Chief Financial Officer

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is seeking a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) to lead its global financial strategy and operations. This executive role involves overseeing finance functions across multiple international locations, supporting both non-profit and for-profit entities, and ensuring compliance with legal and tax requirements. The CFO also oversees Global Procurement, Real Estate, Facilities and Security.

• Organization Overview: Established in 1931, GIA's global headquarters are based in Carlsbad, California. GIA has revenues exceeding $300M in 2025 and employs approximately 3,000 people across the world. It has laboratories that grade diamonds and gems in 9 locations – Carlsbad, New York, India, Thailand, South Africa, Botswana, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Japan. It provides education in gemology, jewelry design and manufacture, through campuses in Carlsbad, New York, Hong Kong, India, United Kingdom, Thailand, and Taiwan. GIA also provides research in gemology and instrumentation with facilities in Carlsbad, Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Thailand.
• Role and Reporting: The CFO reports directly to the President and CEO. The role is an officer position with significant interaction with GIA’s Board of Governors. The CFO will have a day-to-day, ongoing impact on company operations, helping us to analyze, strategize, and grow our financial position and operations.
• Key Responsibilities: Responsibilities include overseeing all finance functions including Financial Reporting, Accounting and Control, Investments and Treasury, Financial Planning and Analysis, Budgeting, Tax, Insurance; and international finance operations. The role is also responsible globally for Real Estate, Facilities, Security and Procurement.

• International Scope: International finance experience is critical to the role. The CFO advises on finance and accounting of its affiliates, manages multi-country audits, tax matters, including multi-currency transactions, including dividends and royalties. The position oversees finance staff in multiple countries.
• Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis: The role includes responsibility for financial reporting internal control, audit oversight, tax reporting, and maintaining relationships with external auditors, financial institutions (banks and investments) and tax advisors.
  • The role monitors and evaluates the progress of the Institute toward meeting its financial goals; and adjusts objectives, work plans, schedules, and commitment of resources and prepares detailed reports for board meetings and GIA’s management team.
  • Oversees oversight all financial reporting including Board financial reports, annual audit results and US and foreign tax reports. Provides monthly financial information to management teams and the Board of Governors.  
  • Monitor business performance with tracking tools, establish corrective measures as needed,
  • Oversees and directs the preparation and issuance of the corporation's annual financial reports. Ensures business activities are financially managed so as to be prudent, effective, efficient, and legally compliant with non-profit regulations as well as ensuring that GIAs for profit entities that are compliant with all appropriate tax and other statutory requirements.
  • Coordinates development of annual operating, capital, and program budgets, as well as reporting for the same. Collaborate with senior managers to efficiently develop budget proposals, provide access to project finance information.

• Develops and implements the best practices and tools to ensure a well-controlled yet flexible organization that has strong fiscal management, project coordination, cross-team communications, and workflows.
• Ensure compliance with national and local financial requirements by studying existing and new legislation and tax laws and taking appropriate action.

• Financing, Treasury Management, and Investments: The CFO manages the investment funds of GIA, its investment policies, oversees its retirement plans, insurance and banking relationships. The role:
  • Manage investment of surplus funds, preservation of Institute assets and oversees 401(k) and 457(b) retirement plans.
  • Oversees and maintains responsibility for the administration of the Institute's retirement, insurance, and risk management programs.
  • Directs the treasury function in activities such as custodian of funds, securities, and assets of the organization.
  • Establishes and maintains contacts with financial institutions that manage the institute’s investments and cash.
  • Ensuring cash flow is compatible with operations.
  • Performs risk management through analysis of company liabilities and investments and evaluating and managing capital and reserve structures.