BACKGROUND

This CFO position will have both financial and operational responsibilities within the organization. The CFO will be responsible for financial planning and budgeting, managing the physical infrastructure required for Minerva operations, and managing the financial health, reporting, and analysis of the Minerva Institute, the non-profit entity that operates Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume responsibility for financial management of Minerva including overseeing books, financial planning and budgeting, handling and managing foreign entity transactions, balance sheet optimization, and capitalization plans
• Responsible for the accuracy and reliability of financial information and reporting, compliance with applicable regulations and University policies for accounting principles (GAAP), Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and applicable state tax regulations, protection of University resources, and other related compliance management requirements and concerns.
• Will be the primary responsible executive to manage the relationship with the Minerva Project and will report directly to the board of directors in that regard
• Oversee payroll, benefits and people operations functions.
• Manage Minerva's administrative service providers including insurance, audit, corporate entity, and tax
• Provide oversight and guidance for financial aid policies, audit and administration of financial aid
• Provide oversight of financial policies related to donations and grants.
• Represent Minerva, its mission, and its brand as a member of the senior executive team
• Manage a small and impactful team of extraordinary employees to fulfill these goals

LOCATION

• San Francisco Bay Area

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Experienced and highly successful at international financial and regulatory operations with some familiarity of real estate. At least seven years experience in a non-profit setting, preferably in higher education with proven management success.

SKILLS & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

LEADERSHIP

• Leads by example; Minerva execs are individual contributors and inspirational leaders.

• Ability to perform at extraordinary levels of accomplishment on highly limited budgets with practically no administrative support

• Organized, with the ability to implement systems and processes whilst retaining the flexibility required to manage effectively in a business undergoing growth and change

• Not willing to settle for conventional wisdom versus optimally effective solutions.

• Is able to bring the best out of employees and colleagues

• Must be allergic to wasting money — both penny and pound wise

INTELLECT

• Candidate must be extremely bright and academically well qualified
• Understands the operational implications of strategic decisions
• Must be personally comfortable with creating complicated mathematical and financial models—facility and inclination to math and logic a must

COMMUNICATION

• Excellent negotiation, influence, and presentation skills.
• Will have the gravitas, charisma and knowledge to be credible in all business situations

MOTIVATION/CULTURE FIT

• Mission driven above all else—approaches work at Minerva as a necessity for the world as opposed to merely a “good thing”
• Relishes the idea of digging in and executing as opposed to solely managing others
• Highly self-motivated and self-managed—requires little direction outside of goals
• Strongly performance oriented and accountable