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Director - Finance College of Nursing

HSHS · Springfield, IL · $43.66–$65.49 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an audit you coordinated. What went well and what would you change?

What they are checking: Whether they can prepare for audits in an organized way and own findings honestly.

Describe a time you had to tell leadership something they didn't want to hear about the budget.

What they are checking: Whether they will deliver hard numbers plainly while still being a constructive advisor.

Tell me about a long-range financial plan you built. What assumptions mattered most?

What they are checking: Whether they can think strategically about the college's sustainability over years, not just the current budget.

What would you do

Enrollment comes in well below projection for the fall. What do you bring to the Chancellor, and how fast?

What they are checking: Whether they can model the impact quickly and offer real options instead of just reporting the shortfall.

How do you explain a financial report to academic leaders who aren't finance people?

What they are checking: Whether they can translate numbers into decisions that faculty and deans can act on.

A department head wants to spend beyond their budget for a program they say is urgent. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance flexibility with discipline and route the decision to the right level.

The college sits inside a larger health system. How would you work with system finance while serving the college's needs?

What they are checking: Whether they can navigate shared services and reporting lines without losing the college's priorities.

About the work

How is budgeting for a college of nursing different from budgeting for a hospital department?

What they are checking: Whether they understand tuition, enrollment, financial aid and accreditation as drivers rather than patient volumes.

Accreditors want evidence that the college has the financial resources to sustain its programs. How would you show that?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how finance supports accreditation and can present fiscal health clearly to reviewers.

What internal controls would you check first when you start?

What they are checking: Whether they think about segregation of duties, approvals and cash handling to protect fiscal integrity.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by HSHS.

Pay Range: $43.66 - $65.49 A successful candidate's actual pay rate will be based on several factors including relevant experience, skills, training, certifications and education. St. John's College of Nursing is seeking a Director-Finance College of Nursing to join our team. This position leads financial planning, budgeting, and resource management for St. John's College of Nursing, ensuring fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance, and alignment with institutional priorities. Responsibilities include overseeing financial operations, reporting, audit coordination, and supporting accreditation and regulatory requirements. The Director advises the Chancellor and leadership team to advance strategic decision-making and sustain the College's long-term financial health in a dynamic academic and healthcare setting. Position Specifics: o Department: St. John's College of Nursing o Core Function: Leadership o Schedule: Full time-Hybrid, 1 day/week remote o Facility: St. John's College of Nursing o Location: Springfield, IL o Compensation that aligns with your experience INTERNET SPEED REQUIREMENTS: • Download speeds must be at least 20 Mb or higher. (100 Mb or higher is preferred.) • Upload speeds must be at least 6 Mb or higher. (10 Mb or higher is preferred.) • Latency/Ping must be under 100 ms. (Under 60 ms is preferred.) Education Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field is required. • Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field is preferred. Experience Qualifications • Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, or financial operations is required. • Experience in higher education, health care, nonprofit, or similarly regulated environments is preferred, including experience with budgeting, audit coordination, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance. Experience supporting senior leadership, preparing executive- or board-level financial reports, and contributing to strategic financial planning is preferred. Certifications, Licenses and Registrations • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional certification is preferred. Job Description Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Throughout communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, 13 hospitals, numerous community-based health centers and clinics, our 13,000+ colleagues have built a culture based on our solid core values of respect, care, competence, and joy. These are the ideals we believe in, work by, and live each day. Built upon more than 145 years of service to the communities we serve, we now look to the future and our place in it as a healthcare system that strives to continually improve processes, procedures, and outcomes with the latest and most advanced technologies and treatments. Regardless of how far our passion for excellence carries us, our focus will always remain on the most important person in our entire organization: The patient. Benefits: HSHS provides a benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our colleagues including their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, and work health. Colleagues budgeted to work at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible for HSHS benefits. • Comprehensive and affordable health coverage includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time colleagues. • Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need. • Retirement benefits including HSHS contributions. • Education Assistance benefits include up to $5,250 of educational assistance each calendar year and tuition discounts to select colleges with no waiting period. • Adoption Assistance provides financial support up to $7,500 for colleagues growing their families through adoption to reimburse application and legal fees, transportation, and more! • Other benefits include: Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, ID theft coverage, colleague rewards and recognition program, discount program, and more! Benefits HSHS and affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). HSHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce. Notice Regarding Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process Hospital Sisters may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence or machine-learning technologies, to assist with certain administrative aspects of the recruitment process. These tools may help our recruiting team organize applications, search for resumes, identify qualifications reflected in application materials, and facilitate communications or scheduling with applicants. Information used by these tools may include materials you provide during the application process, such as your resume, work history, education, qualifications, and responses to application questions. These tools are used only to support our recruiting process. Hiring decisions are made by HSHS personnel, and automated tools do not make employment decisions on behalf of HSHS. Applicants who have questions about this notice or who require a reasonable accommodation or alternative evaluation method may contact HSHS Human Resources at Contact@hshs.org

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