Senior Director for Finance

Emporia State University Foundation

Search  2496- Posted September 29, 2026

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accounting and Finance Operations

• Provide accounting and operational guidance; review financial information and processes; resolve complex or recurring issues; and improve accuracy, efficiency, controls, service, and business continuity.
• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and selected supporting workpapers for accuracy, completeness, reasonableness, consistency, and appropriate presentation.
• Strengthen the monthly-close framework, workpaper standards, financial documentation, analytical review, and audit readiness while designated process owners retain routine preparation responsibilities.

Technology, Automation and Data Access

• Maximize the effective use and integration of Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, Raiser’s Edge NXT, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, reporting and visualization tools, and approved automation technologies.
• Identify, evaluate, test, and implement practical automation, dashboards, system integrations, and self-service reporting solutions that improve data access without weakening security or controls.
• Lead Finance requirements, testing, validation, documentation, training, implementation, and adoption for approved system and process changes.

Process Improvement, Controls and Documentation

• Map and redesign workflows; establish procedures, templates, controls, training materials, and knowledge-management resources; and monitor implementation results.
• Lead or coordinate internal-control remediation, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, evidence, validation, and escalation.
• Design and govern an organized Finance SharePoint environment supporting document accessibility, version control, retention, and business continuity.

Leadership, Training and Stakeholder Service

• Supervise assigned Finance staff and lead, coach, train, mentor, and develop employees through ongoing feedback and professional-development opportunities.
• Develop and deliver training for Finance employees and other Foundation users on financial processes, systems, reports, dashboards, controls, and tools.
• Build trusted relationships across the Foundation, Emporia State University, and external partners; understand stakeholder needs; manage expectations; and deliver practical solutions.

Strategic Projects and Change Leadership

• Lead cross-functional projects and change initiatives involving process redesign, technology implementation, workflow optimization, operational transitions, or organizational restructuring.
• Support future-state and organizational-transition work, including stand-alone financial processes, systems, controls, reporting, data flows, documentation, and business-continuity planning when assigned.
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, operations, advisory services, consulting, business-process improvement, or a related area, including experience leading complex or cross-functional initiatives.
• Prior supervisory or team leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to coach, train, mentor, and develop employees.
• Strong knowledge of accounting operations and financial reporting, including experience reviewing financial statements, reconciliations, supporting schedules, workpapers, and other financial information.
• Demonstrated experience in process improvement, project leadership, and change management, including evaluating existing processes, identifying root causes, implementing improvements, and supporting successful adoption of change.
• Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining process documentation, standard operating procedures, workflow guides, training materials, or other knowledge-management resources.
• Experience using technology, systems, data, reporting, or automation to improve business or financial processes and operational efficiency.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing effective relationships with clients, internal stakeholders, or other service recipients, including understanding needs, managing expectations, resolving issues, and delivering practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and organizational levels and translate complex accounting, financial, system, and process concepts into clear guidance for financial and nonfinancial audiences.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and demonstrated ability to learn and effectively use enterprise financial, reporting, CRM, workflow, and related technologies.
• Demonstrated curiosity, adaptability, innovation, problem-solving ability, and commitment to continuous learning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, information systems, or a related field.
• Experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, Raiser’s Edge NXT, or comparable ERP and CRM platforms.
• Experience with Microsoft SharePoint, Power Automate, Power Query, Power BI, Microsoft Copilot, or comparable automation, reporting, workflow, artificial-intelligence, and data-visualization tools.
• Experience implementing or improving system integrations, automated workflows, dashboards, self-service reporting, or data-access solutions.
• Experience evaluating, piloting, or implementing emerging technologies or innovative business solutions.
• Experience with nonprofit organizations, higher education, university foundations, advancement operations, endowments, or fund accounting.
• Experience working with senior executives, Boards, or committees and preparing executive-level reports, presentations, or recommendations.

Role Scope

This is a senior accounting, review, process, technology, and people-leadership role. The Senior Director is not expected to routinely process accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash activity, recurring journal entries, routine reconciliations, or other transactions assigned to Finance staff. The role may review, analyze, troubleshoot, train on, improve, automate, or provide temporary backup for those processes while maintaining required approvals and segregation of duties.

COMPENSATION:

Salary: $75,000 - $95,000.00

• Qualifications and previous experience will be considered for placement of base rank and salary. 

BENEFITS:

Base pay is one component of Emporia State University’s total rewards package. We are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family that include:

• Health Insurance
• Free Dental insurance for employees
• Retirement through the Kansas Board of Regents
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 31 days paid vacation and holiday days
• Tuition reduction and tuition assistance
• Dependent tuition waiver
• For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit the benefits webpage.

APPLY:

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information of three references online. 

Consideration of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled.

A background check is required prior to hire.

For more information

Human Resources

humres@emporia.edu

(620) 341-5379

Emporia State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other factors which cannot be considered by law.