Vice President of Finance / Treasurer (11/09)

The Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI) is an independent not-for-profit research institution located on the campus of Cornell University in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Our mission is to advance and communicate scientific knowledge in plant biology to improve agriculture, protect the environment, and enhance human health. BTI has approximately 180 employees and a $16M operating budget. For more information about BTI, go to http://bti.cornell.edu.  

BTI seeks a Vice President of Finance to lead all financial and fiscal management aspects of Institute operations.  

The Vice President of Finance will be responsible for:

• Managing the accounting, business office, payroll, and purchasing/stockroom departments.

• Developing, coordinating and evaluating the financial programs and supporting information systems of the Institute to include budgeting, tax planning, and conservation of assets.

• Coordinating the preparation of all financial statements, financial reports, tax returns, special analyses, and information reports. ·     Ensuring compliance with financial reporting requirements, tax laws, and grant contracts.

• Coordinating all audits, including grant audits and pension audits.

• Managing cash flow.

• Supervising investment and endowment accounting and serving as the liaison between the Board, financial and investment consultants, and fund managers.

• Working with the President and the Board finance, investment, and audit committees to ensure proper financial governance.

• Serving as Plan Sponsor for the pension, 403(b) and 457 retirement plans, and overseeing retirement plan investments, funding, calculations, and audits.

• Managing all financial aspects of BTI’s Agreement of Affiliation with Cornell University.

• Serving on the Senior Leadership Team.  

The successful candidate will have:

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field required. Master’s degree/MBA preferred.

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification preferred.

• 8+ years of relevant experience, with at least 2 years in a senior management position in finance. Experience in senior-level decision making, strategic planning and execution, preferably in a not-for-profit setting.

• Experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, grant administration and accounting, public and regulatory audits, and cost control principles including GAAP. Experience in affiliate and contract negotiations. Experience analyzing financial data and preparing financial reports, statements, and projections.

• Experience in the management of a professional staff.

• Effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Experience with pension plan administration and auditing preferred.  

To apply: E-mail a resume, cover letter, and the names of three references to bti_jobs-mailbox@cornell.edu   BTI offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. BTI values and supports workforce diversity. EEO/AA .

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