Associate Vice President of Fiscal Services

Please Note: The salary range for this position is $133,454.00 - $165,115.00 annually. The salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and related experience. Typically, new hires start no higher than $139,015.00/year, based on Pierce College's Administrative/Exempt Compensation Plan.

The mission of Pierce College is to create quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world. The Pierce College District is committed to being an anti-racist institution; to truly be anti-racist we must work deliberately to eliminate barriers that have prevented the most promising and capable students from entering and thriving in college. 

Reporting to the Vice President for Fiscal Services, the Associate Vice President of Fiscal Services manages the financial services operations for the Pierce College District. This position provides leadership to complex financial functions and supervises exempt and classified employees. The Associate Vice President plans long-range departmental goals and objectives and engages in continuous improvement of departmental services while ensuring compliance with district policies and procedures as well as state and federal regulations. 

This position is responsible for integrity of financial data and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and regulatory agencies. This work includes preparing for various financial audits and coordinating responses to external requests for financial and accounting information. As the primary financial advisor for all finance and accounting matters, this position will communicate plans to key stakeholders and provide input for district priorities. In collaboration with the VP for Fiscal Services, the incumbent will facilitate the college’s budget process. 

This position actively leads, supports, and engages in Pierce College’s goals for equity and inclusion in order to create and maintain a workplace that supports and respects accessibility, equity, inclusion, and diversity. This position requires regular and consistent attendance.

About the District

Pierce College is a high-performing, mission-driven, data-informed, student-focused district committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. For nearly 60 years, Pierce College has developed a national reputation for academic excellence and support services to ensure student success. The district is proud of the many awards and recognitions it has received. Pierce College is an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction and was the 2017 recipient of their prestigious Leah Meyer Austin Award, given for measurable improvements in student outcomes.

Named as a Top 5 Finalist and a Rising Star for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was recognized for exceptional achievements in student learning, certificate and degree completion while in community college and after transferring to a four-year institution, employment and earnings rates after graduation, and access for and success of minority and low-income students. Pierce College District was named as a Top 10 finalist for the 2021 Aspen Prize and a Top 25 for 2023. Pierce is also one of 30 original AACC Guided Pathways colleges and one of first five College Spark Washington pathways colleges. We have bold goals to have all students on a career pathway to increase completion rates for all students and to close achievement gaps by 2027.

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom

Located on a beautiful 140-acre site adjacent to a 340-acre community recreational park and Waughop Lake. Want a feel for our District, take a peek with aerial campus views. 

Pierce College at Puyallup

Located on an expansive site with 125-acres of wooded land including modern facilities and beautiful hideaways.

Pierce College at JBLM

Located at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military sites, serving many of our military and active duty families serving our country. 

The Associate Vice President of Fiscal Services will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:

District Fiscal Services

• Oversee the District’s day-to-day financial operations and serve as the direct supervisor for the Director of Fiscal Operations and Student Financials Manager. Through these leaders, oversee approximately 35 staff members.

• Provide leadership and oversight for Fiscal Services operations, including accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget, cashiering, collections, grants and contracts, payroll, procurement, printshop, shipping and receiving, and travel functions.

• Monitor District financial processes.

• Oversee the District’s treasury, banking, cash management, investment, risk management, state business functions, financial reporting, and compliance with federal and state laws, including Washington State Law (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), District policies and procedures, directives from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), and applicable Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

• Resolve accounting and financial discrepancies and ensure timely reconciliation of federal, state, and local funds, including financial aid funds, federal awards, state funds, capital project funds, and student accounts.

Reporting and Advisory

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to the Vice President for Fiscal Services on finance and accounting matters and serve as Acting Vice President for Fiscal Services when directed.

• Prepare executive summaries, reports, and communication plans to inform key stakeholders, the District Executive Team, and the Board of Trustees. 

• Provide technical and professional guidance, including forecasting and financial projections, to support District priorities.

• Lead the District’s federal and state disclosure reporting during fiscal year-end closing, ensuring compliance with timelines established by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and other state agencies, including monthly, quarterly, and annual business and tax-related reporting requirements.

• Oversee the completion and final review of the District’s annual financial statements in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements.

• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and GAAP compliance of financial and other data provided to SBCTC, external auditors, and other regulatory entities.

• Work with the Financial Reporting and Compliance Specialist to coordinate audit activities in preparation for key financial audits, including annual Financial Statement Audits, Accountability Audits, the State’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) audit, SBCTC audits, and other regulatory agency audits as needed.

• Coordinate responses to external requests for financial and accounting information related to accreditation requirements, annual IPEDS reporting, grant applications, and other reporting obligations.

Budget Oversight

• Work with the Vice President for Fiscal Services to facilitate the college’s budget process, including leading annual budgetary meetings and incorporating projections for revenue collection.

• Oversee expenditure controls and revenue collections after the approval of the annual budget by the Board, and provide periodic reports on budgetary matters to the Vice President for Fiscal Services, the Executive Team, and the Board of Trustees.

• Oversee the reporting on appropriations, expenses, and other spending authority provided by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Office of Financial Management, and other agencies.

Policies and Procedures

• Together with the VP of Fiscal Services, develop, implement, and monitor annual and long-range departmental goals and objectives, management systems, and work processes that facilitate efficient and effective fiscal operations.

• Engage in continuous improvement processes for identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring, and revising departmental policies and procedures relating to fiscal operations, including the design, implementation, and periodic review of internal controls over fiscal operations.

• Ensure that all departmental policies and procedures comply with District policy, procedures, and directives; state and federal regulations; orders and statutes; and collective bargaining agreements.

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide leadership, management, and direction to complex finance functions and assigned staff in delivering fiscal services throughout the District.

• Nurture the development of a psychologically safe work environment, model expected professional behavior, coach and mentor staff to cultivate a culture characterized by excellence, collaboration, learning, service, equity, and belonging.

• Supervise exempt and classified employees, adhering to classified contracts and all District rules and regulations to ensure efficient operations.

• Support fiscal team members, including prioritizing, directing, developing, and assessing assigned areas.

• Work to ensure that staff are given opportunities for professional development and adequate training and resources for their assigned roles.

Collaboration

• Engage with the diverse operations of the District and college leadership to coordinate with the fiscal services department, ensuring accountability of stakeholders and accuracy in accounting, budget, and financial reporting.

• Work effectively with other agencies or groups necessary to accomplish goals, including SBCTC, the State Auditor, Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Operational Risk Management, and national, state, and local licensing and accreditation agencies.

Mission and Values

• In conjunction with the Vice President for Fiscal Services, aid in reimagining and implementing an updated fiscal services’ mission, vision, values, and guiding principles aligned with the District’s core mission, vision, and values.

Education Required

Experience Required

• Five (5) years or more experience in progressively responsible administrative or leadership roles.
• Minimum of five (5) years related experience in finance with responsible experience as a professional accountant, including experience in fund accounting processes and procedures in higher education, government, or a non-profit. Progressively responsible accounting experience applying advanced accounting principles and theories to financial operations and the preparation of financial statements.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience with Microsoft Office suite, including experience with pivot tables.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience with an educational, government, or non-profit Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) finance and accounting software system. Peoplesoft experience is preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to perform business model projections and budget forecasting.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in fiscal analysis and forecasting, budgeting, finance or management.
• Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative team environment with diverse employees, including developing and supervising accounting staff and teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with administrative colleagues and the academic areas within the organization.
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and procedures of governmental accounting and related accounting standards; financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements; COSO internal control environments; and methods of managing accounting systems functions.

Special Requirements

• After a conditional offer of employment, the successful candidate must consent to and pass a criminal records background check. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability to perform in this position.
• For roles in finance or those with cash handling requirements, the successful candidate must consent to and pass a credit check after a conditional offer of employment. Information from the credit check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability to perform in this position.
• Must not be in default on any student loans.

Required Competencies

• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, including the ability to encourage, inspire, and support employees in achieving the district’s mission and their individual professional goals.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, including the ability to analyze and explain complex administrative, financial and budget issues to non-financial managers.
• Ability to problem solve in a complex financial compliance environment.
• Superior time management and prioritization skills.
• Strong positive interpersonal skills including the ability to work collaboratively and be a team-oriented leader, work effectively across organizational lines and create and nurture a safe, bias-free working environment which engenders respect for all individuals and for their differences.
• Ability to manage complex and diverse organizational units with competing needs.
• Knowledge of effective organizational structures and administrative processes, with the ability to apply systems thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret and ensure compliance with federal and state policies and procedures related to community college education.
• Ability to provide leadership in accordance with the mission, vision, values, and goals established by the district, including fostering a service philosophy, with a commitment to racial and social justice, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of best practices including, but not limited to: risk management, investment management, contract management, capital project, ethics, and public records.
• Develop and maintain department sensitivity to and understanding of the value of equity, diversity and inclusion of the college staff and students.

To be considered for this position, applicants must:

• Meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
  
• Complete the online application profile at https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr and apply for the specific job opening.
  
• Cover Letter: Upload (attach) a cover letter that addresses how you meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
  
• Resume: Upload (attach) detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience.
  
• Transcripts: Transcripts are not required in order to apply for this position; however, if you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to bring copies of unofficial transcripts showing completion of the required level of education and/or coursework. International transcript must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services, visit: https://www.naces.org/members.
  • Please note: Certain positions require specific levels of educational attainment such as a post-secondary degree, licensures or certifications. In order to evaluate applicant materials to determine if the minimum qualifications are met, information regarding your education and experience should be included in your application materials.
    
  • Applications without transcripts attached, may receive notification that their application materials are incomplete. If you receive a notice and information has been provided elsewhere in your applications materials, please disregard. (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required upon hire).
    
• References: Upload (attach) a list of at least three (3) professional references with names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. One of which must be your current or most recent supervisor. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted. 
  
• Supplemental Question: Provide a response to the following question.

To learn more about our Equity, Engagement, and Belonging efforts, please visit: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/about/mission-vision/equity-engagement-belonging/.

Terms of Employment
This is a full-time, administrative-exempt position. The primary work location will be at Pierce College, Fort Steilacoom campus. Frequent travel to Pierce College campuses or other sites may occur.

Standard work hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours required. Regular and consistent attendance is required. 

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $133,454.00 - $165,115.00 annually. The salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and related experience. Typically, new hires start no higher than $139,015.00/year, based on Pierce College's Administrative/Exempt Compensation Plan. 

Your paycheck is just part of the total compensation package. There is an outstanding benefits package which is worth an additional value equivalent to about 30% of your salary. A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance. Life and long- term disability insurance plans; vacation, sick and personal leave; reduced tuition; and retirement benefits are also provided. 

Physical Work Environment

This position works indoors in an office environment that requires visual concentration, dexterity, and precision, and is subject to frequent noise and interruptions, and operates in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application and employment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. Requests should be made to the District Human Resources Office by calling 253-964-7342. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

Screening & Interview Process
Only those candidates who have complied with the application process and meet the required qualifications will be considered. Following the review of application materials, the most qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. Check the email account you used for the application process for communication regarding the status of your application. Application materials submitted to Pierce College are the property of the College and will not be returned.

Please Note

This is a competitive selection process. Your application materials will be reviewed and evaluated based on the minimum qualifications listed for the position. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the district’s needs will be eligible for further consideration. 

Notification of application status normally occurs 4 to 6 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include written, oral and performance examinations, and final interviews.

Conditions of Employment

Prior to the start of employment, the finalist for this position will be subject to a criminal background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. 

For roles in finance or those with cash handling requirements, the successful candidate must consent to and pass a credit check after a conditional offer of employment. Information from the credit check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability to perform in this position. Must not be in default on any student loans.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Conditional offer letters will be accompanied by a declaration and authorization to release information form to be completed by the applicant. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law RCW 28B.112.080.

An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H-1B visa. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire.

Pierce College has adopted a Drug Free Workplace policy. As a condition of employment, employees must agree to abide by the requirements established in that policy.