Chief Financial Officer / Vice President of Finance and Administration

About Alverno College

Founded in 1887, Alverno College (“Alverno”) is a four-year independent Catholic liberal arts college for women sponsored by the School Sisters of St. Francis, and Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution. The College also offers a robust array of graduate and degree completion programs for women and men.

For more than 130 years, Alverno has been transforming lives with a powerful combination of liberal arts education and career readiness with an innovative and empowering education model of non-graded assessment and abilities-based approach which has been studied by others around the world.

Last year Alverno College welcomed Milwaukee native, Christy Brown, J.D. as its nineth president. President Brown began her tenure during the 2023 – 2024 academic year. Like many Alverno students, Brown was a first generation college student. Brown’s passion is centered upon the key strengths of Alverno’s 8 Abilities, the diversity of the student body, the Franciscan values that center on social justice and equity, and the dedication of faculty and staff.

In September 2024, Alverno was ranked eleventh among Midwest Regional Universities for its commitment to undergraduate teaching. This marks the fifteenth consecutive year Alverno was recognized in this category, the only college in the state included in this category for its entire 15- year history. The College was also recognized as a top performer for social mobility.

The Opportunity 

Alverno College is seeking a Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration (CFO/VP) who will be a strategic leader with a proven track record of financial management and business acumen. This executive role requires a talented, collaborative individual who can oversee Alverno’s financial operations, drive fiscal strategy, and support the administrative functions that are critical to the College's success. This leader will bring a blend of innovative thinking and disciplined execution to the table, ensuring that Alverno’s financial frameworks are robust and agile enough to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

The ideal candidate will have a record of successful and progressively responsible financial management, administrative, and business roles within small to medium-sized, complex organizations. The CFO/VP of Finance and Administration will bring a demonstrated record of success in building relationships and communicating with confidence across organizations with a variety of constituents, including College administration, staff, faculty, students, and external partners. In leading a team to manage the College’s finances, the ideal candidate will utilize data, sound judgment, and an analytical mindset to navigate complex financial situations and develop innovative strategies for solving any issues that arise.

Previous experience in higher education is strongly preferred.

• CPA preferred and Master’s degree required.
• Ten or more years of progressive finance experience and management oversight.
• Previous experience in higher education administration, preferably in a small college environment.
• Sensitivity for and understanding of academic disciplines and issues preferred.
• Experience applying accounting/finance knowledge within an integrated reporting system.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks/events on time and within budget.
• Extensive knowledge of accounting software, spreadsheets, and word processing software.
• Broad and deep knowledge of and experience with complex financial business models is required.
• Advanced experience with contract negotiation.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, on-site work environment. The successful candidate must be based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a senior leader of the organization, the flexibility to adapt schedules to meet business needs is necessary. Relocation support will be provided. 

The annual salary for this role will be based on a range, starting at $175,000 - $200,000 and will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills and experience. Alverno College also offers a generous benefits package.