Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer - Office of the President

Carnegie Mellon University invites nominations and applications for the role of Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer—a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for guiding the university’s financial strategy, operational excellence, and long-term fiscal health in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.

Carnegie Mellon University’s next Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will join the institution at a pivotal moment, when the stakes are high, the opportunities are significant, and thoughtful financial stewardship can boost the impact of one of the world’s most influential research universities.

CMU enters this next chapter with a strong financial foundation in place. The opportunity for the CFO is to elevate the strategic financial stewardship of the institution and to ensure that the excellence of financial systems, processes, and high-performing teams required to support the future of CMU are in place. Serving as a strategic thought partner to the president and senior leadership team, the CFO will act as the university’s principal financial and business advisor and as a key point of coordination among deans, academic leaders, and business officers across a large, complex, and highly decentralized institution.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Charged with stewardship of the university’s financial strategy and supporting infrastructure, the CFO will provide leadership and oversight across all financial resources, while maintaining the highest standards of institutional integrity, transparency, and accountability. In close partnership with the president, provost, and senior administrative leaders, this role calls for intellectual curiosity, strategic insight, and a forward‑looking perspective to ensure that the finance function continues to evolve alongside the institution’s ambitions.

This role is also responsible for overseeing the agenda, engagement, and trustee relationships of the Board’s Finance Committee and Audit Committee.

Beyond operational excellence, the CFO will be known for anticipating issues before they surface and identifying opportunities before they become apparent. This leader will apply rigorous analysis, systems thinking, and sound judgment to complex questions, helping university leadership navigate tradeoffs, allocate resources effectively, and position CMU for long‑term sustainable growth. The CFO will strengthen already robust Treasury, planning & budgeting, capital allocation, and financial control & reporting processes by bringing sharp foresight, insightful scenario modeling, and deep integration of financial data into strategic decision making.

A central aspect of the role will be assessing continuously how the financial operating model supports CMU’s academic and research priorities and adjusting course as conditions change. Working collaboratively across colleges, schools, and units, the CFO will leverage CMU’s highly decentralized model as a source of innovation, while strengthening enterprise-wide visibility, coordination, and accountability. This allows the institution to balance enterprise‑wide needs with local flexibility, ensuring that data, forecasting, and reporting meaningfully inform decisions at all levels without constraining innovation – what CMU is known for!

Equally important, the CFO will be a future‑focused leader adept at guiding a complex research university through ongoing change. A strong understanding of capital structure, investment strategy, liquidity planning, operating efficiency, and compliance across federal, state, and sponsor‑driven environments will be essential. With a proactive mindset and an ability to “see around corners,” the CFO will help ensure that CMU remains financially resilient, strategically agile, and well-positioned to pursue bold initiatives in the years ahead.

In short, we are looking for a CFO capable of boldly positioning CMU for long-term sustainability and continued leadership as a global model for research, education, and impact.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to:  President

Direct reports:

• Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller
• Associate Vice President for Budget and Financial Planning
• Associate Vice President and Treasurer
• Assistant Vice President of Procurement and Payments
• Director, Finance Training and Communications
• Director, Business Applications Development and Support (dotted line; directly reports to computing services) 
• Executive Assistant to the Vice President and CFO, and Manager of Finance Division Administrative Operations

Key auxiliary enterprises and cost centers, such as Housing and Dining, will also maintain a dotted-line relationship to the CFO—ensuring a clear li