PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by Briar Cliff University for Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer Search

(July 10, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer Search at Briar Cliff University. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

Briar Cliff University seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial financial leader to serve as Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer (VPF/CFO). Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the Cabinet, the VPF/CFO will play a central role in advancing the University’s continued recovery and long-term sustainability. Briar Cliff has made significant progress through a comprehensive multi-year recovery strategy focused on enrollment growth, revenue enhancement, and long-term financial sustainability. This is a compelling opportunity for a collaborative, mission-driven executive to help shape the future of a university with a clear strategic direction, measurable progress, and a community committed to building upon its recent momentum. Serving as the University’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to the Board of Trustees, the VPF/CFO will provide strategic financial leadership to the President, Cabinet, and Board while overseeing all financial operations of the University. The VPF/CFO will serve as the primary liaison to the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and lead institutional budgeting, financial planning, accounting, treasury management, audit and compliance, risk management, and financial reporting. Briar Cliff has made significant progress through a comprehensive multi-year recovery strategy focused on enrollment growth, revenue enhancement, and long-term financial sustainability. This is a compelling opportunity for a collaborative, mission-driven executive to help shape the future of a university with a clear strategic direction, measurable progress, and a community committed to building upon its recent momentum.

Briar Cliff University, founded in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, is a welcoming academic community overlooking the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa. What began on a hill once covered in briar patches has grown into a vibrant campus that now serves nearly 1,000 students. Rooted in the Franciscan values of service, compassion, and inclusivity, Briar Cliff fosters both academic excellence and personal growth, offering a transformative experience for students and professionals alike. The University offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs, a range of graduate degrees, and several online completion pathways to meet students where they are in their educational journey. From health sciences and business to education, social work, and the liberal arts, Briar Cliff delivers a mission-driven education that shapes not just résumés but character. Faculty and staff work closely with students to cultivate curiosity, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to service and learning.

 

Affordable Excellence  

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.