Alfred University VP Business and FinanceCFO

Alfred University located in Western New York State a small private comprehensive doctoral degree-granting university with 1700 students and a $240M endowment and state-sponsored programs in engineering and art and design is doing a national search for its next of Vice President for Business and Finance/Chief Financial Officer (VPBF). Alfred has been included on the Princeton Review list of the 359 Best Colleges for the 35^th consecutive year has the #1 ranked MFA in Ceramics and is ranked #12 among best value schools in the country in US News and World Report. The Vice President reports directly to President Mark Zupan serves on the Presidents leadership team and is an active participant in all aspects of institution-wide financial management planning and policy development. This individual will join a dynamic and energetic senior team which is student-centered and supports academic excellence co-curricular engagement and involvement in an inclusive and vibrant community of learners and makers. Alfred is fortunate to have a very talented and dedicated board. Alfred students are innovators makers and purpose focused.

The University seeks a strategic financial leader who can align resources investments and revenues to advance Alfred Universitys mission and strengthen the student experience. The new VP will serve as a trusted partner to the President Provost and leadership team bringing a forward-looking perspective to institutional decision-making anticipating emerging opportunities and challenges and developing financial models that support sustainability over the coming years. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional financial expertise and administrative acumen with an entrepreneurial mindsethelping academic and administrative leaders make thoughtful choices about investments identify opportunities for greater efficiency and cultivate new and sustainable sources of revenue. Above all the new VP will be student-centered deeply committed to the value of higher education and Alfred Universitys distinctive mission and motivated by the opportunity to help position the University for long-term success. The successful candidate will be forward-thinking entrepreneurial transparent collaborative collegial an engaged listener and an exceptional communicator who can build trust and foster a culture of shared accountability and strategic stewardship.

The new VP will manage the areas of finance facilities risk food service (in partnership with the VP of Student Engagement) bookstore ancillary services procurement and investments and endowment. The VP will support the Finance Building and Grounds Audit and Investment committees of the board of trustees.

Challenges and Opportunities

Move the University to Financial Equilibrium

Develop New Sources of Revenue and Help Increase Existing Revenue

Develop a Budget Process and Balanced Budget

Maintain Efficient Cost-Effective Operation of the University

Partner with the Town and the Village

Provide Leadership to all Direct Reports and Create an Effective Team

Gain Trust and Communicate Effectively with the Campus

Please review the position profile for additional information about the University and the position.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be student-centered positive collaborative optimistic and forward thinking. The VP will demonstrate unquestioned integrity be an outstanding listener open to feedback and input a good communicator a strategic thinker and possess strong and effective interpersonal skills that engender trust and cultivate collaboration. The VP will have a strong commitment to promoting inclusivity. They will be a servant-leader who is respectful of others and who works to help their colleagues achieve their goals. The new VPBF/CFO 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 Universitys financial health. The successful candidate will maintain financial discipline have an entrepreneurial spirit and will be willing to think outside the box and take prudent risks. The new VPBF/CFO will be a skilled negotiator and will work to help the faculty and staff achieve their goals. They will understand the higher education landscape and the challenges that higher education is currently facing and provide innovative ideas in approaching the future. The new VP will be able to understand and negotiate complex financial transactions and 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.

The new VPBF 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 and administration and in managing a large staff with diverse responsibilities. Higher Education experience is highly desirable as well as experience in business non-profits and/or other sectors. Experience aligning expenses with revenue expectations and restructuring will be valued. A bachelors degree is required and a CPA 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 October 23 2026 will be assured full consideration. Applications (including a cover letter and resume) must be uploaded to: . Lapovsky Consulting is assisting Alfred in this search. For nominations questions or additional information please contact:

Lucie Lapovsky

EEO Statement

Alfred University is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to qualified persons without regard to race sex color religion national origin citizenship marital status sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression age disability military veteran status or any other protected status or classification under federal state or local laws.