Title: Director of Finance & Administration #00039

State Role Title: Gen Admin Manager III

Hiring Range: Up to $185,000

Pay Band: 7

Agency: State Council of Higher Educ

Location: St Council of Higher Education

Agency Website: https://www.schev.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

About the Organization

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for the nation’s preeminent system of postsecondary education. SCHEV is responsible for: developing and promoting an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education; facilitating collaboration among postsecondary institutions that enhances academic quality and operational efficiency; developing and submitting recommendations to the executive and legislative branches on budgetary and policy matters; and providing advisory and/or regulatory guidance to the institutions.

SCHEV’s mission is to “promote the development and operation of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education.” The Agency’s mission is for “SCHEV to be the recognized source for accurate information, meaningful innovation, and informed leadership in higher education.” SCHEV staff members work to ensure access and equity to the State’s colleges and universities for all individuals who can take advantage of the educational opportunities provided on campuses. In 2014, SCHEV developed The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, a statewide strategic plan. Updated and approved in January 2021, Pathways to Opportunity: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education is designed to identify trends that the Commonwealth must address if it is to continue to prosper and succeed. The plan provides a roadmap for Virginia to be the “Best State for Education” by 2030. In order to do so, it will fulfill its mission of advancing equitable, affordable and transformative higher education.

About the Position

The Director of Finance and Administration serves as the agency’s Fiscal Officer and a key member of SCHEV’s senior leadership team, reporting to the Deputy Director. The position provides executive leadership, vision, and oversight for all financial management and budget operations of the agency, ensuring compliance with Commonwealth laws, regulations, and policies. This role is responsible for the strategic direction, integrity, and performance of core administrative and fiscal functions, including procurement, budgeting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, grants management, financial aid disbursements, cash management, ARMICS compliance, and administration of major state systems such as Cardinal Financials, Cardinal HCM, and the Performance Budgeting system.

The Director ensures sound internal controls, accurate financial reporting, and the effective management of general and non-general fund budgets that support agency operations. As a senior leader, the Director supervises and develops the Budget & Finance staff, fostering an inclusive, high-performing team environment aligned with SCHEV’s mission and values. The position supports agency-wide planning, policy development, and operational continuity, and works collaboratively with the HR liaison and DHRM partners to support employee onboarding and workforce needs.

The Director serves as SCHEV’s primary liaison to state oversight and partner agencies, including DPB, DOA, DGS, and other internal service entities, ensuring compliance, transparency, and strong interagency relationships. The position leads continuous improvement efforts to enhance agency operations, strengthen financial stewardship and accountability, and ensure effective performance across fiscal and administrative systems. The Director of Administration and Finance plays a central role in agency stability and resilience by ensuring clean audits, meeting all state and federal reporting requirements, and advancing internal practices that promote operational excellence.

The position provides executive-level leadership that supports agency strategic initiatives, ensures continuity of operations across administrations, and enhances SCHEV’s effectiveness in fulfilling its mission.

Minimum Qualifications

· Considerable work experience demonstrating knowledge of the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and experience demonstrating the ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets in a government environment.
· Considerable experience completing complex financial reports and providing executives with critical status updates of the agency’s fiscal operations as needed.
· Considerable experience demonstrating the ability to lead an organization’s finance, accounting and budget operations and experience supervising fiscal operations staff.
· A work history demonstrating extensive fiscal management experience to include revenue collection, cash management, performing financial audits, and experience demonstrating knowledge of budget management and budget forecasting practices.
· Extensive experience providing oversight, management, and compliance with policy/laws/regulations/procedures related to fiscal processes.
· Extensive experience analyzing, interpreting, developing, and coordinating the implementation of fiscal/budget and purchasing policies/procedures/internal controls.
· Strong interpersonal skills, coupled with a demonstrated acumen for technology integration in standard operations.
· Extensive work experience performing job functions requiring attention to detail and accuracy, managing multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, and complying with established deadlines and schedules.
· A work history demonstrating extensive organizational and management skills experience.
· Considerable experience demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate verbally to provide customer service/technical assistance and conduct training as needed.

Additional Considerations

· Considerable experience demonstrating the ability to lead an organization’s finance, accounting and budget operations and experience supervising fiscal operations staff.
· Extensive work experience demonstrating knowledge of the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and experience demonstrating the ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets in a government environment.
· Extensive work experience demonstrating the ability to provide oversight, management, and compliance with policy/laws/regulations/procedures related to fiscal and purchasing processes for an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
· Considerable knowledge of CAAP Manual Topics, eVA, SPCC, SWAM, and procurement procedures and processes of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
· Considerable knowledge of principles of public administration, state government operations and the legislative processes.
· Considerable experience as a senior level manager in a financial environment providing project management, leadership, guidance, and personnel management.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

You may apply for this position at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov.

State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). Applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State applications and or in resumes. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided in the application, resume, or other relevant documents provided; therefore, it is essential for applicants to supply detailed information. Applications should include complete work history and periods of unemployment if applicable.

Submitting an incomplete state application/resume, or a state application/resume lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position.

State employees who have been affected by Policy 1.3 Layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card) must submit the card BEFORE the closing date for this position. The card may be scanned and attached to the application or faxed to (804) 371-7401. Please include your name and the position number on the fax cover sheet. You may apply for this position at http://jobs.agencies.virginia.gov . Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Ethel White at (804) 249-1992 for assistance. VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

SCHEV values honesty, quality, diversity, inclusion, growth-orientation, personal well-being, equity, transparency, and accountability.

EEO Employer

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: 804-292-6482

Email: taris.harmon@dhrm.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.