Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance

Description

Hampden-Sydney College seeks a creative, strategic, and forward-thinking Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance to advance its compelling, 250-year-old mission, “to form good men and good citizens.” Founded in 1775 on the eve of the American Revolution with Patrick Henry and James Madison among its charter trustees, Hampden-Sydney College is the tenth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Recognized as a top liberal arts college in the United States by both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes, Hampden-Sydney offers young men a unique coming-of-age experience.  

Consistent with its distinctive mission, Hampden-Sydney is dedicated to developing both the intellect and character of its students. Commitments to effective rhetoric, freedom of expression, civility, and a remarkable and authentic brotherhood are fundamental to the Hampden-Sydney educational experience. Dedicated faculty and staff members deliver Hampden-Sydney’s educational program with support from its Board of Trustees and an especially devoted alumni network ranked third best in the nation by The Princeton Review. The Wall Street Journal rates Hampden-Sydney among the top schools for career preparation. With longstanding codes of honor and conduct and a distinctive Rhetoric Program at the core of its academic program, the College has prepared generations of young men for rewarding and productive lives of leadership and service in government, law, medicine, science, business, finance, education, journalism, the arts, and many other fields. The College has maintained an “A” credit rating from Standard & Poors for many years.  

The Opportunity
The College’s Board of Trustees and the College’s leadership team are fully committed to moving Hampden-Sydney to the forefront of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. Over the last few years, many remarkable accomplishments have fundamentally altered the College’s trajectory. Some of these accomplishments include:

• A gift of $30 million from Stanley F. Pauley, which made possible the state-of-the-art Pauley Science Center, among the most ambitious building initiatives in the College’s history. Another gift of $8.5 million and many additional gifts have also supported the construction of this landmark facility. 
• A $12 million bequest from the estate of the late W. Glenn Hurt ’60, which is funding a new Hurt Scholars Program. Together, the Pauley Science Center and this substantial scholarship program are making it possible for the College to recruit many more talented prospective students.
• Another estate gift of $12 million and a recent gift of $9 million, which are funding an ambitious recruiting, admission, and marketing initiative that aims to grow our student body, expand the geographic footprint of our recruiting efforts, and improve retention and graduation rates.
• A sophisticated approach to alumni relations and fundraising, which has resulted in increased giving and broader alumni participation. Total giving to the College was $25 million in 2019-20 and more than $30 million in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, and the College is poised to do so again in 2024-25. The College is in a comprehensive campaign entitled, “It’s Time, Good Men,” that aims to raise $250 million by May of 2026. To date, nearly $200 million in cash has been received.
• A growing endowment that now exceeds $260 million, up from $146 million in 2016, due to fundraising success, favorable market conditions, and outstanding stewardship.
• New curricular and co-curricular initiatives, including Compass—our experiential learning emphasis—and new majors in Biochemistry and Engineering Physics, and new minors in Environmental Science and Neuroscience; the four-year Wilson Leadership Fellows Program; the Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and our High Adventure outdoor education program.
• New and renovated facilities that, in addition to the Pauley Science Center, include the Brown Student Center, the Viar-Christ Fine Arts Center, the Pannill Center for Rhetoric and Communication, and The Grove Apartments. Four major residence hall complexes have been or will soon be completely renovated.
• Gifts and commitments totaling $12 million have been received to fund the renovations underway on the Kirby Field House—our College’s primary athletics and fitness facility, and gifts and commitments of $18 million have been received to fund the historic renovation of the Venable Hall residence built in the 1820s.
• A recent investment of $20 million to fund the renovation of Gilmer Hall, the College’s former science building, to serve as a state-of-the-art home for our Economics & Business and Government & Foreign Affairs Departments, our Career Center, Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Office of Global Education & Study Abroad.
• Another recent investment of $30 million in endowment to fund six faculty positions and Career Center staff and programming to augment its curriculum and career placement services.
• Expertise among the College’s leadership team and staff that is bringing a high level of professionalism to the strategic and day-to-day management of the College. The College’s leadership team shares an enthusiastic commitment to Hampden-Sydney’s mission, legacy, and distinctiveness.

With these accomplishments, Hampden-Sydney College is not only able to imagine, but is also poised to realize, an ambitious future.

The Position
Reporting to the President, the Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance is responsible for advancing the College’s mission by administering all financial, business, and other non-academic operations in accordance with the College’s mission and values. The Vice President plays a crucial part in promoting the College’s financial success and reputation by providing vision, direction, and expertise in financial planning, budgeting, investment, and overall fiscal management, and securing resources to support the fulfillment of its mission. The Vice President serves as a member of the President’s senior leadership team and performs the duties described below and other duties as assigned by the President.

Budgetary and Financial Duties

• Develops and implements a comprehensive financial strategy that aligns with the College’s goals and priorities. Collaborates with members of the College’s senior leadership team and the Board of Trustees to advance the institution’s strategic priorities. Prepares and presents financial reports and regular updates to the Board on financial matters to support strategic decision making.
• Conducts financial analyses to identify trends, opportunities, and risks, and provides insights for informed decision-making.
• Develops forecasts and long-term financial plans. Oversees the preparation and approval of the College’s annual operating and capital budgets. Monitors and controls expenditures to ensure adherence to approved budgets. Collaborates with other senior leadership team members to ensure effective stewardship of the College’s resources. Oversees distribution of timely, accurate, and comprehensible financial data so that budget managers can optimize resource use while adhering to approved budgets.
• Ensures compliance with accounting standards, regulations, and reporting requirements. Coordinates financial audits and ensures compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements. Collaborates with external auditors to facilitate the audit process and addresses findings as needed.
• Monitors cash flow and liquidity to ensure the availability of funds for operational needs and strategic initiatives. Optimizes cash management strategies to maximize interest income and minimize borrowing costs.

Duties Related to Oversight of the College’s Financial and Physical Assets

• Manages, in collaboration with the members of the Investment Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees, the College’s investment portfolio, working with investment advisors to maximize returns while mitigating risks.
• Oversees purchasing and acquisitions, capital projects, and any other major investments of the College’s financial resources. Works to ensure that capital projects are completed at budgeted cost and on time.
• Monitors, manages, and protects the institution’s assets, including the College’s physical assets and real estate and its endowment. Identifies, assesses, and manages financial risks, including those related to investments, funding sources, and economic conditions. Develops and implements strategies to minimize financial exposure and ensure the College’s financial stability.
• Oversees and continually monitors the College’s insurance coverages to ensure that the College is adequately protected from risks at a reasonable cost.

Duties Related to Business Activities and Oversight of Auxiliary Operations

• Directs, leads, and provides guidance and supervision to teams of professionals in the areas of finance, business operations, facilities management, and human resources.
• Oversees all of the College’s auxiliary operation, including housing, food service, campus store, campus post office, rental properties, use of campus facilities, vending, etc.
• Oversees the budgets for all of the College’s business and auxiliary operations, ensuring effective allocation of resources to achieve strategic goals. Works to maximize the profitability of the College’s auxiliary operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years’ prior experience and leadership responsibility in business and financial management required. CPA and CFA designation and a Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field preferred.

The Vice President must be an experienced and successful leader of people and programs. Superior communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as are dedication to the value of a liberal arts education and the ability to inspire support from the College’s constituents.

How to Apply
Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Fullest consideration will be given to applications received by April 14, 2025 and those that include a resume, a cover letter that speaks to the candidate’s talents and leadership experiences and the duties of the position, the financial challenges and opportunities of small private liberal arts colleges, and the names and contact information of three to five references (references will only be contacted with prior notification and permission).  Apply here on our website.

As a community, we are dedicated to building a culturally diverse faculty and staff committed to working in a multicultural environment, and we strongly encourage applications from women and members of minoritized groups. Hampden-Sydney College values diversity, prohibits discrimination, and is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.