Program Overview

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FINANCIAL LEADERS IN CRISIS — DEPLOYING A SOUND BUSINESS MODEL

Presenter: Jeff Spear, Founder | CFO Colleague
Overview:Being the financial leader for a small educational institution is a daunting task. The current season of tumult in higher education is fraught with outcome variability risk against a backdrop of historic lows in operational reserves. This difficult mix calls for the entire leadership team embracing data-infomed management along with careful forecasting and planning. It’s vital to grasp what a CFO should know, understand, and the counsel that the CFO should provide. Think through these issues and lead well.

• Understanding insights from Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) — data and ratios
• Staying on top of the most essential metrics — knowing when the lines of viability are crossed
• Resisting a reliance on growth for budget balancing — doing the hard work BEFORE the year starts
• Assisting institutional leaders and boards to make wise decisions that drive healthy financial outcomes — protecting the future

 INTERPRETING THE INSTITUTIONAL AUDIT — KNOWING WHAT YOUR AUDIT IS SAYING

Presenter: Dan Campbell, Partner | CapinCrouse
Overview: There are basic points of information that every CFO, president, and board should get from their institutional audit. But the audit and auditor have so much more insight to give. Prudent CFO’s tap the resources of this relationship to enhance their understanding of the financial status of the institution and in turn strengthen their counsel to institutional leaders.

• Conducting a general review of the annual audit — the basics
• Understanding the implications of changes in the institution’s financial position
• Providing wise counsel to institutional leadership from audits insights
• Cultivating the right relationship with your auditor — sage advice

SAFEGUARDING YOUR INSTITUTION FROM COMPLIANCE VIOLATIONS & AUDITS

Presenter: Dave Moja, Founder/CEO | Moja & Company
Overview: In most institutions, the CFO bears the point responsibility for financial regulation compliance. While this may be a team effort, the cost for violations can be severe, even putting the institution in jeopardy. Walk through a compliance audit check list with an expert and make sure your policies and protocols are keeping you well within the guidelines for regulatory requirements.  

• Surveying the range of federal and state regulatory requirements
• Conducting an institutional compliance audit — a wise risk assessment
• Keeping abreast of ever-changing regulatory requirements — thinking forward
• Responding to an compliance audit or violation — learning from others

PRUDENT MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS

Presenter: Ethan Kelly, VP of Business Affairs | Wesley Biblical Seminary
Overview: CFO’s bear the fiduciary responsibility of managing the financial resources of the institution with wisdom and integrity. What does this mean? What are the responsibilities and requirements for the CFO, the president, and the board? How does the CFO provide vital counsel to keep resources safe and productive?

• Getting a comprehensive view of institutional investment management
• Knowing the roles of key decision makers
• Drafting the right investment policies and strategy
• Tools for evaluating current and prospective investment managers

THE ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF TODAY’S FINANCIAL LEADER IN BIBLICAL HIGHER EDUCATION

Presenter: Jan Haas, Senior Partner | CFO Colleague
Overview: Serving as an institution’s financial leader has always been a good challenge. Resources are almost always scarce, staff underpaid, maintenance deferred, and enrollment uncertain. Serving the president as a direct report has a unique role along with serving the entire staff and faculty. Beyond these immediate responsibilities lies the highest fiduciary responsibilities in reporting to the board of directors. How should all this work, especially in today’s environment of tumult across higher education? Review your role and enrich your service with wisdom from an experienced financial leader who has served a number of our institutions

• Knowing the fiduciary responsibilities for a chief financial officer
• Serving the institutional team well — at all levels for short and long-term financial strength
• Providing accurate & timely reports — to the board, the president, the executive team and the public
• Responding to institutional financial duress — addressing issues and providing solutions/options

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Overview: Discuss the most pressings financial issues you are facing with both the panel of presenters and attendee affinity groups. Create a draft of your Personal Action Plan based on the most significant and urgent issues you should address following the conference 

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