CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)

$12,918 - $27,383/Yr

University of Washington - Bothell, WA

Full-time - Senior

Bothell, WA

Educational Services

About the position

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the University of Washington (UW) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing the financial and accounting programs of one of the world's top public universities. The CFO will lead the planning, development, and execution of innovative financial strategies that align with the university's mission and goals. This position is critical in fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and financial accountability across the institution, which serves over 100,000 students, faculty, and staff across multiple campuses and global research operations. In this role, the CFO will be tasked with building a robust financial infrastructure that supports the university's commitment to cybersecurity and enterprise risk management. The successful candidate will collaborate with various stakeholders, including decentralized IT units and university leaders, to ensure that financial practices are transparent, accountable, and aligned with the university's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals. The CFO will also be responsible for developing multi-year financial plans that address the complexities of a large institution, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations while promoting fiscal responsibility. The CFO will play a key role in enhancing the university's financial stability and will be expected to model and promote DEI principles within the financial operations. This includes engaging with various departments and units within the university to create a culture of inclusivity and belonging, ensuring that financial strategies are accessible and beneficial to all members of the university community. The position requires exceptional leadership skills, the ability to communicate complex financial concepts effectively, and a commitment to advancing the university's mission of teaching, learning, and research.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for planning, developing, directing, and running the financial and accounting program.
• Build a data and reporting culture and infrastructure at the University of Washington.
• Collaborate with multiple leaders and decentralized IT units to enhance financial practices.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive financial program encompassing fund management, accounting, operational forecasting, and compliance.
• Model and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in all financial operations.
• Engage with various stakeholders across the university to ensure alignment with financial strategies and DEI goals.
• Navigate the complexities of a major research university to support teaching, learning, and research activities.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a leadership role within finance, accounting, or budgeting.
• Demonstrated expertise in the development and execution of multi-year financial plans for complex organizations.
• Understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and experience in promoting fiscal accountability and transparency.
• Exceptional leadership qualities with a proven ability to support organizational values.
• Experience in modeling and furthering personal and team accountability, managing conflict, and owning responsibility for mistakes.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, with the capacity to articulate complex ideas persuasively.
• Proven experience with data analysis and the ability to distill complex datasets into actionable insights.
• A commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.

Nice-to-haves

• Over 10 years of experience in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Supervisory experience managing teams of 10-15 or more is preferred.
• Experience working in a public higher education or state institution.

Benefits

• Generous benefits and work/life programs offered by the University of Washington.