the client seeks a seasoned, mission-driven, and collaborative Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who serves as a strategic leader and people-centered partner. In an executive-level role, the CFO reports to the organization’s Dean and Director and is a member of the executive leadership team, advising on all financial matters and making financial decisions through delegated authority. The CFO provides leadership to guide financial stewardship in support of research, education, and advisory service missions.
The CFO will formulate and execute strategic financial and operational plans with organizational leadership, develop and communicate high-level strategy to support financial stability and emerging opportunities, and conduct routine evaluations of programs to ensure resources are used to meet strategic priorities. Responsibilities include partnering with unit heads, faculty, and staff to resolve financial process issues that affect operational efficiency and effectiveness; establishing a financial culture aligned to the organization’s mission; and modernizing, expanding, and growing the financial function to meet the needs of an innovation- and growth-focused environment. The CFO will lead and develop a team of financial professionals, develop and enforce financial policies and procedures, and develop and submit operating and capital outlay budget requests for consideration by relevant governmental bodies, while serving as a liaison to central finance and administrative offices and engaging with board meetings associated with the organization.
The ideal candidate is an experienced financial professional with higher-education experience and the ability to align financial strategy with research, education, and advisory service outcomes. The role calls for a collaborative, relationship-building leader who engages stakeholders to develop creative, solutions-oriented approaches and can operate effectively in ambiguous situations by creating innovative solutions when standard frameworks do not fully apply. The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in a business, public administration, or other relevant field, along with specialized expertise and significant experience in progressively responsible strategic leadership overseeing financial and administrative functions within a university setting. Strong finance expertise and technical skills across finance disciplines, including experience with financial modeling and analytics, are expected, and a master’s degree and knowledge of state and federal regulations governing higher-education institutions are preferred.