A Conversation With ... Nila Hayes

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting, Missouri State University

Crunching numbers: MSU’s fiscal 2009 operating budget is $254,846,313, up 16 percent compared to fiscal 2008.

Contact: nilahayes@missouristate.edu

You were MSU’s controller before being named chief financial officer. How has your role changed?

I had been director of accounting, and had been controller for the last 10 years. My role has changed because I had been doing pieces of overall accounting for the university, and now, I’ve been able to roll together … all of my experience (at MSU since 1978) to be able to use it for the CFO role. Now, I’m an adviser to the president and other (university) constituents.

What financial challenges does MSU face?

The university is currently in good financial position. The ongoing challenge is to keep education accessible and affordable to all possible students. To do that (we) continue to (work to get) increased money from the state so that we can keep tuition as low as possible, and also look internally for savings and finding additional revenue streams. We also have an ongoing commitment to enhance private fundraising and support for sponsored programs, such as grants, contracts and so forth. We are looking at a comprehensive campaign, possibly to go forward with in a couple of years.

Beyond your degrees and MSU experience, what has shaped your career?

I’ve done a lot of community service work and worked with a lot of nonprofits in town (as) treasurer, so … I’ve got some outside experience in nonprofit accounting (including work with the Junior League of Springfield, Soroptimist International of Springfield and the History Museum of Springfield-Greene County). And I have taught nonprofit governmental accounting.

What professional accomplishment makes you most proud?

I have worked with the financial statements and produced those at the university for at least 20 years now, and just being able to do an audited financial statement with good presentation … so our various stakeholders can see that the university presents a good financial position, and working with our external auditors to ensure that everything is (accounted for) properly. It’s just nice to get a report at the end of the year (that says), “You’ve done a good job.”

What’s your management style?

I try to communicate well, and I’m not going to call it hands-on management, but I do like to visit with the professionals and technicians in the office and be approachable. But I expect people to get their work done … so I leave them alone and let them do their work.

Now obviously, if they don’t get it done, that’s another issue to deal with, but I like to delegate and let people take care of their responsibilities.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve witnessed since you began working here just after graduating in 1978?

Before I graduated, I had a job here (as a senior accountant). The university has grown, not only physically, with new buildings, but enrollment has really grown since I’ve been (working) here. Strong Hall has been built since I came here, Meyer Library, and obviously, the new arena is one of the bigger endeavors that the university has taken on. Being able to register, pay your bills and apply for financial aid online – when I started here, none of that was here.

Tell us about your family and hobbies.

I have a husband, Everett. He’s retired from MSU. I have two stepsons, who both live in St. Louis with their wives, and a granddaughter. There’s Mark and Sara, and their daughter, Addison; and Mike and Marcie. I have a special niece, Amanda, who’s just part of the family. We enjoy boating at Table Rock, and I enjoy reading and traveling.

Interview by Features Editor Maria Hoover.