Vice President of Finance & Administration

Who We Are Our mission is simple but critical: to build pathways for adult learners to earn high‑quality, workforce‑aligned degrees and credentials from North Carolina’s public universities. At Project Kitty Hawk, our work reflects our company values. Collaboration – We prioritize our partners’ success and reputation, aligning every initiative with their goals, reflecting their values, and enhancing their impact. Innovation – We innovate, not replicate. As creative problem solvers, we use data‑driven insights to push boundaries, continuously improve our services, develop solutions, and redefine what it means to serve nontraditional learners. Empathy – We understand the unique challenges of nontraditional learners, and are committed to supporting them with empathy, respect, and solutions that fit their needs. Integrity – We operate with transparency and accountability in everything we do. We uphold honesty, take ownership of our work, and maintain the highest standards. Teamwork – We embody the collaboration we seek. We always strive to be dependable, supportive, and solutions‑oriented teammates. Together, we partner with universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to produce innovative, flexible degree and credential programs in high‑demand fields. Each PKH team member plays a vital role in advancing this mission and shaping the future of education for adult learners. These values will enable us to realize PKH’s vision: to make North Carolina’s public universities the top choice for adult learners and to amplify the UNC System’s role as a national leader in higher education innovation, access, and student success. By joining our team, you have an opportunity to contribute to our achievement of that vision, in the process helping to create opportunities for thousands of learners to earn their success and move up the economic ladder. The Role Project Kitty Hawk is seeking a strategic, mission‑aligned Vice President of Finance&Administration to join our senior leadership team. This is a player‑coach role for a leader who is equally comfortable setting financial strategy and rolling up their sleeves on pro‑formas and projections for internal and external audiences. The right candidate will find satisfaction in building systems and processes that ensure compliance and transparency, developing a team, and enabling the organization to pursue its mission with clarity and confidence. The VP, Finance&Administration will oversee a portfolio of internal functions – finance, people operations, and procurement of internal technology – providing the operational backbone that allows our student‑ and university‑facing teams to do their best work. This position manages three direct reports (Controller, Sr. Director of People Operations, and Manager of Contracts, Procurement, and Governance) and one contractor (financial planning and analysis). What You’ll Do Finance&Accounting Serve as the organization’s senior financial officer, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial operations. Oversee the Controller and accounting team, including accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, payroll, and month‑end close. Lead annual budget development and multi‑year financial projections and planning in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team and service‑area leads. Advise leadership on financial implications of partnerships with universities, including funding structures, cost allocation, and long‑term sustainability. Oversee margin reporting and work with business units on their resource allocation plans within the fiscal year. Manage the annual audit process and serve as primary liaison with external auditors. Prepare and present financial reports for the Board of Directors, its Finance Committee, and the UNC System Office. Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and all grant and contract reporting requirements. Monitor cash flow, investment accounts, and reserves; advise leadership on financial risks and opportunities. Track PKH contracts to assess vendor performance, identify critical deadlines and decision points, and negotiate favorable terms. People Operations Lead and support the Sr. Director of People Operations in setting the strategic direction of the people function, serving as a thought partner on organizational design, workforce planning, compensation philosophy, and culture. Maintain senior‑level accountability for the People Operations function, providing guidance and escalation support on complex employee relations, board and personnel committee matters, and cross‑functional people initiatives. Leadership & Organizational Management Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and culture. Manage, mentor, and develop direct reports across finance and people operations. Build and maintain strong cross‑functional relationships, acting as a collaborative partner to operations, partnership, and technology teams. Represent the organization’s operational interests to the Board, funders, and external partners as needed, including the UNC System Office. Secondary Responsibilities Internal Technology Work with the Chief Technology Officer to budget for hardware and software procurement for the organization, ensuring staff are equipped with the tools they need. Manage vendor relationships for IT services, software licenses, and technology support. Financial system upgrades and potential migration: responsibility for evaluating the current tools and systems in place for financial reporting and analysis and leading an effort to identify improvements and opportunities to streamline. What You Bring Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree or higher required. 8+ years progressive experience in finance or operations, with at least 3 years in a management role. Nonprofit finance experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with fund accounting, grant compliance, and Form 990. Experience in higher education finance, including familiarity with fund accounting, grant compliance, and public or university‑affiliated financial environments, strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience managing an audit process and working with external auditors. Prior responsibility for human resources functions, including benefits, compliance, and employee relations. Comfort with contract negotiations and vendor management. Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Strong financial acumen and analytical skills; can translate complex financials for non‑financial audiences. Clear, direct communicator who builds trust across the organization — with frontline staff, leadership, and the Board. The ideal candidate must have experience in accounting and be deeply familiar with GAAP, GASB and FASB reporting practices, and other financial standards. Organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage competing priorities without losing sight of the bigger picture. Mission‑driven: the ideal candidate will be energized by the idea of building operational infrastructure in service of PKH’s mission to expand educational opportunity for more adult learners. Physical and Mental Requirements Exercise independent judgment, concentrate, think, communicate, interact with others, manage multiple tasks, and cope with stressful situations and deadlines. Ability to perform sedentary physical activity of an administrative nature. The team member must occasionally lift office products and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds. Must be able to navigate various modes of transportation and drive/rent a car. Must be able to independently manage the disposition of all work supplies and personal travel items during travel. Working Conditions and Travel This position is hybrid; required to be in‑person in the Chapel Hill, NC office twice per week. Usually work during regular business hours, Monday through Friday; may require evening or weekend hours, particularly during travel times. Travel is expected to be up to 10% of the time, utilizing standard forms of travel, including public transportation, individual rental cars, and/or the team member’s personal vehicle. Compensation: $210,000 – $225,000 per year What We Offer Project Kitty Hawk offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes full medical/dental/vision coverage, a 401K with match, and a generous time‑off policy with paid volunteer time. In addition, we are committed to providing competitive salaries with the potential for performance bonus and remote working flexibility. Equal Opportunity Employer Project Kitty Hawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Project Kitty Hawk is dedicated to this policy concerning recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact Kelly Snow at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr