WHO WE ARE
Established in 1924, California Western School of Law (CWSL) is San Diego’s oldest law school. Our mission is to train ethical, competent, and compassionate lawyers, representative of our diverse society, who can use the law effectively and creatively. Of the 241 students in our Fall 2024 JD entering class, 65% identify as women, 55% diverse from a racial/ethnic minority standpoint, 16% identified as LGBTQIA+, and 45% were first-generation college students.
CWSL is also among the top three law schools in the U.S. for required experiential learning credits. We offer an array of exceptional experiential courses providing students with an opportunity to apply their intellect and education to some of the most challenging issues facing society, representing clients in criminal, immigration, trademark, legal aid, and internet law. This includes two of our premier programs, the Community Law Project, and New Media Rights. The Community Law Project provides legal advice to low-income and indigent members of the local community while developing a commitment to public service in the students who work within the clinics. New Media Rights provides direct legal services to creators, entrepreneurs, journalists, and internet users whose projects require specialized internet, intellectual property, privacy, and media law expertise. Students work closely with program staff and clients to analyze policies related to online content creation and help create informational videos, prepare policy briefs, and contribute to the program’s work with the FCC and other agencies.
By contributing to legal scholarships, participating in public deliberations about legal matters, and serving as a community legal education resource, CWSL is making significant, measurable contributions toward solving major problems in our community, our society, and our world. This is demonstrated through the achievements of our students, alumni, and faculty, which include:
- More than 220 members of the judiciary in California and elsewhere.
- Leaders in government, education, and business, including the California State Assembly, Clark County (Nev.) District Attorney, and more.
For more information, please visit: www.cwsl.edu
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
This is an exciting time to join CWSL, as the school continues to grow, innovate, and hire talented new faculty. In addition to recruiting the largest class in CWSL’s history last year, we added an incredibly popular part-time evening program, which was oversubscribed in just its first year. CWSL recently launched a new curriculum and moved from the trimester to semester system, to better align faculty and staff workflows. These changes have been very well-received, and our leadership team continues to look at other opportunities for growth and innovation.
Our culture is centered on diversity, inclusion, and growth. Sean M. Scott joined the California Western School of Law as President and Dean in 2020. Since taking the helm, Dean Scott has charted a new strategic vision in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, the Board of Trustees, and extended stakeholders. The result is a modernized institution with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes initiatives to diversify the profession, create an intellectual hub where critical conversations about justice occur, and bring to the forefront the experiences of those who have been marginalized. Dean Scott has also diversified the school’s leadership and policies, hiring CWSL’s first Chief Diversity Officer and guiding the adoption of a new unitary tenure track policy that ensures equitable pathways for all full-time faculty. Other developments during her tenure include restructuring CWSL’s Skills Training for Ethical Practice and Professional Satisfaction (STEPPS) program, improving admissions applications and student quality through new digital strategies, and increasing the number of faculty publications within top legal journals.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Salary: $210,000 - $275,000
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 403(b) with an 8% employer contribution
- Life, AD&D and LTD insurance
- Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible spending plan
- Accrued paid time off (starting at 10 accrued days each year), 10 paid sick days, paid winter break, and 10 paid holidays
- Summer alternative work schedule
- Wellness program PERKS
- Little Italy/Downtown location for convenient access to great restaurants and after-hour activities.
- Free on-campus parking facilities provided.
- Employee engagement events are held both virtually and on-campus.
- On-Campus Convenience Store.
- Complimentary bottomless Specialty Coffee.
- Use of on-campus Law Library facilities.
LOCATION
This is a hybrid role with an office at California Western School of Law, located at 350 Cedar Street, San Diego, CA 92101. CWSL staff are required to be on-site four days a week.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the President and Dean, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is an extremely high-profile position within the organization, with overall strategic and operational responsibility for all administration functions outside of marketing and fundraising. The CFO serves as a member of the senior leadership team, working closely with the Board of Trustees, including the Audit, Compliance and Risk Management, Finance and Investment, and Retirement Plan Committees to ensure the financial stability of the school. They will manage our $30M annual budget, leveraging their business acumen to support and guide the school’s long-term success and impact. Specifically, the CFO will lead our Business Office and oversee Information Technology, Human Resources & Payroll, and Facilities Management teams. In total, they will lead a dynamic and highly talented team of 22 staff, including 7 direct reports: Associate Director, General Accounting and Financial Reporting; Associate Director, Student Accounts and Budget; Executive Assistant; Senior Director, Human Resources & Operations; Manager of Network Operations; Manager of Service Desk & Desktop Systems, and the Application Systems Analyst. The CFO role offers an excellent opportunity for a candidate with exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative, transparent, and inclusive management ethos.
Priority areas for the first 12-months include:
- Become ingrained in the rich history of CWSL, building relationships with the team and becoming familiar with its culture, programs, faculty, staff, students, and partners.
- Gain a deep understanding of enrollment projections, cash flow dynamics, and 5-year budget forecasts.
- Understand the Dean’s strategic plan and modernization projects. Finalize the development and implementation of the new student information system.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Serve as an officer of the CWSL Corporation as appointed by the Board of Trustees and President and Dean.
- Provide support with budgeting, staffing, policies, procedures, and establishing priorities.
- Partner with the Dean and Board of Trustees on strategies for future revenue growth.
- Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate direct reports with a focus on helping each individual reach their full potential.
- Proactively advise the President and Dean of project status, potential issues, and overall departmental progress.
Accounting
- Conduct institutional financial planning and forecasting and manage the annual budget process, including ongoing monitoring of budget-to-actual results.
- Oversee the annual external independent audit process for the financial statements and retirement plan audits; serve as the senior management liaison between the outside auditors and the Audit Committee.
- Select and assist with the implementation of the accounting and reporting software.
- Act as liaison between investment consultants, investment managers, and the Board of Trustees.
- Manage the operating cash and short-term investment portfolio balances, project operating cash needs, investment maturities, and reinvestment schedules.
- Partner with an insurance consultant to select and execute institutional general liability and property insurance policies.
- Oversee the development and implementation of accounting policies and procedures, including methods to improve financial activities and educating faculty and staff in fiscal policies and procedures.
- Oversee compliance with institutional grants, contracts, and restricted donation fund accounts.
Information Technology
- Develop and implement the institution’s IT strategy.
- Manage IT staff, budgets, and infrastructure.
- Partner with consultants and staff, to improve efficiency within the IT department.
- Responsible for the integrity of the Institution’s network, software, and hardware.
- Oversee and communicate complex technological initiatives to the larger institution.
Human Resources & Operations
- Provide leadership to the Senior Director of Human Resources and Operations to align department goals with institutional initiatives.
- Review and approve 403b distribution requests and lead the 403b 5500.
- Serve on the Benefit Renewal Committee and partner with the Senior Director to implement a budget strategy.
BACKGROUND PROFILE
- Strategic and hands-on approach to finance, accounting, and operations; adept at analysis, business planning, and forecasting, and is committed to CWSL’s mission.
- Demonstrated experience with audit, legal compliance, and budget development.
- Strong knowledge of organizational development and HR management principles.
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral; comfortable communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, the board, and outside stakeholders/partners.
- Ability to multi-task while maintaining vigilant attention to details.
- Minimum BA, a CPA and/or MBA preferred.
