaluation.
• With mission as the focal point, develops a strong sense of teamwork, mentoring, and mutual support among department staff.
• Ensures professional development of self and staff, including empowerment through delegated authority and department succession planning.
• Role models the values of the Sisters of Mercy; ensures mission formation for all members of the department.
• Promotes a culture of service excellence and hospitality throughout the department.
• Monitors department-related performance through reports and metrics; develops department dashboard for key functions; actively implements corrective action as appropriate.
• Administers the day-to-day activities of the department either directly or through delegation; develops/maintains policies, procedures, and systems that ensure productive and efficient office operations.
• Prepares and manages the department budget (both capital and operating) and budgets for related locations, ensuring good stewardship of financial resources.
• Serves as a strong thought partner to senior administrative leadership, assisting with problem-solving, project planning and management, and developing and executing stated goals and objectives.
• Assists administrative leadership with cross-departmental projects, producing documents, reports, and presentations, as needed.
• Exercises independent judgment, initiative, and leadership to follow up on issues and concerns addressed to leadership and determines an appropriate course of action, referral, or response.
• Supports Institute-appointed committees, workgroups, and task forces, as directed.
• Develops infrastructure, analyzes current processes, and recommends and implements procedural or policy changes to improve operations.
• Actively communicates departmental strategy, activities, successes, concerns, and news to leadership and appropriate audiences.
• Builds trust, visibility, and presence across major community sites through regular travel and in-person engagement.

Board and Committee Engagement

• Serves on the Mercy Investment Services Board of Directors and the Investment Committee contributing financial insight grounded in mission and impact considerations.
• Acts as staff to the SMA Audit Committee.
• Performs additional duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

The CFO will be a strategic and well-organized professional who will bring to this key leadership role strong financial planning and management experience, keen organizational skills, a strong commitment to accountability, an eye for seeing the underlying systems that drive performance, and management experience in a complex non-profit setting.

Values:

• This position must be held by an individual who shares the Mercy values of respect, stewardship, integrity, hospitality, and compassion, and who is committed to learning about, supporting, and respecting those in the vowed life of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. There is no other background that can substitute for this requirement.

Education:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required. A master’s degree in finance or accounting, an MBA, or a related degree, and a licensed CPAs are preferred.

Experience:

• Experience as a broadly trained financial professional with a minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible experience overseeing finance activities in a large and complex, preferably healthcare and/or non-profit, organization that has gone through significant change and transition; ability to work with evolving systems and structures and flexibility to adapt to changing environments.
• Strong supervisory experience, the ability to manage effectively in a multi-state, distributed environment, and demonstrated experience mentoring, motivating, and supporting employees.
• Experience with and working knowledge of financial systems and information technology.
• Familiarity with investment programs; understanding and commitment to socially responsible investing (SRI).
• Experience in assessing risk tolerances.
• Experience with the determination of levels and types of insurance coverage.
• Experience and expertise with government entitlement programs (i.e., Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid), and other health care and long-term care programs at federal and state levels; in general, understanding of health care and housing needs of an aging population.
• Experience contracting and managing external vendors/consultants.

Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to think conceptually and strategically.
• Strong project management skills, both in planning and implementation.
• Strong financial, technical, and administrative skills, including understanding unique financial instruments and strategies that are available to non-profits; knowledge of benchmarking, cost accounting, and principles of non-profit accounting; the ability to deal with a wide range of financial issues.
• Open and transparent communication style with excellent oral, written, and presentation skills; the ability to analyze and explain complex choices; and a commitment to clear communication.

Key Competencies:

• Function as a thought partner to the COO and Institute Leadership team and be able to identify possibilities, options, and their implications, and to anticipate issues that will require attention.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and knowledge of cultural differences; sensitivity to the diversity of institutions and Mercy ministries (e.g., schools, homes, hospitals, social service agencies, etc.) and to the impact of decisions upon other people and organizations.
• Demonstrate a high degree of personal integrity and ethical standards.
• Ability to set and manage team goals and ability to hold team members accountable.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality standards and use of discretion.
• Communicate with co-workers, management, sisters, visitors, families, and others in a courteous, tactful, and professional manner.
• A demonstrated commitment to building and strengthening collaborative relationships and working effectively as a team member.
• An appreciation for effective processes and the capacity to work in a highly collaborative, consensus-driven environment that requires a combination of tenacity and great patience.

Other:

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly (up to 30%) to other Sisters of Mercy locations to attend meetings or for other organizational business.
• Actively contribute to a safe, neat, and clean work environment; reports environmental deficiencies or dangerous situations immediately.
• Comply with established policies and other established organizational guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the Catholic Church structure, teachings, culture, and traditions.
• Understanding of the culture and traditions of the Sisters of Mercy.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:

Susan Sanders, RSM

President of The Institute Leadership Team and Liaison for Stewardship

Susan Sanders, RSM, has served as Institute president since August 1, 2023. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, where she began her ministry in education at Mother McAuley High School, of which she is an alumna. After receiving her master’s in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, she worked with the McAuley Institute, a national organization devoted to providing affordable housing for low-income people and served as a policy analyst for the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Chicago.

Having received her Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Chicago, Sister Susan then served as associate professor of public policy in the graduate School of Public Services at DePaul University, where she received the University’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Subsequently, she went to St. Xavier University, Chicago, where she founded the Center for Religion and Public Discourse and later became the founding vice president of the Office for Mission and Heritage.

Election to the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community Leadership Team took Sister Susan to Omaha, NE, in 2013. In 2019, she was elected president and, with canonical and organizational changes for the Sisters of Mercy, was appointed an Institute Minister in 2021, the position in which she served until becoming Institute president.

Eileen Skinner

Institute Chief Operating Officer

Eileen Skinner assumed the role of Institute Chief Operating Officer of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in April 2023 and is responsible for the overall administration, management, and organizational planning for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in collaboration with the President and Institute Leadership Team. In conjunction with the CFO, Eileen directs the management of SMA’s financial resources, financial planning, and operations for the long-term sustainability of the Institute.

She holds administrative oversight and direction of SMA’s operational functions; acts as an advisor and thought partner to leadership in matters relating to assigned areas of responsibility, other departments, and related corporations; and is responsible for the development and implementation of operational policies and processes.

Eileen is an experienced healthcare executive. She last served as the administrator of Shriners Hospitals for Children – Boston, from 2017 to 2021. Prior to Shriners, Eileen spent many years as president and CEO of Mercy Health System of Maine in Portland.

During her time there, she oversaw a significant health care system expansion and led the organization through a merger with Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. She served previously in executive roles at Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation and Ochsner Foundation Hospital, both in New Orleans.

Anne Searl

Senior Director of Human Resources

Anne Searl began her work with the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community as their Director of Human Resources in April 2016. She became a Regional Director of Human Resources during the Journey of Oneness and the Senior Director of Human Resources for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in July 2021. She has responsibility for the overall HR function and supervision of the Director of Employee Relations, Director of Employee Benefits, Senior Manager of Payroll & Compensation, Organizational Development Manager, and HR Administrative Assistant. Anne began her career as a social worker before moving into her current field. She has held management and director positions in HR for more than 25 years.

LOCATION:

Nestled along the banks of the Catawba River just 15 minutes west of Charlotte, Belmont, North Carolina, offers an appealing blend of small-town charm, natural beauty, and convenient access to one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.

With a population of nearly 16,000, Belmont is a welcoming and vibrant community with a strong sense of place, deeply rooted in faith, education, and service.

Home to Belmont Abbey College and St. Joseph Seminary, the city carries a rich Catholic heritage and a longstanding commitment to values-based education and civic life. This religious and cultural legacy is further reflected in the nearby Sacred Heart Retirement Convent, located on ninety acres just west of Charlotte and only fifteen minutes from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

Its expansive grounds host the convent, Institute administrative offices, and a variety of Mercy ministries. The Sacred Heart convent houses sisters in both working and retired roles and includes Marian Center, the assisted living and skilled nursing wing of the facility.

The Belmont Mercy Administration Center Building supports numerous SMA, departments, including Administrative

Services, Association, Stewardship, Communications, Health and Wellness, Human Resources, Justice, Information Technology, Office of Ministry, Real Estate and Property Management, Transportation, and Fleet Management.

The Belmont Mercy Administration Center Building also contains Curtin Hall, which is used for meetings, conferences, and community events. The campus is home to Mercy Heritage Center, which serves as the Institute’s Archives. The campus is also home to several ministries, including the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy, a grant-making organization; Catherine’s House, a residential home for women and children experiencing homelessness; Holy Angels, a residential facility serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; House of Mercy, which provides residence and services for people living with HIV and AIDS; and a portion of the Belmont Abbey College campus.

Belmont’s revitalized historic downtown features walkable streets lined with independent

shops, restaurants, and cultural events that bring neighbors together throughout the year. Residents enjoy a relaxed pace of life without sacrificing proximity to major business centers, top healthcare systems, and regional travel infrastructure.

Outdoor enthusiasts find plenty to love in and around Belmont. The acclaimed Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden draws visitors from across the region, while nearby Lake Wylie, scenic greenways, and riverfront parks provide abundant opportunities for boating, hiking, and quiet relaxation. Whether exploring the outdoors or browsing a weekend market downtown, residents experience an exceptional quality of life.

Professionals are drawn to Belmont not only for its livability but also for its strategic location within the thriving Charlotte metropolitan region, a hub for finance, healthcare, education, and nonprofit leadership.

With a lower cost of living, excellent schools, and a community-oriented atmosphere, Belmont offers a compelling home for leaders seeking to integrate purpose-driven work with a well-balanced lifestyle.

SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS IN THE NEWS:

November 1, 2025

Sister JoAnn Persch featured by Catholic News Agency

October 23, 2025

Sister Lisa Gambacorto honored for her leadership at Mount Saint Mary Academy

October 23, 2025

Sister Ana María Pineda receives2025 Peter Hinde CRISPAZ Peace Award

October 21, 2025

Sister Joann Persch interviewed by Chicago radio station

INTERVIEW PROCESS:

ZRG provides our global Clients with a rigorous and patented assessment platform grounded in data and analytics. Our interview process includes the following:

1. Initial interviews with ZRG

2. ZRG presentation of candidates to Client for calibration and discussion; Client selects candidates for consideration and initial interviews

3. Candidates complete ZRG’s online assessment

4. Finalist candidates advance to second and third round interviews with the broader leadership team

5. Formal referencing

6. Offer extended

ABOUT ZRG PARTNERS:

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to deliver executive searches quickly and with proven better results.

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Richard Dowd leads ZRG’s Financial Officers practice from our New York office. With over twenty years of experience in executive search, Richard has earned an enviable reputation among clients and contemporaries as one of the industry's most trusted talent advisors. He previously led his own boutique firm, Dowd Associates.

Richard concentrates on financial leadership roles, including CFO, CAO, Treasurer, and VP Finance. He is an expert advisor in financial leadership across industry verticals.

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Prior to joining ZRG, she served as a Recruiting Lead at Deloitte Consulting and a boutique firm, specializing in recruiting and hiring within the Healthcare and Life Sciences space.

Throughout her career, Jill has successfully completed hundreds of placements across various industries and functions. Passionate about advising and guiding both candidates and clients through the recruitment process, she serves as a trusted partner and collaborator. Jill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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