Director of Finance and CFO, SUNY New Paltz Foundation

Director of Finance & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation

The State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz invites applications for a Director of Finance & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation position. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, who also serves as the Executive Director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation (“Foundation”), this role is a senior-level position with dual responsibilities, serving both as Director of Finance in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations and as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Foundation.

The CFO acts as a key financial advisor to University leadership, especially the President and the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, while also serving as an operating officer of the Foundation. The CFO is responsible for the overall financial health and operational integrity of the Foundation. The CFO works closely with the University’s Vice President for Fiscal Strategy & Management and division staff on a variety of financial and administrative matters, and interacts with peers at other SUNY institutions to stay current on best practices in accounting and finance. Additionally, the CFO acts as the primary staff liaison to the Foundation’s Finance & Investment and Audit Committees.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

This role encompasses a wide range of duties from high-level strategic oversight to hands-on, day-to-day financial management, with a strong focus on mentorship and staff development, including:

Financial Strategy and Oversight

• Financial Management: Oversee all aspects of the Foundation’s finances, including accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting. Ensure the proper custody of all funds, property, and securities and direct the investment of assets in accordance with policies set by the Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee.
• Advisory Role: Advise senior leadership and the Board of Directors on financial, budgetary, and administrative matters. This includes providing quarterly financial reports for Board review and approval by the Foundation Treasurer.
• Calculations & Analysis: Perform critical calculations such as the spendable income and the annual 1% endowment fee. Reconcile the Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) data to the audited financial statements.
• Policy and Controls: Implement and maintain robust internal controls over both state and Foundation activities. This includes updating and adhering to financial policies and procedures.

Reporting and Compliance

• Auditing: Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, coordinating the annual independent audit of the Foundation’s financial statements. Work with staff to prepare audit footnotes and other necessary spreadsheets and documentation. Develop and review auditor requests for proposals (RFPs), required every five years.
• Regulatory Filings: Manage the preparation and submission of Form 990, as well as various accounts and reports required by the State University of New York (SUNY) administration.
• Documentation: Serve as the physical custodian of all the Foundation’s books, records, papers, and the official seal.

Operational Management and Staff Development

• Supervision: Directly supervise and mentor two staff accountants, providing direction and oversight for their daily tasks.
• Task Transition: Actively train and transition key responsibilities to staff, including Net Asset Reconciliations, WT Endowed Bank Reconciliations, and Scholarship Available Fund Calculations.
• Daily Support: Provide backup for daily cash processes when the senior accountant is out of the office and manage operational tasks such as setting up project codes in the financial system.

External Relations and Special Projects

• Partnership Management: Maintain relationships with banks and investment managers. Develop and review requests for proposals (RFPs) for such services as needed.
• High-Level Projects: Lead special projects, which can include coordinating responses to data breaches, managing endowment transfers, and preparing official contract documents for the SUNY/Foundation agreement every five years.
• Annuity Management: Handle all updates and communications related to Charitable Gift Annuities, including entries to update the general ledger and follow-up with annuitants.

Qualifications

• Education: A Master’s degree (in finance, accounting, business, or a related field) or a CPA license (within 1-year of hiring date) is required.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of progressive experience in accounting is required, with a demonstrated ability to provide direction and oversight in a supervisory role. Additional experience is highly preferred.
• Experience with fund accounting solutions (Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel in particular) required.
• Professional & Interpersonal Skills: A solid understanding of budget development and oversight, experience with non-profit accounting and accounting for endowments, and a keen ability to prioritize and manage multiple work projects. Effective interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style, with strong written and verbal communication abilities. The role requires the ability to manage and work with teams.

Key skills/competency

• Finance
• Accounting
• CFO
• Budgeting
• Financial Reporting
• Auditing
• Non-profit Accounting
• Endowment Accounting
• Staff Supervision
• Financial Strategy