Title: Vice President for Finance and Facilities and Chief Financial Officer
Company: Southwest Minnesota State University
Location: Marshall, Minnesota, United States
Deana S. Warner, Vice President for Finance and Facilities and Chief Financial Officer at Southwest Minnesota State University, has been recognized by Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Finance and Higher Education.
Ms. Warner’s career reflects more than four decades of progressive responsibility and accomplishment across the finance and consulting sectors, with a particular focus on higher education. In 2026, she accepted a position at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, where she is responsible for overseeing the institution’s financial operations and facilities management. As she settles into her new role after relocating multiple times over two years, Ms. Warner is prioritizing relationship-building within the university community and among cabinet members. Her immediate goals include fostering connections with direct reports and understanding the operational dynamics of the organization. She is also committed to supporting Dr. Jones, the university president, in advancing the institution’s mission to become the most successful university in Minnesota.
In addition to her primary appointment, Ms. Warner has continued to serve as a fractional chief financial officer and consultant since 2025. During a recent period marked by personal health challenges, she maintained her professional engagement through project-based roles with various organizations. Notably, Ms. Warner provided controllership services for a private company and contributed to projects with Attain Partners as well as the Higher Education Coordinating Commission in Oregon.
From 2022 to 2025, Ms. Warner was the associate vice chancellor for budgeting and financial analysis at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her tenure was distinguished by leading a comprehensive transformation of the university’s financial systems. She spearheaded the transition from a single-year Excel-based budgeting process to an integrated financial planning system that enabled five-year forecasting aligned with strategic initiatives. Additionally, Ms. Warner implemented key performance indicator dashboards and management reporting tools that enhanced decision-making capabilities across campus. This achievement stands among her most significant professional milestones.
Ms. Warner joined the University of Arkansas at Little Rock after serving as the assistant controller at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith from 2021 to 2022. Her rapid advancement within 20 months, culminating in her promotion to associate vice chancellor, was driven by her willingness to exceed formal responsibilities and introduce substantive improvements on campus.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Warner held several pivotal roles in both industry and academia. In 2018, she worked as a cost accountant for Intimidator Group before spending almost 10 years as an adjunct instructor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville from 2010 to 2018. Ms. Warner’s teaching experience complemented her technical expertise while allowing her to mentor students entering business fields.
Previously, Ms. Warner served as a senior industry consultant with Fourth Shift Corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1998 to 2000. She also held interim chief financial officer responsibilities at SAFARI Circuits LLC in Otsego, Michigan, between 1997 and 1998.
From 1995 to 1997, Ms. Warner excelled as a senior financial analyst and senior cost accountant for Eaton Corporation’s torque controls division. Prior positions included division controller at Acme Food Service, assistant division controller at FKI Automotive, division controller at Western Paper Company, international accountant for Buckman Laboratories International, and staff auditor with Coopers & Lybrand, dating back to 1986.
Academically accomplished, Ms. Warner earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1986 and a Master of Science in accounting on campus in 1990. These credentials laid the groundwork for her early success as an auditor before propelling her into increasingly complex roles across public accounting firms, manufacturing companies, consulting firms and higher education institutions.
Ms. Warner’s pursuit of continuous learning is further evidenced by professional credentials such as a certified public accountant (CPA) from the Arkansas State Board of Accountancy, achieved in 2022, a milestone she considers one of her greatest accomplishments due to passing the rigorous exam on her first attempt. She also received an International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation certificate from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in 2025 and is a graduate of Leadership Fort Smith.
Ms. Warner’s professional affiliations reflect ongoing engagement with leading industry organizations. Among them, she is affiliated with AICPA, CIMA, the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.
Throughout her career journey, Ms. Warner has consistently demonstrated adaptability and initiative. She is known for leveraging technological enhancements, such as dashboard development and process optimization, rather than focusing solely on numerical analysis. Ms. Warner’s career has been recognized with several honors for her hard work, including Rookie of the Year during her tenure as an enterprise resource planning consultant and a Quality Initiative Award from Eaton Corporation.
Looking ahead, Ms. Warner seeks not only continued impact within higher education but also broader involvement in local community service or charitable organizations, potentially through board service, as she settles into her new home after time spent overseas. She remains dedicated to making a meaningful difference by supporting students’ access to transformative educational opportunities, particularly those who are first-generation college attendees like herself, and contributing positively wherever she serves.
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