Senior Director of Finance - Lookout Mountain - Covenant College

Description

COVENANT COLLEGE

Senior Director of Finance

Join a team of employees committed to an exciting mission: to offer the world biblically grounded men and women equipped to live out extraordinary callings in ordinary places. Covenant College is a community committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and everything we do is grounded in our Reformed theology and worldview.

Covenant is situated on the border between Georgia and Tennessee; our beautiful 400-acre campus is located atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Lookout Mountain boasts incredible vistas of the Smoky Mountains and views that span across seven states while being conveniently located close to downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Job Title: Senior Director of Finance

Reports to: Vice President of Operations & Finance

Classification: Full-time; FLSA Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President for Operations & Finance, the Director serves as both the College's primary financial analyst and its lead accounting officer. This position requires someone who can dig deeply into financial data, illuminate opportunities for improved stewardship, and support leadership in making disciplined, well-reasoned decisions that align with the mission. The Director will guide the annual budget process, build multi‑year financial frameworks, and provide the clarity needed to support thoughtful growth and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Financial Planning, Analysis & Modeling

• Lead and manage the College's annual budget process with a structured, transparent, and data‑driven approach.
• Develop multi‑year financial models that connect enrollment growth, operational realities, and strategic priorities to guide long‑range planning.
• Analyze trends, cost structures, and financial drivers to identify opportunities for enhanced stewardship and more effective resource allocation.
• Provide objective, evidence‑based insights on the financial implications of programmatic, staffing, and operational decisions.
• Create dashboards, reports, and financial metrics that give leadership clear visibility into emerging opportunities, cost pressures, and long‑term financial trajectory.
• Support leadership in evaluating strategic initiatives by modeling risk, return, and mission alignment.

Financial Operations & Accounting Oversight

• Direct day‑to‑day accounting operations, including general ledger management, month‑end and year‑end close, financial reporting, and audit preparation.
• Supervise and mentor the Assistant Controller and Accounting Clerks, fostering accountability, accuracy, and professional growth.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal and state regulations, donor restrictions, and audit standards.
• Strengthen internal controls, financial documentation, and processes across campus units.
• Oversee cash management, reconciliations, and restricted/unrestricted fund accounting.
• Serve as the primary liaison to external auditors during the annual audit cycle.

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Partnership

• Oversee the College‑wide budget cycle to ensure short‑term decisions align with long‑term financial health and mission commitments.
• Work closely with senior leadership to evaluate strategic options, balance priorities, and understand the financial trade‑offs inherent in planning and operations.
• Provide clear, candid assessments—even when recommendations require difficult choices—and support leaders in making decisions that strengthen the College's stewardship.
• Collaborate across divisions with Vice Presidents to bring financial clarity to institutional planning.
• Present balanced financial insights to the VP for Operations & Finance, the President, Cabinet, and Board committees, reflecting both institutional constraints and emerging opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum of three (3) years experience as a Controller or performing controller responsibilities required.

Preferred

• MBA preferred.
• Experience leading accounting operations and /or managing a finance team strongly preferred.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
• Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, or financial analysis in higher education or nonprofit preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong command of GAAP, nonprofit accounting, and audit preparation.
• Skills in developing and leading a structured budget process.
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights.
• Ability to build financial models and analyze complex data to support decision‑making.
• High proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets; experience with Banner is a plus.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work across departments and levels of leadership.
• Initiative, curiosity, and the discipline to dig deeply into financial details.

FAITH & MISSION ALIGNMENT

• Strong Christian faith consistent with Covenant College's mission.
• Mission‑aligned and committed to supporting Christian higher education.
• Comfortable operating in a resource‑conscious environment with an emphasis on stewardship and responsible planning.
• Steady, objective, and able to support leaders in making well‑reasoned decisions—even when they involve trade‑offs.
• Discretion, integrity, and sound judgment, personally and professionally.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

- Extended periods of sitting, standing, and computer use.
- Frequent verbal communication; must be fluent in English.
- Occasional lifting of office materials or equipment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants should apply at Senior Director of Finance and provide a resume and a statement of faith or Christian experience. Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

November 2025