Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Associate Vice President of Financial Operations and Compliance

• Title: Associate Vice President of Financial Operations and Compliance
• Classification: Associate Vice President
• Cateory: Management
• FLSA: EXEMPT
• Grade: Q
• Supervisor: Vice President of Finance and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer

Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Finance and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer (VP-CFO), the Associate Vice President of Financial Operations and Compliance holds a pivotal role in fostering growth, strategic initiatives, and financial excellence at the college. This position collaborates closely with college leaders to enhance collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity throughout the organization.

Position Scope

The Associate Vice President (AVP) provides leadership, oversight and direction to major operating units, including:  Grant and Contract Accounting, Budget, Payroll, Treasury Management, Student Accounts, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Risk Management, Procurement and Contracting, General Ledger Accounting, Construction Accounting, IT and ERP Financial Systems.

The Associate Vice President is responsible for collaborating with other college leaders in order to support strategic operational initiatives and processes that span across the college. The compliance responsibilities of this position encompass ensuring robust operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and organizational systems are in place across these units; aiming to optimize program service delivery, promote financial stability, and enhance overall operational efficiency. The AVP will play a critical role in ensuring district funds are managed effectively and are accurately reported.

The AVP will need to be well-informed about and be sensitive to the diverse needs and concerns of stakeholders within the college community, ensuring data-driven decision making across the operational portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Resilience: Play an essential role in the college’s emergency preparedness and response efforts, enhancing the college’s resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges. Support the financial plan through developing and monitoring budgets and providing financial forecasting models and analytics.
• Resource Management: Effectively manage resources to support the college’s operational needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Collaborative Strategy: Collaborate with senior leaders to develop, execute, and assess operational strategies that align with the college’s mission and objectives.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and supervise departmental directors and senior officers, fostering a collaborative and interconnected environment, sharing essential knowledge among staff.
• Relationship Building: Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community, to facilitate strong partnerships and support college objectives.

Essential Functions

• Oversight of College Financials: Maintain responsibility and oversight of college financial operations, including grant compliance accounting, financial reporting, financial services operations and planning, budget, business office, student accounts, bursar treasury,  payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable, risk management, procurement  and contracting, external audit, investment portfolio, cash management, cash flow projections, investments standards and practices, general ledger accounting,  accounting services, IT/ERP financial systems management, using GAAP and ensuring regulatory compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, and codes. Ability to problem solve in a complex financial compliance environment.
• Policy and Procedure Development: Provides leadership in identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring, and revision of policies and procedures relating to the financial operations and the finance division internal controls.
• Team Leadership: Provides leadership and supervision to the finance division direct reports. Supports financial team members, including prioritization, direction, development, and assessment of assigned areas.
• Collaboration: Partner with college operations, PSEC, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs leaders to assure accuracy in accounting, budget and financial reporting.
• Budget Oversight: Prepares tuition and fee recommendations, supervises the Budget Director keeping the VP-CFO appraised of budget challenges or concerns to ensure efficient resource allocation and management.
• Mission and Values: Formulate and implement the College Financial mission, vision, values, and guiding principles in alignment with the College’s mission.
• Reporting and Advisory: Prepare executive summaries, reports, and communication plans to inform key collaborators and senior leadership. Ensure CAFR and Budget reports are prepared accurately. Support the VP-CFO by providing documents and reports for the college budget and finance committees. Provide strong problem solving skills and strategic planning   while keeping the VP-CFO appraised of any concerns or compliance issues requiring resolution.

Specialized Knowledge And Experience

• A deep understanding of the complexities and interdependencies inherent in a higher education institution and its steadfast commitment to fulfilling its mission.
• Knowledge of college policies and procedures, state and federal laws affecting campus enterprise, facilities and other comprehensive college operations.
• Proficiency in shared governance, team-building, and collaborative decision-making processes within and across division/department lines.
• The capability to address both the financial and administrative dimensions of the college, ensuring sound financial stewardship and efficient administrative processes.
• Champions and advances cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental core values within the college community, fostering a sense of belonging.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, are essential for engaging effectively with all key collaborators of the college community, including students, faculty, staff, and external partners. This includes the ability to convey complex information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner, as well as actively listen and respond to feedback and diverse perspectives.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in the field of accounting, business, finance or similar discipline from a regionally accredited institution (relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.).

Eight years of progressively responsible professional experience related to the area of assignment, and providing program/project management or program/project coordination, including fiscal management, accounting services, financial system development and implementation, modeling, planning and budgeting. Four years of management and leadership experience in higher education, government related service or non-profit agency, of which at least 2 years is supervising senior level managers or directors.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree the field of accounting, business, finance or similar discipline from a regionally accredited institution
• A CPA Certification
• Additional demonstrated experience beyond the Minimum Qualifications

 Work Environment And Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional business office environment on a PCC campus, with frequent interruptions and irregularities in work schedule. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to maintain a stationary position for long periods of time (sitting or standing); communicate with employees, partners, and stakeholders; and operate a computer to develop work products, communicate, and carry out responsibilities. Often the employee is required to travel to other campuses to attend meetings, access items, utilize equipment, and, rarely, move or transport items up to 10 pounds. Ability to provide own transportation to and from campuses and/or offsite functions may be required.

New: 3/2024

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.