Texas College

THE OPPORTUNITY

Texas College seeks an experienced, collaborative, and highly accomplished financial executive to serve as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (VP/CFO). Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President's Cabinet, the VP/CFO will serve as the College's chief financial officer and principal advisor to the President on matters related to financial strategy, fiscal stewardship, institutional risk, and long-term financial sustainability.

Founded in 1894 in Tyler, Texas, Texas College is a private, historically Black, faith-based liberal arts institution affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

The College serves a largely first-generation and mission-driven student population and is committed to providing an accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for leadership, service, lifelong learning, and meaningful careers.

The VP/CFO will enter Texas College during an important period of institutional leadership and renewal. The successful executive will provide immediate stability and disciplined financial leadership while developing a comprehensive understanding of the College's current financial condition, strengthening financial operations and controls, supporting the President and Board of Trustees with clear and timely financial information, and ensuring continuity across critical finance functions.

This individual must be comfortable moving quickly from assessment to execution. The VP/CFO will be expected to identify immediate risks and opportunities, establish clear financial reporting and forecasting practices, safeguard institutional resources, strengthen accountability across the College, and leave the finance operation well-positioned for continued success.

ABOUT TEXAS COLLEGE

Texas College is a private, historically Black, faith-based liberal arts institution committed to delivering accessible, high-quality undergraduate education grounded in academic excellence, critical inquiry, and ethical leadership. Academic programs at Texas College are designed to prepare students for meaningful careers, graduate and professional study, and lifelong leadership and service.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

Texas College is recognized for:

• Deep alumni pride and loyalty;
• Dedicated faculty and staff committed to student success;
• A largely first-generation, mission-driven student population;
• A rich Christian heritage and commitment to faith-informed leadership;
• A strategic location in one of East Texas’s fastest-growing regions.

MISSION STATEMENT

Texas College is a Historically Black College founded in 1894 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME). Their mission continues to embody the principles of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

The College shall prepare students with competencies in critical and creative thinking related to the knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in the areas of study using different modalities of instruction.

Additionally, the College shall provide an environment to inspire intellectual, spiritual, ethical moral and social development which, empowers graduates to engage in life-long learning, leadership, and service. (Restated and approved by the Board of Trustees, October 24, 2024).

VISION STATEMENT

Texas College - a creative, culturally diverse, inclusive environment, preparing students who aspire to be purpose-driven, financially secure and marketable leaders.

FINANCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES

At the same time, the institution faces challenges common to many private HBCUs, including infrastructure modernization, enrollment stabilization, expanded fundraising capacity, technology upgrades, and the need to strengthen academic offerings aligned with workforce demand.

The next Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will play a central role in strengthening the College’s financial foundation, aligning resources with institutional priorities, and providing the disciplined stewardship needed to support Texas College’s continued stability, student success, and long-term sustainability.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Executive Financial Leadership and Institutional Assessment

• Serve as the chief financial advisor to the President and as a trusted member of the President's Cabinet.
• Rapidly assess the College's financial condition, financial operations, staffing, systems, policies, processes, internal controls, contractual obligations, and areas of financial risk.
• Develop an initial set of priorities and recommendations for the President based on the assessment of the College's financial position and operational needs.
• Provide clear, timely, and candid counsel regarding financial performance, institutional risk, resource allocation, major financial commitments, and emerging issues.
• Work collaboratively with Cabinet members and other campus leaders to align financial resources with academic priorities, enrollment objectives, student success, and institutional strategy.
• Support the President and Board of Trustees in evaluating financial opportunities, risks, tradeoffs, and strategic alternatives.

Texas College has identified fiscal discipline, strong internal controls, transparent decision-making, and long-term sustainability as central institutional priorities.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Financial Planning

• Provide executive oversight of the College's operating and capital budgets.
• Review current-year budget assumptions, revenue projections, expenditures, and institutional commitments and recommend adjustments when necessary.
• Develop and maintain reliable cash-flow projections, revenue forecasts, budget-to-actual reporting, and financial scenario models.
• Align financial forecasts with enrollment projections, tuition and fee revenue, financial aid, philanthropy, grants, auxiliary activities, and other sources of institutional revenue.
• Identify budget variances and emerging financial pressures and work with appropriate leaders to develop corrective action strategies.
• Strengthen the use of financial data and analysis in institutional decision-making.
• Support preparation of subsequent annual budgets and longer-term financial models as appropriate during the appointment.

Cash, Liquidity, Treasury, and Financial Sustainability

• Closely monitor institutional cash position and liquidity and ensure adequate resources are available to meet payroll, vendor, student-service, and other institutional obligations.
• Manage banking relationships, cash management practices, investments, debt obligations, financing arrangements, and other treasury activities as appropriate.
• Review restricted and unrestricted resources and ensure funds are used and accounted for appropriately.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve cash management, operating efficiency, cost containment, and institutional financial sustainability.
• Partner with the President and Cabinet in evaluating revenue opportunities and financial implications associated with enrollment, academic programming, grants, philanthropy, partnerships, auxiliary operations, facilities, and other institutional initiatives.

Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Internal Controls

• Provide executive oversight for accounting, general ledger management, accounts payable, accounts receivable/student accounts, payroll, purchasing, and other financial operations within the assigned portfolio.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing and reporting.
• Ensure appropriate reconciliation of bank accounts, balance-sheet accounts, subsidiary ledgers, student accounts, payroll, grants, and other significant financial accounts.
• Assess and strengthen internal controls, segregation of duties, approval processes, financial policies, and documentation.
• Identify aged balances, reconciliation issues, control weaknesses, or other financial irregularities and establish appropriate corrective action plans.
• Ensure that financial transactions are appropriately authorized, documented, recorded, and consistent with institutional policies and applicable accounting standards.
• Recommend improvements to financial systems, processes, workflows, and reporting tools to increase efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and accountability.

Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Serve as a principal liaison with external auditors and provide executive leadership for annual financial statement audits, Single Audits, and other required reviews.
• Assess the status of outstanding audit findings, management recommendations, or corrective action plans and ensure appropriate and timely resolution.
• Ensure institutional financial practices comply with generally accepted accounting principles, applicable FASB standards, federal and state requirements, accreditation expectations, and other regulatory requirements.
• Support preparation and timely filing of required financial, regulatory, tax, and governmental reports.
• Monitor institutional financial and operational risks and advise the President regarding appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Support effective institutional policies governing financial controls, procurement, contracts, investments, travel, risk management, restricted funds, and other areas within the financial portfolio.

Federal Grants, Title III, and Student Financial Aid Coordination

• Provide appropriate fiscal oversight of federal, state, and private grant funding, including Title III and other federally supported programs.
• Ensure grant revenues and expenditures are properly recorded, reconciled, documented, and managed in accordance with award requirements and applicable federal regulations.
• Support compliance with 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and the fiscal components of the College's Single Audit.
• Work closely with Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and other appropriate offices to ensure effective reconciliation between student financial aid, student receivables, cash receipts, and the general ledger.
• Support compliance with applicable Title IV financial aid requirements and ensure that financial operations do not create unnecessary barriers to student enrollment, persistence, or success.

Board and Executive Reporting

• Establish a concise and reliable cadence of financial reporting for the President.
• Provide regular reporting on cash position, liquidity, revenues and expenses, budget-to-actual performance, significant variances, financial commitments, and emerging risks.
• Prepare clear financial reports, dashboards, forecasts, and executive summaries for the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and appropriate Board committees.
• Present complex financial issues in understandable terms that allow institutional leaders and trustees to make informed decisions.
• Ensure that the President is promptly informed of significant financial developments, unbudgeted expenditures, cash concerns, compliance issues, or other material financial risks.

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

• Provide visible, accessible, and accountable leadership to employees within the financial operation.
• Assess organizational structure, staffing, responsibilities, workflow, and talent within the finance function and recommend improvements where appropriate.
• Establish clear expectations for accuracy, responsiveness, accountability, customer service, and timely completion of financial responsibilities.
• Mentor and develop finance personnel while strengthening institutional knowledge and reducing dependency on individual employees for critical financial processes.
• Build productive working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, auditors, banking partners, vendors, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Create appropriate documentation, systems, processes, and institutional knowledge to ensure a successful eventual transition to permanent financial leadership.

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KEY LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES

While the VP/CFO will have broad responsibility for the College's financial enterprise, the initial priorities of the appointment are expected to include:

• Financial Assessment and Visibility: Establish a clear and reliable understanding of the College's current financial position, including cash, receivables, payables, restricted funds, debt and obligations, budget performance, and major financial risks.
• Cash and Liquidity Management: Ensure the College has an accurate short and medium-term cash forecast and a disciplined process for managing institutional obligations and financial commitments.
• Controls, Reconciliations, and Compliance: Evaluate the strength of internal controls, reconciliations, grant accounting, financial aid coordination, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance and address high-priority gaps.
• Budget Discipline and Forecasting: Strengthen budget-to-actual reporting and establish financial forecasts informed by enrollment, revenues, expenses, and institutional priorities.
• Executive and Board Reporting: Provide the President and Board with clear, transparent, decision-ready financial information and identify issues requiring executive or fiduciary attention.
• Organizational Stabilization and Transition Readiness: Strengthen the finance team, systems, processes, documentation, and operating disciplines so that the institution is positioned for an effective transition to permanent financial leadership.

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LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• Significant progressively responsible leadership experience in accounting, finance, financial administration, or a related field.
• Senior financial leadership experience within higher education, nonprofit organizations, or another comparably complex and highly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated responsibility for institutional budgeting, forecasting, accounting, financial reporting, cash management, audits, compliance, and internal controls.
• Experience managing financially complex organizations with multiple revenue sources, including tuition, philanthropy, grants, auxiliary revenues, and federal financial aid.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting requirements applicable to nonprofit higher education.
• Demonstrated experience leading external audits and addressing audit findings or internal-control deficiencies.
• Experience developing cash-flow forecasts, financial models, scenario analyses, and executive financial reports.
• Ability to assess financial operations rapidly, identify material risks, establish priorities, and execute corrective actions.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams through periods of transition or organizational change.
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, integrity, and ability to operate effectively in a highly confidential environment.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex financial matters to presidents, boards, faculty, staff, and other non-financial audiences.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related discipline required.
• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related discipline strongly preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential preferred.

PREFERRED

• Prior experience serving as a Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Controller, or comparable senior financial executive.
• Previous successful executive leadership experience.
• Experience at a private college or university.
• Experience at a Historically Black College or University or demonstrated understanding of the HBCU environment.
• Experience at a faith-based or other mission-driven institution.
• Familiarity with SACSCOC accreditation and compliance expectations.
• Experience with Title III, Title IV, Uniform Guidance, Single Audit requirements, and federal grant administration.
• Experience working closely with governing boards and Board finance or audit committees.
• Experience with higher education ERP and financial management systems.
• Experience assisting institutions through financial stabilization, organizational transition, or executive leadership change.

LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

• Steady under pressure, with the confidence to lead through ambiguity and transition.
• Highly analytical, while remaining capable of moving quickly from analysis to action.
• Transparent and direct, providing leadership with accurate financial information even when the message is difficult.
• Collaborative, recognizing that sound financial management requires partnership with academic, enrollment, advancement, student affairs, and administrative leaders.
• Operationally disciplined, with rigorous attention to controls, reconciliations, documentation, deadlines, and follow-through.
• Student-centered, understanding that finance exists to advance rather than impede the educational mission.
• Mission-aligned, demonstrating respect for Texas College's history as an HBCU and its Christian Methodist Episcopal heritage.
• Ethical and trustworthy, exercising exceptional judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and stewardship of institutional resources.
• Transition-minded, committed to leaving behind stronger systems, clearer processes, a more capable team, and a well-documented financial operation.

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