Aspen Leadership Group In CFO Hunt for Albion College

November 12, 2020 – Aspen Leadership Group, an executive search firm that specializes in recruiting top talent for philanthropic organizations, has been enlisted to find a chief financial officer for Albion College in Michigan. Leading the assignment is Don Hasseltine, senior consultant and vice president.

“This role will present the successful candidate with strategic questions, exciting challenges and continuous opportunities to secure Albion College’s place as a leader among liberal arts institutions held together by a strong financial and business model,” said the search firm. The CFO will report to Albion’s president and provide supervision to the controller, senior finance analyst and other financial affairs staff.

The incoming CFO will direct the financial functions of the college, including assurance of the accuracy and conformance of financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), said the search firm. He or she must also maintain an effective system of management and operational budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls and analysis to support key decisions.

Financial Strategies

The role requires that the CFO partner with the president to develop mid-and long-term financial strategies for the college. The individual should assure compliance with legal, financial and statutory regulations. Maintaining an effective financial risk management program is also essential. The CFO will oversee treasury operations and cash management.

It is also critical that the CFO work effectively with the investment committee of the board on endowment management, lead an effective program for evaluation of capital projects and manage an effective long-term financial planning process. The goals and objectives of the college and president should be central to each function.

Candidates should have the independent strategic judgment needed to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified and highly confidential workload, said Aspen Leadership Group. They should also have knowledge of and experience with financial models, cost/benefit analysis and investment analysis. Support for the mission, vision and goals of the college, including strategic planning for the future development of the college and related infrastructure is vital.

Key Qualifications

Knowledge of financial functions including financial reporting, internal controls development and implementation, financial planning and budgeting, financial systems implementation and management, and treasury and debt management are required. Also needed are strong interpersonal, verbal, written and presentation communication skills; strong analytical, critical thinking, strategic planning, and decision-making skills; and organizational and prioritization skills.


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Candidates should have proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Suite, Banner and other financial software. They must also possess risk management skills, leadership and supervisory skills, an ability to work with a wide range of internal and external constituencies in a diverse campus community and an  ability to work effectively with the senior leadership of the college. A bachelor’s degree is required as is significant progressive professional experience in finance, investment, endowment management, investment banking, debt and cash management, insurance, contracts, and risk management, treasurer, controller and other senior financial functions.

A master’s degree (MA or MBA) is preferred as is CPA licensure and higher education experience.

Albion College, founded in 1835, is an undergraduate, liberal arts institution historically related to the United Methodist Church. Located in Albion, MI, 90 miles west of Detroit, the college has an enrollment of 1,500 students and a full-time faculty of 105, including 90 tenured/tenure track. Albion College, which offers bachelor of art and bachelor of fine arts degrees, lists 42 academic majors leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. In addition to the 90-acre main campus, Albion offers the 144-acre White House Nature Center and 340-acre Held Equestrian Center.

Non-Profit Recruiters

Aspen Leadership Group, established in 2013, conducts searches for board members, presidents, executive directors, chief development and advancement officers, and development and advancement professionals. It clients include Brown University, PBS, the Humane Society of the United States, the Leakey Foundation, and the Denver Zoological Foundation, among others.

With a 25-year career in advancement, Mr. Hasseltine specializes in organizational development for non-profits with particular expertise in philanthropy, fundraising, and leadership. His collaborative approach has proven to be highly effective at helping clients articulate strategy, execute impactful programs, mold teams, and build institutional self-confidence. He also carries a portfolio of high-level executive search projects and frequently places and coaches, CEOs and presidents, CDOs, and VPs. His clients include some of the most recognized organizations in higher education, independent schools, national nonprofits, foundations and institutes, and others.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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