About the Company
A private, non-profit college with more than 1,000 employees and approximately $52M in annual revenue faced a leadership gap within its finance function following the departure of a long-tenured Chief Financial Officer. With ongoing academic, operational, and governance responsibilities, the institution needed to ensure financial continuity while planning for permanent leadership.
Client Need
The institution required an Interim Chief Financial Officer to maintain financial stability, oversee core finance operations, and lead the budgeting process during the transition. In addition to technical expertise, the interim leader needed to work collaboratively with HR and senior leadership and communicate effectively with the board while the search for a permanent hire was underway.
Our Approach
Within days, Versique Executive, Professional & Interim Recruiting identified and presented a strong pool of qualified candidates with higher education experience. The selected consultant stood out for their ability to operate effectively in an academic environment while providing clear, confident financial leadership.
The Interim Chief Financial Officer quickly stepped into key responsibilities, including active participation in board meetings, collaboration with HR leadership, and direct partnership with the president. Their approach emphasized transparency, thoughtful communication, and steady execution across financial priorities.
The Result
The Interim Chief Financial Officer provided immediate stability while strengthening alignment across the institution by:
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Maintaining financial continuity: Ensuring day-to-day finance operations, reporting, and controls remained consistent throughout the transition.
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Leading budgeting and planning efforts: Guiding budget discussions and supporting leadership with clear financial insights during a critical planning period.
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Enhancing cross-functional alignment: Partnering closely with the president, HR leadership, and finance teams to support shared goals and informed decision-making.
The engagement allowed the institution to move forward confidently during the leadership transition while laying a stronger foundation for long-term financial planning and governance.
Access to experienced interim finance leadership can help higher education institutions maintain stability and focus during periods of transition. Learn more about how Versique supports finance and accounting teams during change.
