Higher Education Finance Consultants/Interim Controller

Responsibilities

Serving as Interim CFO or Finance Director and providing day-to-day leadership of the finance department staff

Conducting accounting, financial reporting, and financial analysis functions while overseeing the daily financial operations of the college or university

Advising on the development of policies, programs, and procedures governing financial and accounting operations, and preparing financial statements, forecasts, and analyses

Provide oversight, direction, guidance, and coordination of the current finance projects and priorities

Assessing the efficiency of the finance department

Providing finance consulting to higher education clients on a variety of finance topics/challenges

Assisting clients in how to best align policy, process, procedures, and personnel to effectively leverage the Finance ERP solution

What You'll Do (Project Scope Varies by Institution)

As an independent consultant, you may:

Provide interim leadership in general accounting, grants, purchasing, fixed assets, and disbursements

Partner with campus leaders and external auditors to assess processes and recommend improvements

Prepare and review reconciliations, interim reports, and financial statements

Support compliance with state and federal grant requirements and institutional policies

Help institutions strengthen internal controls, improve reporting, and align operations with strategic goals

Guide finance system optimization using platforms like Ellucian Banner, Colleague, Workday, or Jenzabar

Facilitate workshops, document business processes, and support knowledge transfer

Advise on current trends and regulatory changes impacting higher education finance

What We’re Looking For

5+ years in higher education finance, accounting, or business office leadership

Prior role as a Controller, CFO, or Director of Finance strongly preferred

Hands-on experience with higher ed ERP systems (Banner, Colleague, Workday, or Jenzabar)

Strong understanding of accrual accounting, grants management, AP/AR, tax reporting, and compliance

Exceptional communication skills and comfort working independently

Bachelor’s degree required; CPA or MBA preferred

Previous consulting experience a plus, but not required

Engagement Details

Project-based, consulting opportunity with varied hours and duration based on the client’s defined scope of work

1099 independent contractor role—ideal for professionals looking for flexible work

Remote work with potential for limited on-site engagements, depending on client needs

You’ll be engaged for the duration of the assignment and may be called upon for future project assignments on an as-needed basis. Ther is no guarantee of consecutive engagements or consistent hours. As an independent contractor, you have the flexibility to accept or reject each project presented based on your availability and interest in the defined work.

Why CampusWorks?

We exclusively serve higher education institutions and understand the value that seasoned professionals bring to the table. As a CampusWorks consultant, you’ll be positioned as the independent expert you are, stepping in to support temporary, specialized needs at colleges and universities across the country.

Interested in being considered for upcoming projects? Apply now to join our network of trusted higher education consultants.