Southwestern University -Vice President for Finance and Administration

Southwestern University, a preeminent independent liberal arts University in Texas founded in 1840 and ranked number 83 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report best liberal arts colleges list and number 2 among liberal arts schools in Texas, is starting a national search for its next Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). Southwestern has 1358 students, a budget of $74M and an endowment of $377M. 

The Position

Reporting directly to the President and a key member of the Cabinet, the VPFA is the chief financial and administrative officer of the University, providing strategic guidance and recommendations on both strategy and operations to the President, the senior staff, and the Board of Trustees in aligning, setting, and achieving the mission, goals and objectives of the University. The VPFA exercises management and administrative direction over all finance and business operations, facilities and real estate development, human resources, public safety, and technology.  The VPFA must be willing and able to get into the weeds as well as manage these areas. The VP serves (or assigns designees to serve) as administrative liaison to various committees of the Board of Trustees including Fiscal Affairs, Audit,Compensation, Facilities Planning, and Investment.

The VPFA has a substantial impact on the success of the University by developing strategies for balancing the operating and capital budgets, assessing the return on investment of various initiatives, managing funding issues, containing costs, investing and maximizing endowment funds, planning for the resource needs of technology, finance, facilities and capital projects, and collaborating with the VPs of Institutional Advancement and Enrollment Management to maximize revenues. For more information, please read the profile.

Challenges and Opportunities

-       Develop a Budget Process and Budget Models

-       Develop a Plan to Fund the University’s Deferred Maintenance and Improve Facilities Operations

-       Ensure Efficient, Cost-Effective Operations of the University                              

-       Implement SU560 - an exciting and creative development plan for some of the University's land

-       Develop a Team

-       Establish Trust and Communicate Effectively with the Campus 

-       Increase Existing Revenue and Develop New Sources of Revenue 

Qualifications and Characteristics of Successful Candidates

The Vice President for Finance and Administration needs to be a very competent financial person who has experience with real estate development, major construction projects, debt financing and complex negotiations. They need to understand accounting, GAAP financials and ERP systems. They should be a leader who is collaborative and entrepreneurial and is adept at change management. They must be able to say no when appropriate and they must have a thick skin, strong spine, and be a good manager/mentor to build their own team. They need to be able   to delegate and be able to work in an ambiguous environment; they must be willing to take some risk. The VPFA needs to be able to adapt to changing priorities; be able to make decisions fairly quickly and be open to changing course if necessary. They should be a good listener and be direct and honest. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate unquestioned integrity, be an outstanding communicator, a strategic thinker and possess strong and effective interpersonal skills that engender trust and cultivate collaboration. They will be respectful of others, will value diversity and inclusion and will have a positive attitude. The new VPFA will be an exceptional financial and administrative leader with superior analytical and management skills and a willingness to explore new and creative opportunities for ensuring the University’s financial health. The successful candidate will be an excellent manager, be adept at managing multiple priorities simultaneously, be willing to think outside the box and take prudent risks. The new VPFA must possess a keen understanding of the higher education landscape and the challenges it is currently facing. The new VPFA will be able to understand and negotiate complex financial transactions and have the ability to achieve goals using influence and negotiation skills. The successful candidate will have the fortitude to make difficult choices when necessary and the ability to convey decisions with clarity. They will be involved in the appropriate professional organizations.

The new VPFA will be knowledgeable about the critical areas in the portfolio and will have experience working with boards of trustees. They will have at least ten years of progressively increasing experience in finance, facilities and administration and in managing a large staff with diverse responsibilities with at least some of the experience in higher education.  A bachelor’s degree is required, and an MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

Nomination and Application Process                      

Nominations and applications are invited for this position. Review of applications will begin immediately, and candidate material received by March 31, 2025 will be assured full consideration although recruitment will continue until an appointment is announced. Applications (including a cover letter and resume) must be uploaded here. Lapovsky Consulting is assisting Southwestern University in this search. For nominations, questions, or additional information, please contact:

Lucie Lapovsky

SU@lapovsky.com

917-690-1958

Southwestern University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.