CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) · 16 hours ago
Higher Education Principal - Industry Specific Consulting and Outsourcing (ISCO) Group
Arlington, VA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
10+ years expCLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) is a top 10 national professional services firm dedicated to creating opportunities for clients and communities. They are seeking a Higher Education Principal to lead consulting engagements focused on business model redesign and financial strategy for educational institutions.
AccountingConsultingOutsourcing
Hiring Manager
Cheryl Donaldson
Responsibilities
Lead Higher Education consulting engagements focused on business model redesign, financial strategy, and performance improvement
Stand up and lead cost and revenue analytics, program margin modeling, and scenario planning (enrollment, tuition, retention, and program viability)
Advise Presidents, CFOs, and Provosts on operational redesign and governance; deliver cost allocation, cost identification, and revenue optimization recommendations specific to Higher Education
Establish KPI dashboards for HE leaders (e.g., net tuition revenue, retention, instructional cost per credit hour, program margin, research/auxiliary performance) and track outcomes
Ensure project teams deliver defensible methodologies and documentation aligned to HE leading practices and sponsor/federal requirements where applicable
Drive adoption of best‑practice HE methodologies; codify playbooks and accelerators for repeatable delivery (cost models, revenue analytics, benchmarking)
Demonstrate deep understanding of HE economics (student lifecycle, aid, auxiliaries, research, clinical/continuing education) and relevant accounting/OMB guidance as applicable
Own a prioritized pursuit plan; manage multiple HE engagements; mentor and scale a delivery team with consistent quality and client satisfaction
Stay current on HE regulatory and operating trends (financial aid, cybersecurity, ESG reporting) and technology transformation (cloud, AI, data analytics)
Develop and execute a segmented business development plan targeting community colleges, private universities, and public institutions
Establish thought leadership via associations (e.g., NACUBO, regional CUBOs, CCCU) and speaking engagements
Pursue partnerships and marketing campaigns (e.g., with Pilbara Group) using case studies and podcasts to highlight cost/revenue analytics
Support selective cross‑industry work in Healthcare and State & Local Government, where specialized cost and performance expertise is applicable
Qualification
Required
BA/BS in accounting, finance, economics, data analytics, or related field required
Current CPA licensure highly preferred (or equivalent HE/analytics credentials welcome)
10+ years preferred leading consulting or advisory services in Higher Education; strong record building practices and delivering cost/revenue analytics
Experience leading teams delivering HE cost allocation, program margin analysis, and operating model redesign
Monthly presence in the Arlington, VA office; client travel as needed for pursuits, delivery, and speaking engagements
Preferred
Single Audit/governmental audit exposure optional but beneficial
Benefits
Health
Dental
Vision
401k
And much more
Company
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)
CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Ray Price
Chief Financial Officer
T
Todd A. Steiner
Outsourcing CFO
Recent News
Morningstar.com
2025-11-04
Seattle TechFlash
2025-07-28
Company data provided by crunchbase