Belmont Abbey College a private, non-profit Catholic Benedictine institution founded in 1876, located minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina. Our mission is to provide the best in Catholic liberal education, educating students in the disciplines of the liberal arts and sciences and forming students in the intellectual, moral, and spiritual virtues so that in all things God may be glorified. We maintain institutional objectives that inspire students to embrace their full potential. Belmont Abbey College is an apostolate of Belmont Abbey, an active monastery whose members welcome students and visitors into liturgy and fellowship. We are a Newman Guide college recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society for our authentic, lived Catholic identity. U.S. News and World Report ranks the College #2 in undergraduate teaching in the South. Position Overview This is a pivotal leadership position as the College advances its mission-driven goals and positions itself as a national Catholic institution committed to the education and formation of the minds, souls, and bodies of future leaders. The Vice President will be the key architect in shaping proactive financial strategies, assessing potential opportunities, overseeing institutional stewardship and operational excellence for continued growth and transformational innovation. As a Cabinet member, the Vice President will report directly to the President. The Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Operations will be expected to bring rigorous realism, creativity, flexibility, and adaptability to financial forecasting, modernize systems, and foster trust through transparent communication with the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, faculty, and staff. This position oversees a broad portfolio including finance, auxiliary services, public safety, purchasing, contracts, and campus operations. As a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the President, the Vice President collaborates closely with the President, Provost, and other Cabinet leaders to guide the College's strategic direction, steward the budget, maintain compliance, and ensure fiscal sustainability. As an executive administrator, the Vice President ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, funding agencies, and accrediting bodies through continuous monitoring of operations, programs, and physical properties. This position will be the primary liaison with banks, lenders, rating agencies, auditors, and other external stakeholders. This role demands strategic decision-making, executive presence, operational expertise, and financial acumen to ensure accountability, foster collaboration, build trust, and deliver exceptional results across diverse functions to ensure long-term growth and stability and community well-being. The Vice President will partner proactively with legal counsel to support sound governance and mitigate risk. The Vice President will also work closely with the Board of Trustees with transparency and flawless integration and communication, lead the Finance and Investment Committee of the College, and work seamlessly with the Southern Benedictine Society of Belmont Abbey. The Vice President must be able to translate complex financial information into clear, meaningful, and timely updates that inform and engage the College community, while strengthening cross-functional planning with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Student Life, Athletics, Advancement, and Campus Ministry so that administrative policies and practices reflect the College's Catholic and Benedictine identity. The Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Operations will oversee the following essential functions
- Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Fiduciary responsibility of safeguarding and optimizing College assets, direct development and supervision of annual and multi-year capital and operations budgets, capital planning, and financial forecasting, cash management, investments, debt management, annual audits, tax filings, and ensure priorities are addressed with appropriate resource allocation; design and implement internal controls that safeguard assets, verify the accuracy and reliability of accounting information, promote operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Financial Analysis
- Direct institutional financial and operational analysis, including enrollment, cash flow, risk analysis, auxiliary enterprise revenue, analyze economic and industry trends to provide proactive guidance to executive leadership. Facilities and Campus Operations
- Provide executive administration of Facilities Management, including capital projects, maintenance, food services, sustainability, and space planning. Institutional Leadership
- Advise the President, Cabinet, and other senior leadership, represent financial and business affairs to the Board of Trustees in a timely, comprehensive, and coherent manner, and ensure alignment of business strategies with institutional priorities and mission; Work within Board-approved policy and Catholic conscience investing standards consistent with the moral teachings of the Church to support the administration of the College's endowment and invested assets, collaborating with the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees and external advisors to align asset allocation, risk, and spending with long-term mission and intergenerational equity; review and approve all accrediting body and SACSCOC annual Financial Reports prior to submission.
Accounting and Business Operations
- Executive oversight of the Controller's Office and accounting, receivables, payables, purchasing, contracts, insurance, and financial systems, as well as the College's enterprise risk framework encompassing insurance, safety, business continuity, fraud prevention, and financial and operational compliance. Human Resources
- Oversee employment of faculty and staff, employee benefits, payroll, and Title IX administration through the Human Resources Department. Information Technology
- Manage the IT Department and its diverse and innovative systems across campus. Auxiliary Services
- Manage dining services, conferences and events, campus stores, parking, public safety including Campus Police, to ensure high-quality services, financial sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Qualifications Must have a record of progressively responsible leadership in higher education or complex nonprofit administration, finance, and operations and a deep resonance with Belmont Abbey College's Catholic and Benedictine mission.
Required :
A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field and a master's degree in accounting, business administration, and/or finance, and a CPA or CFA licensure. A minimum of 10 years of management in non-profit higher education and institutional finance expertise. Demonstrate a track record of impactful and sustained success and a strategic ambition that creates results with a compassionate mindset and a student-centered approach that reflects Catholic mission and values. Demonstrate expertise in financial planning, budgeting, accounting and audit, treasury and debt management, investment oversight, internal controls, endowment management, grant administration, and operational management. Possess the presence and credibility to engage effectively with Trustees and stakeholders, the emotional intelligence to build a culture of partnership, and the vision to align institutional mission and priorities with financial acumen. Demonstrate success building effective teams and improving systems and processes that serve academic, student life, and mission priorities. Demonstrate experience with enterprise risk management, insurance, procurement, and business services. Must have knowledge of the higher education regulatory environment, including federal and state compliance, not-for-profit accounting standards, and tax compliance expectations for sales and use tax, unrelated business income, employment tax, and escheatment. Must communicate clearly in writing and speech, present complex information to diverse audiences, exercises sound judgment, and bring humility, prudence, and a collegial spirit to Cabinet and Board work. Must be a practicing Catholic, demonstrating a life consistent with Church teachings; Must uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church with specific attention to the Catholic intellectual tradition, the Apostolic Constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae , and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning; and Must serve as a visible Christian leader both on and off campus, providing a personal witness to the Gospel through professional conduct. About Administration, Finance, and Operations at Belmont Abbey College The Administration and Finance Office provides the financial and operational backbone that enables Belmont Abbey College to educate and form students in mind, body, and spirit. Guided by the Benedictine values of stewardship and hospitality, the department delivers accurate and transparent financial reporting, prudent budgeting, reliable campus services, safe and welcoming facilities, and an enterprise risk approach that protects people and assets. In close partnership with the President, Cabinet, and Board of Trustees, the Vice President leads this work so that today's resources are marshaled for mission and safeguarded for future generations. Belmont Abbey College is being assisted by Hyatt
- Fennell, Executive Search.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted via email to bacvpafo@hyatt-fennell.com. Applications include a letter of interest, a current résumé/cv, and contact information for five professional references, submitted in separate documents. The position will remain open until filled. All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential. Belmont Abbey College will not tolerate harassment and/or discrimination of any kind against any person or group of individuals because of age, race, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. Harassment is defined as any behavior (verbal, written, or physical) that abuses, demeans, or victimizes any person based on the above distinctions.