Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in their search for a Senior Executive Director of Fiscal Operations & Comptroller.

Central New Mexico Community College shines as an exceptionally strong and innovative institution well-positioned to meet the demands of the changing higher education landscape. With excellent financial health and a strong fiscal environment, the College holds a Moody’s Investor Services rating of Aa1 and a Standard & Poors Corporation rating of AA+. The College continues to make significant capital investments geared towards student success including new buildings, implementation of new ERP/SIS, and ongoing analysis and realignment of resources to create an even stronger student experience. The Senior Executive Director of Fiscal Operations & Comptroller joins a motivated and dedicated team in an institution with strong brand recognition, a great reputation and a history of innovative solutions including the first to introduce block chain transcripts for students and now a leader in block chain learning networks.

The Senior Executive Director of Fiscal Operations & Comptroller provides direct oversight and maintains overall administrative and fiduciary responsibility for general institutional services and management of business and financial activities. Provides administrative leadership and operational oversight for Accounting, Contracts and Grants, Payroll, Bursars, Non-Profit Accounting, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Duplicating & Postal Processing.

This position reports to the Vice President of Finance & Operations and leads a team of over 40 FTE.

This position offers the ability for some remote work based on business needs and service levels for residents of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.

Essential Responsibilities

• Directs the activities in the CNM Business Office including setting policy and procedures for internal operations to ensure consistency and compliance with good accounting practices, internal controls, and external regulations.
• Provides strong leadership to a diverse staff including team building, interpersonal communications and ensuring positive customer relations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversees internal and external audits and preparation of audit reports. Oversees major system development projects that impact financial reporting. Establishes college’s financial policies and transactional standards, ensuring consistency with the college’s mission and strategic plans and compliance with Governing Board policies, State and Federal fiscal management laws and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Reviews, analyzes and communicates results of financial statements, tax returns and other financial reports to ensure integrity of final product, compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Determines proper approach for new accounting issues; establishes proper controls and meet accounting and regulatory standards. Develops and implements effective internal control policies and procedures.
• Reviews and analyzes audited financial statements and single audit report for compliance with GAAP, government accounting standards and to identify significant financial or compliance issues for the college.
• Oversees preparation and analysis of quarterly financial statements and investment liquidity information to meet state reporting requirements. Provides analysis and updates as appropriate.
• Oversees preparation and negotiation of the college's federal indirect cost rate; ensures timeliness and integrity of CNM’s grant accounting and reporting to internal and external constituents
• Oversees compliance with public debt tax requirements, as well as ensures proper record keeping of bond transactions. Reviews journal entries and payments related to college debt such as interest accruals, bond payments, issuance/conversion of bonds, amortization of related costs and discounts.
• Oversees treasury/cash management functions for the college including reviewing and reporting on the performance of investments in keeping with investment policies and guidelines.
• Advises Executive leadership in shaping the institutional fiscal policies and planning, management and long-range strategic efforts.
• Oversees the accounting staff assigned to work on non-profit component unit entities and provides accounting support and advice to related entities.
• Participates as a member on the College’s management team that works together to integrate educational, fiscal, technological, facilities and personnel planning to ensure achievement of the college’s vision and mission.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), state and federal regulations, and CNM financial policies and procedures including: accounting and accounts receivable principles, methodology, and practices; and cash management and investment principles, systems, procedures and standards.
• Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety regulations and procedures.
• Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements.
• Ability to train, orient and effectively lead personnel.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, and administer complex recordkeeping systems.
• Ability to utilize common office administration and presentation software applications.
• Considerable knowledge of ERP computer systems and reports.
• Knowledge of higher education or nonprofit financial management, including an understanding of the current economic challenges facing colleges and universities.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex financial reports, comparisons and impacts.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret financial and business periodicals, administrative policies, procedures and regulations.
• Ability to develop, write and succinctly present financial reports, routine reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to handle common inquiries or complaints, effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, vendors, suppliers, staff, clients, and the general public.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interests, proportions, percentages, areas, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of data and instructions in written, oral schedule, mathematical or diagram forms and deal with several abstract and concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to collect and examine data, draw conclusions, and create recommendations.
• Possess skills in project management.
• Possess strong technical, quantitative, and analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Relate to and interact with a non-traditional and diverse student and employee population.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to balance competing requirements and needs of client organizations.
• Read, analyze, and interpret standards, policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
• Strong knowledge of CNM policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and maintain constructive and cooperative interpersonal relationships with staff, peers, supervisors, or managers in the work unit and other departments, as well as with staff of outside entities and other individuals, as applicable to the essential duties and responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting or related field that includes 24 hours of college level accounting course work and seven (7) years of related experience, which include 3 (three) years in a supervisory role.
• Or
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field and an active CPA license and seven (7) years of related experience, which include 3 (three) years in a supervisory role.

About Central New Mexico Community College:
Founded in 1964 as Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute, a locally supported vocational school, the College was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (now the Higher Learning Commission) in 1978. Degree-granting power was approved by the New Mexico Legislature in 1986, signaling the College’s transformation into a comprehensive community college. In 2006, the institution changed its name to Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) to better reflect the breadth of offerings and the service area. CNM currently offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees, as well as many certificate programs and non-credit certifications and licensures. Over the last decade, CNM has consistently enrolled the largest undergraduate student body in the state.

In U.S. Department of Education statistics, CNM regularly ranks among the top five two-year colleges nationwide for the number of associate degrees and certificates awarded to both Hispanics and Native Americans. CNM also regularly ranks among the top 10 for total associate degrees and certificates awarded to all students.

CNM served more than 33,100 students during the 2019-20 academic year – there were 23,096 students taking credit classes in the 2019 Fall Term. Despite the various impacts and challenges presented by the pandemic, more than 20,000 students took credit classes in the 2020 Fall Term. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, CNM also served more than 4,100 individuals through non-credit workforce training and industry testing for credentials/licensures; and more than 1,800 individuals participated in CNM’s Adult Basic Education non-credit programs, such as English as a Second Language and High School Equivalency prep courses.

CNM’s student body reflects the diversity of the community it serves. CNM is both a Hispanic Serving Institution and a Native American Serving Institution. CNM also serves more than 1,000 military veteran students who receive federal education benefits, the most in the state.

In 2014, CNM started CNM Ingenuity, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization created under the New Mexico Research Park Act. CNMI supports a new approach to education that provides accelerated educational and training opportunities in key workforce areas, wrap-around support for aspiring entrepreneurs, and cooperative ventures that foster economic development and job creation in the region. Through CNMI, the College has been providing an innovative, non-traditional higher education environment that helps spur economic growth in New Mexico. National higher education publication “Education Dive” named CNM the 2018 “Innovator of the Year” for becoming the first community college in the country to issue digital diplomas to graduates through blockchain technology, an effort driven by CNMI.

In 2020, CNM Ingenuity’s 12-week Deep Dive Coding program was selected as the 2020 Higher Education Program of the Year for the New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards, which is managed by the Air Force Research Lab New Mexico.

Also in 2020, CNM was presented with the Excellence in Workforce Development Award from Albuquerque Economic Development for the outstanding impacts of the College’s longstanding and highly regarded Nursing program. CNM is heavily relied upon to support the regional economy’s workforce development needs across many sectors, from the healthcare industry to the state’s booming film industry to the IT industry to the trades.

CNM also has a well-earned reputation for providing outstanding service to our students, both in the community and nationally. In 2013, CNM won the national Student Success Award from the American Association of Community Colleges for significant gains in graduation numbers and the implementation of an innovative student support model.

The CNM Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, has raised more than $44.8 million dollars to fund 33,000-plus student scholarships and program support since its inception in 1992. CNM formed the Foundation to leverage private funding resources and opportunities to support students and the College.

CNM has nine locations for easy student access across CNM’s District, including five campuses. The campuses are located in each quadrant of Albuquerque, and one in nearby Rio Rancho. The campuses include Main Campus near downtown Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico; the Joseph M. Montoya Campus in the Northeast Heights; the Westside Campus; the South Valley Campus; and the Rio Rancho Campus. The College also offers programs and services at the Advanced Technology Center and Workforce Training Center in north Albuquerque, and the STEMulus Center and FUSE Makerspace in downtown Albuquerque. Each of the locations has had recent upgrades to facilities, technology and signage.

The largest classroom building, Max Salazar Hall located on Main Campus, recently reopened after a major renovation. In addition, a new Education Collaborative building opened on Main Campus in August 2019. This building represents an exciting collaboration among CNM, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and the Native American Community Academy (NACA) charter school. The College & Career High School (CCHS), a highly successful dual-credit high school that’s operated through a partnership between CNM and APS, is located in the new building, as is CNM’s Teacher Education programs and NACA’s high school students.

CCHS students typically spend half of their day taking APS classes, and the other half taking CNM classes that count for both college credit and high school elective credit. Many CCHS students graduate from the high school with a CNM associate degree and enough college credits to enter a university as a junior. For the 2018-19 school year, CCHS posted a 98.5 percent graduation rate, the highest in APS and one of the highest in the state. The high school’s graduation rate and overall performance has consistently ranked among the state’s best since it opened in August 2013. CNM’s dual credit courses are available to high school students across the region.

CNM operates on an annual budget with a fiscal year beginning on July 1. However, the budget and resource allocation processes are a multi-year activity which assures that funding from all sources is continuously consistent with long-range policies, programmatic goals and specific campus roles and objectives of the College. The budget process is based on criteria established by the New Mexico Higher Education Department for the purpose of ensuring consistency in the development and reporting of budget information among institutions of higher education.

CNM’s major sources of operating revenue are state appropriations (41%), local mill levy (39%) and tuition and fees (17%). In 2013, the HED implemented a performance–based funding formula model which now serves to distribute state appropriations to institutions of higher education in New Mexico. The College budget is developed with input from the College and is guided by financial policies approved by the CNM Governing Board.

CNM is in sound financial health and fiscally responsible. In the most recent review of CNM’s finances for a bond rating in summer 2018, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. reaffirmed the college’s credit rating as Aa1, and Standard and Poor’s Corporation reaffirmed CNM’s AA+ rating. For four straight years from the FY2016 through FY2019 fiscal years, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to CNM for its comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFR). CNM’s well-managed cash balances and strong budgetary management contribute to and are indicators of a positive financial direction and strong, stable management.

Living in the Area:
Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, sits in the high desert. Set in the high desert of Central New Mexico, Albuquerque is New Mexico’s largest city and gateway to the striking natural beauty and cultural diversity of the state. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, low humidity, short commute times, and a relaxed pace, Albuquerque is easy to live in and offers an endless mix of Native culture, lively entertainment, dining, and shopping. Adding to that are a favorable tax climate and the state’s strong fiscal health and a cost of living nearly 9% below national average.

Its modern Downtown core contrasts with Old Town Albuquerque, dating to the city’s 1706 founding as a Spanish colony. Old town is filled with historic adobe buildings, such as San Felipe de Neri Church, 5 museums, and shops selling Native American handicrafts. Nearby, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center traces the area’s tribal history.

From the Sandia Mountains bordering Albuquerque’s eastern edge to the Natural Center State Park near the Rio Grande River, the area offers exceptional outdoor recreation. From the modern sensibilities of downtown to historic Old Town, history, culture and nightlife await. And from proud traditions ranging from the annual International Balloon Fiesta to the luminaria walk each holiday season, Albuquerque is a unique place with varied treasures.

To Apply:
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and CV. Please apply directly.

Candidates who are moved forward in the process will be required to submit official transcripts.

Inquiries and nominations are treated confidentially and can be sent to Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner with Academic Career & Executive Search at: Jennifer@Acesrch.com.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
It is the policy of Central New Mexico Community College (the “College”) to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, serious medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, veteran status, or any other protected class in any of its policies, practices, or procedures in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, nor will it condone any act of illegal discrimination or harassment on the part of its employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment and prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on an employee’s protected class.

The College confirms that this provision of the handbook by its reference to applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibits and condemns any retaliation or interference of any kind against any employee engaging in the exercise of free speech or in activities protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Upon request, the College will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities with regard to conditions of employment as provided by applicable federal, state, and local laws.