Myers McRae Retained by Winthrop University to Lead CFO Search
September 3, 2024 – Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has been retained by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, to lead in its search for a vice president for finance and business and chief financial officer. Kenny Daugherty, the search firm’s president, led the assignment, along with Jessica Thompson, associate vice president and executive search coordinator.
As a leader for the division of finance and business affairs, the CFO is responsible for the finance and business affairs of the institution. Myers McRae explains that the upholder of the institution’s financial integrity, they are responsible for strategic leadership and guidance to the president, board of trustees, and university leadership in all matters regarding financial management, financial policy development and management, and financial oversight of the university. This leader provides executive leadership and accountability for the areas of finance and business affairs, computing and information technology, facilities management, and the campus post office.
Those applying should have a master’s degree in business administration, finance, or related area. They must have at least five years of responsible, high-level, administrative experience in higher education. Extensive experience supervising managerial employees in the areas of finance, budget, accounting, payroll, facilities management, procurement, and risk management is highly desired. In addition, experience with South Carolina rules, laws, and regulations regarding state agency fiscal management, property management, materials management, audit, and related areas, is also highly desired.
Myers McRae points out that candidates should have extensive knowledge of standard accounting and budgeting, payroll, procurement, and risk management principles, practices, and techniques. They must have experience with federal and state laws and regulations regarding accounting, budgeting, payroll, building and property management, capital investments, procurement, and risk management.
Winthrop University, founded in 1886, is a public, comprehensive, masters-level university. Ranked sixth by U.S. News & World Report among Southern public universities and in the top 20 of public and private institutions in the region, the university provides an educational experience that blends liberal arts, professional programs, global awareness, and civic engagement. Serving about 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Winthrop offers 46 undergraduate degrees and 23 graduate degrees across four colleges—the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Richard W. Riley College of Education and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Related: Myers McRae Recruits 19th President for Kentucky State University
In 2022, Myers McRae helped to recruit Edward Serna as the 12th president of Winthrop University. Dr. Serna was chosen from a diverse applicant pool which included sitting presidents, provosts, and other educational leaders. He previously served as president of the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF).
Finding Senior Leaders
Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting serves colleges, universities, independent schools, and other not-for-profit institutions. Nearly all of its search professionals have a minimum of 20 years of experience in higher education. The majority of the firm’s searches have been for presidents, chancellors, provosts, vice presidents, deans, and other senior academic and administrative leaders. Myers McRae recently placed the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at East Georgia State College, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Savannah State University, and the vice president for business and financial services and chief business officer for the University of West Georgia, among others.
Myers McRae Recruits President for State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
After a national search, Macon, Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has placed Tommy Gregory as the seventh president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). A search committee of six members, including SCF faculty, staff, a trustee, and two community members, interviewed candidates by video conference before recommending three finalists to proceed to the next phase.
“We are very grateful for the hard work of the volunteer search committee, consultant Myers McRae, the college community and all stakeholders who took the time to interview the candidates and provide their feedback,” said SCF district board of trustees chairman Rod Thomson. “We valued everyone’s input and found all the candidates highly qualified and selected Tommy as we believe him to be the best fit to lead SCF into the future.”
Mr. Daugherty has an extensive background in higher education administration, having served 28 years in public and independent institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, he had personnel responsibilities and served on numerous search committees for professional staff and administrators for the institution. Mr. Daugherty has conducted hundreds of searches for schools across the nation, including presidential searches for the University of Montana Western, Northwest Missouri State University, McDaniel College, Oakwood University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Pasco-Hernando State College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Wichita Area Technical College, and the Georgia Independent College Association.
Ms. Thompson is responsible for overseeing the firm’s proprietary database and ensuring information is updated and accurate. She works closely with consultants to provide information and materials throughout the search process. Ms. Thompson brings extensive experience in customer service, computer technology, and operations management to her position. Previously she served five years as operations manager for Kay-Lynn in Macon, overseeing the day-to-day operations and handling customer service needs.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
