St. John Fisher University, an independent, liberal arts institution in the Catholic tradition of American higher education, seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as its next Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer. Located in Rochester, NY, St. John Fisher’s talented and dedicated faculty and staff provide approximately 2,700 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students a wide range of academic opportunities in liberal arts, pre-professional programs, business, education, nursing, and pharmacy. The University is recognized for its strong academic programs, student-centered culture, financial stability, and commitment to preparing graduates for lives of purpose and impact.
The next Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer will be an experienced, collaborative, and mission-driven leader who provides strategic leadership for the Division of Finance and Administration. Working closely with the President and Cabinet, the successful candidate will help advance Fisher 2030: Pathways to Purpose through sound financial stewardship, long-range planning, and a commitment to accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity to join a university with strong momentum, a history of strategic investment, and a deep commitment to student success.
Reporting directly to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President provides leadership for administrative functions, including finance, information technology, facilities services, construction and capital planning, and enterprise risk management. The Vice President also serves as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee and Finance and Facilities Committee, including its Investment Subcommittee, and plays a central role in institutional decision-making and resource allocation in support of the University’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.
Key Qualifications
Key qualifications for the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer include:
- Significant executive leadership experience in finance, administration, and organizational management.
- Demonstrated expertise in financial planning, budget development, audit and compliance oversight, strategic planning, capital planning, and major construction initiatives.
- A record of strategic financial leadership, resource stewardship, and long-range planning in support of institutional priorities.
- Experience supporting executive and board-level decision-making through the effective use of data, analysis, and financial modeling.
- Demonstrated success leading complex organizations through periods of growth, change, and transformation.
- Ability to develop and articulate a strategic vision for the division and its areas of responsibility while advancing the University's mission and strategic priorities.
- Experience providing executive oversight of technology, capital planning, enterprise risk management, and organizational effectiveness initiatives; experience supervising a Chief Information Officer is preferred.
- Exceptional communication, listening, relationship-building, and advocacy skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with trustees, senior leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
- A commitment to collaborative leadership, sound judgment, integrity, transparency, and service-oriented administration.
- CPA or master’s degree in business, accounting, management, or a closely related field required.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For more information about St. John Fisher University, this leadership opportunity, and how to apply, please review the full Executive Search Profile https://inserotalent.com/SJF-CFO-Search-Profile/
Insero Talent Solutions, an executive search firm, is assisting St. John Fisher University in this search. All confidential communications may be directed to Cheryl Yawman, Business Development Director, at Cheryl.Yawman@inserotalent.com.
