Vice President of Finance and Administration/ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Search

Photo Credit: Monty Combs

The Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees invites applications for the position of Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Wilkes Community College.

In the Fall of 1964, the people of Wilkes County authorized the establishment of Wilkes Community College (WCC) by pledging financial support for the creation of physical facilities and ongoing operations of the first public, two-year higher education institution in Wilkes County. Approved by the State Board of Education shortly after the enactment of the Community College Act by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1963, WCC has served to meet the education, workforce and economic development, and community enrichment and enhancement needs in the Northwest Region of the State for approximately six decades. Wilkes Community College is deeply proud of its history and heritage of student, business and industry, and community engagement, having offered its first one-year diploma program in the Spring of 1966, and expanding its offerings to Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs to full-time students later the same year. Today, the college’s service delivery area includes Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany Counties. The college is a member of the North Carolina Community College System and successfully completed its decennial site visit by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is awaiting complete reaffirmation in 2026 to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

The Main Campus of WCC is in Wilkesboro, where the college offers a full complement of educational programs and workforce training, basic skills, community development services, student engagement and support, and cultural, entertainment and recreational activities. The main campus is also widely recognized for its beauty and aesthetics, multiple public amenities, the WCC Gardens, and MerleFest, an internationally recognized music festival. Wilkes Early College is also housed on WCC’s main campus in Randolph Hall.

Herring Hall, also located in Wilkesboro, brings together all of Wilkes Community College’s health sciences programs, both curriculum and continuing education, creating an integrated learning environment. State-of-the-art programming at Herring Hall prepares students for successful careers in healthcare. The facility offers space for future expansion of these programs and the addition of new programs. In addition to the Health Sciences Programs, Cosmetology is also housed in Herring Hall.

The Ashe Campus, located in West Jefferson, delivers a mixture of academic programs, including college transfer, associate degree nursing, engineering technology, and business administration and accounting. Further, the Ashe Campus has multiple economic development partnerships, including The Ashe Workforce Center, individualized work with manufacturing facilities to meet their training needs, tailored and customized training, and a Small Business Center. Regarding workforce continuing education, courses are offered throughout the calendar year in such occupations as health sciences, public safety, and welding. Adult High School and High School Equivalency, Adult Basic Education, and English Language Acquisition courses are offered both on campus and across the community at convenient locations. The Ashe Campus also houses Ashe Early College at Messer Hall in partnership with Ashe County Schools.

The Alleghany Center of Wilkes Community College is also deeply connected to its community. Students can access curriculum and workforce continuing education through multiple delivery modes in a variety of settings. Co-located with the Blue Ridge Development Center and County Public Library in Sparta, the WCC Alleghany Center also offers curriculum classes in business and accounting, as well as trades, criminal justice, and information technology programs. The Alleghany Center also provides a Basic Skills program that enhances literacy skills and prepares individuals for the Adult High School Equivalency exam.

Wilkes Community College is staffed by a compliment of exceptional administrators, gifted faculty, and selfless staff professionals, including 240 full-time and an additional 290 part-time faculty and staff. In academic year 2024-25, these individuals served a total unduplicated number of 8,675 students across curriculum, workforce development and community education, and basic skills and career and college readiness. During the same timeframe, WCC earned a total of 3,156 FTE. The combined population of the three-county service delivery area of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany Counties is approximately 104,000.

The mission of Wilkes Community College is to “empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to transform lives and enrich our communities through accessible lifelong education, workforce development, and community engagement.” for residents in both the service delivery area and throughout Northwestern North Carolina. This mission is accomplished through three targeted areas of focus. These focus areas include quality education and workforce development, encompassing basic skills, occupational, technical and pre-baccalaureate programs; economic development services to both public and private businesses and industry; and community development through a variety of services, cultural activities, and recreational opportunities. This comprehensive mission empowers students to improve not only their lives, but the lives of their families. It also facilitates a strong connection and bond between the college and community. The college’s vision, grounded in its mission statement, is clear: Wilkes Community College provides programs, resources, and services that create quality educational, economic development, and cultural opportunities.

Wilkes Community College aspires to be an effective learner-centered educational institution and a dynamic learning organization.

Wilkes Community College’s mission and vision are guided by a culture of care and the values of learner-centered excellence, integrity and respect, compassion, equity and accessibility, continuous improvement, and collaboration and engagement. These principles drive us to create an exceptional educational experience that supports and respects every individual.

  • Learner-Centered Excellence: Focusing on the needs and success of our learners in every aspect of our work.
  • Integrity and Respect: Upholding the highest standards of honesty and treating all individuals with dignity and respect.
  • Compassion: Understanding and empathizing with the experiences and needs of others, while actively providing support and kindness to reduce their challenges.
  • Equity and Accessibility: Ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals to access and benefit from education and resources.
  • Continuous Improvement: Embracing innovation and growth to enhance our educational practices and organizational effectiveness.
  • Collaboration and Engagement: Fostering a supportive community through active partnerships and shared learning experiences.

The consistency between and pursuit toward accomplishing the college’s mission, vision, and values requires a commitment by all employees to deliver unparalleled education and training programs and college transfer opportunities; intrusive and supportive student engagement and services; skilled, credentialed individuals to meet business and industry requirements; and literacy and employability skills for underserved or underprepared residents. The employees of WCC embrace this work with passion, dedication, and a willingness to serve the best interests of all students.

WCC most recently launched a 5-year Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan and a new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). These two plans will be merged to create a foundation for the college’s comprehensive strategic plan to be launched in fall 2026.

The offerings of academic programs, college transfer opportunities, workforce development, community education, and collaborative high school partnerships, made possible by WCC’s remarkable faculty and professional staffs, correlate directly with the college’s mission, vision, values, and strategic themes, and reflect the college as an engaged, comprehensive, higher education institution. Academic programs at Wilkes Community College’s three primary locations include programs of study in such high-demand occupations as nursing, dental, respiratory, radiography and related health sciences; associate and applied engineering, electronics, industrial and computer engineering, and robotics and mechatronics; transportation, distribution, and coordination; information technology, and agriculture and natural resources technologies. The evidence of the exceptional quality of instruction and training delivered by WCC is the fact that the institution holds the following individual program accreditations:

  • North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) – Associate Degree Nursing Program
  • American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) – Dental Assisting Program
  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) – Automotive Systems Technology Program
  • Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) – Respiratory Therapy Program
  • North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission – Law Enforcement Training
  • North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission – Fire and Rescue Training
  • North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Arts Examiners – Cosmetology Program
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) – Medical Assisting Program
  • North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services – Emergency Services Program
  • North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification – Paralegal Program
  • The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) – Radiography Program

Wilkes Community College has transfer partnerships with eleven member institutions of the University of North Carolina System. These partnerships include four-year degree plans for community college students at Appalachian State, East Carolina, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina State, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Wilmington, Western Carolina, and Winston-Salem State Universities. In addition to the four-year plans, WCC has special co-admission, promise, pathways, or engineering programs with several UNC System institutions, including “Aspire Appalachian,” the “ECU Pirate Promise,” UNC-W’s “Pathways to Excellence,” “NC State Wolfpack Promise,” and Western Carolina University Guaranteed Admission Program. Furthermore, WCC has also established excellent articulation agreements with the following additional institutions – East Tennessee State, Gardner-Webb, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Western Governors Universities. Moreover, the college has successfully secured “2+2” agreements for students to complete their Associate’s degree at WCC, then transfer into specific programs at partner institutions. Examples of 2+2 agreements for Associate in Applied Science graduates include accounting and finance, applied engineering technology, architectural technology, associate degree in nursing, building construction technology, collision and repair technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, and several health science programs. Collectively, these transfer partnerships enable WCC students to complete their baccalaureate degrees, thereby strengthening post-graduate employment opportunities in their chosen field.

WCC is especially proud of its expansive program of workforce development and community education. The college continues to respond to market changes in career and job requirements by delivering services to individuals, businesses, and industries tailored to the requirements of employers in the service area. Courses range from basic skills to accelerated programs and certificates. Classes are offered at each of the college’s locations in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties. In addition, WCC offers a robust array of online courses at times convenient for student participation.

A recent publication of a widely respected business journal recognized that among the top private companies valued in excess of $500 million in the State, three are located within WCC’s service delivery area – two in North Wilkesboro and one in Jefferson. In addition, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the top employment sectors in the three-county area are manufacturing, health care and social assistance, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, education, and public administration. In response to employer needs in these sectors, the college provides education and career training classes that prepare students for employment in both the private and public sectors.

The college enjoys healthy partnerships with area high schools and home schools that encompasses a very successful Career and College Promise (CCP) program and the Wilkes and Ashe Early College High Schools, and the Wilkes Community College Education Promise scholarship for qualified local high school graduates. The CCP program enables qualified high school students to dually enroll in community college courses at WCC. Courses are taught in high schools, online, and at the college’s multiple campuses. Most recently, students at Alleghany County, Ashe County, East Wilkes, North Wilkes, Wilkes Central, and West Wilkes High Schools received certificates in information technology, welding technology, automotive systems, applied animal science technology, early childhood education, and numerous other program areas. Several high school students also received Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees, and a significant number of Home School High School students received certificates and diplomas. With regard to the Wilkes Early College High School, students are able to complete high school and a two-year degree. Finally, the WCC Education Promise is a two-year, last dollar scholarship that enables qualified students graduating from high schools in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties to get a degree from WCC tuition-free. This results in significant savings for students and their families.

Wilkes Community College (WCC) seeks a collaborative, strategic, and ethical leader to serve as Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer (referred to as VP/CFO). Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the VP/CFO provides vision, oversight, and stewardship for the College’s financial and administrative operations in support of WCC’s mission to serve students, employees, and the broader community.

The VP/CFO is responsible for the comprehensive management of the College’s fiscal resources, ensuring financial stability, regulatory compliance, transparency, and long-term sustainability. This role oversees budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, procurement, business services, purchasing, shipping and receiving, bookstore, and other administrative functions as assigned. The VP/CFO works closely with senior leadership, the Board of Trustees, state and county partners, auditors, and external agencies.

As the College’s chief financial officer, the VP/CFO serves as the primary advisor to the President and Board of Trustees on all financial and administrative matters and ensures responsible stewardship of public funds while supporting innovation, efficiency, and institutional effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership
  • Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the College’s annual and long-range financial plans.
  • Align financial strategies with institutional goals, enrollment trends, and workforce and community needs.
  • Develop and manage the College’s operating and capital budgets.
  • Provide data-informed financial analysis to support executive decision-making and strategic initiatives.
  • Conduct multi-year, data driven, financial forecasting and sustainability analysis.
  • Advise the President and Board on financial implications of strategic initiatives.
Budgeting and Fiscal Management
  • Direct the preparation and administration of the College’s operating, capital, and grant budgets.
  • Ensure effective financial controls, cash management, and accurate financial reporting.
  • Monitor revenues and expenditures to ensure fiscal integrity and sustainability.
Accounting, Compliance, and Reporting
  • Oversee accounting, purchasing, and financial systems to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance.
  • Ensure compliance with North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) policies, state statutes, federal regulations, and auditing standards.
  • Serve as the primary liaison for external audits and regulatory reviews.
  • Maintain sound fiscal practices and stewardship of public funds.
Administrative and Operational Oversight
  • Provide leadership for administrative functions such as business office, purchasing, bookstore, auxiliary services, risk management, and insurance.
  • Support campus infrastructure planning, maintenance, and modernization.
  • Promote operational efficiency and continuous improvement across administrative units.
Leadership and Collaboration
  • Serve as a collaborative member of the President’s executive team and work closely with academic and administrative leaders.
  • Build strong working relationships with faculty, staff, students, trustees, and external partners.
  • Supervise, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance and administrative services team.
Board and External Relations
  • Prepare and present financial reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
  • Represent the College in interactions with state agencies, auditors, community partners, and funding entities.
  • Support fundraising, grant management, and public-private partnerships as appropriate.

The next VP/CFO of Wilkes Community College will step into a high-impact leadership role with the opportunity to shape the College’s financial future while advancing its mission of access, opportunity, and community impact.

  1. Leading Financial Sustainability

    • Lead the development of forward-looking, multi-year financial strategies and scenario planning that position the College for long-term sustainability.
    • Guide the College through an evolving higher education landscape marked by enrollment shifts, changing funding models, and increasing accountability.
    • Demonstrate responsible stewardship of public funds while maintaining affordability and expanding access for students.

  2.  Supporting Strategic and Institutional Priorities

    As a senior executive, the VP/CFO will play a central role in:

    • Align financial resources with the College’s strategic plan, academic priorities, and workforce development goals.
    • Support innovation in instructional delivery, student services, and community partnerships.
    • Provide strategic financial insight to guide decisions on new programs, capital investments, and emerging opportunities.

  3. Modernizing Systems and Strengthening Operations

    There is an opportunity to:

    • Lead efforts to enhance financial systems, reporting capabilities, and business processes to support data-informed decision-making.
    • Modernize financial systems, reporting tools, and internal controls as appropriate.
    • Strengthen internal controls and financial processes, promoting transparency, fiscal accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
    • Champion innovation that improves the experience of students, faculty, and staff while maximizing resources.

  4. Serving as a Strategic Thought Partner

    The role offers the opportunity to:

    • Serve as a trusted advisor to the President, Board of Trustees, and executive leadership team.
    • Contribute to institutional strategy beyond finance, helping shape the College’s direction and priorities.
    • Foster strong communication and collaboration with academic leaders and department directors.
    • Build confidence in financial decision-making through transparency and responsiveness.

  5. Building and Leading a High-Performing Team

    The next VP/CFO can:

    • Lead, mentor, and develop a strong finance and administrative services team.
    • Promote succession planning and professional growth within the division.
    • Foster a culture grounded in accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.

This position is well-suited for a CFO who values operational excellence, understands the regulatory and funding environment of public community colleges, and is motivated by the opportunity to ensure financial stability while enabling student success and institutional effectiveness.

  1. Navigating a Complex Funding Environment

    Key challenges include:

    • Manage dependence on state funding formulas and enrollment-driven revenues.
    • Adapt to evolving state and federal regulations and reporting requirements.
    • Balance fiscal discipline with the need to invest in students and programs.

  2. Enrollment Volatility and Revenue Pressures

    Like many community colleges, WCC may face:

    • Enrollment fluctuations driven by demographic changes, economic conditions, and workforce trends
    • Pressure to sustain high-quality services with limited or uncertain revenue growth.
    • The need for conservative budgeting while remaining adaptable.

  3. Rising Operational and Facilities Costs

    The VP/CFO will need to manage:

    • Increasing costs associated with facilities maintenance, utilities, insurance, and technology.
    • Competing priorities for limited capital and operating funds.

  4. Regulatory and Compliance Complexity

    The position requires constant attention to:

    • Compliance with North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) policies.
    • State, federal, and local regulations governing finance, procurement, payroll, and grants.
    • Audit readiness and effective risk management in a highly regulated environment.

  5. Balancing Transparency with Difficult Decisions

    The role involves:

    • Making and clearly communicating difficult financial decisions that may impact programs, staffing, or operations.
    • Presenting complex financial information in clear, accessible terms for diverse audiences.
    • Maintaining trust during periods of financial constraint or change.

  6. Leading Change in a Community-Focused Environment

    As a community college leader, the VP/CFO must:

    • Balance innovation and change with respect for institutional culture and community expectations.
    • Ensure financial decisions reflect the College’s mission of access, equity, and service.

In Summary

The next VP/CFO at Wilkes Community College will step into a highly influential role with the opportunity to strengthen the College’s financial foundation, support strategic growth, and make a meaningful impact on student and community success while also navigating the complexities of public higher education finance.

Beyond technical expertise, the ideal candidate must be a trusted institutional leader, strategic thinker, and careful steward of public funds. The next VP/CFO at Wilkes Community College should model the following characteristics:

Strategic and Mission-Focused

  • Understands and is deeply committed to the mission of the community college (access, affordability, student success, and workforce development in rural service areas).
  • Connects financial decisions directly to student outcomes, academic quality, and community impact.
  • Takes a long-term strategic perspective while effectively managing day-to-day fiscal realities.
  • Proactively anticipates challenges such as enrollment fluctuations, funding changes, and economic shifts.

Integrity and Ethical Stewardship

  • Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and accountability.
  • Exercises exceptional stewardship of public funds.
  • Ensures compliance with state, federal, and North Carolina Community College System requirements.
  • Builds trust with the President, Board, employees, and external stakeholders.

Deep Financial Expertise in the Public Sector

  • Strong knowledge of governmental accounting, budgeting, and audits.
  • Experience with state and county funding models.
  • Familiarity with capital projects, grants, and restricted funds.
  • The ability to analyze complex financial data and translate it into clear, actionable insights.

Strategic Advisor to the President

  • Serves as a trusted strategic partner to the President and the Board.
  • Provides candid, data-driven counsel even when the message is difficult.
  • Assists leadership in assessing risks and opportunities.
  • Translates financial implications into clear, actionable guidance.

Clear and Effective Communicator

  • Communicates complex financial information in ways that are understandable and transparent with non-financial audiences.
  • Provides timely, accurate information to support sound decision-making.
  • Comfortable presenting to governing boards.
  • Builds confidence through openness and transparency.

Collaborative, Service-Oriented Leader

  • Works effectively with academic leaders, student services, HR, IT, and facilities.
  • Balances fiscal responsibility with institutional needs.
  • Builds strong relationships across campus.

Data-Driven and Analytical

  • Uses metrics, forecasting, and modeling to inform decision-making.
  • Identifies emerging trends early and recommends proactive strategies.
  • Supports institutional planning with accurate, reliable data.
  • Assesses financial sustainability of new initiatives.

Politically and Culturally Astute

  • Understands relationships with county commissioners, state agencies, and governing boards.
  • Navigates public accountability and community expectations.
  • Respects and values the local culture.
  • Represents the College professionally and effectively in external settings.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or related field
  • Significant progressively responsible experience in financial management
  • Demonstrated experience managing budgets, financial reporting, internal controls and compliance
  • Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional credential
  • Senior financial leadership experience in higher education or the public sector
  • Knowledge of governmental accounting standards and public funding structures
  • Knowledge of North Carolina Community College System finance and administrative policies