Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer

Job Description

Stevens Institute of Technology invites nominations and applications for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Vice President for Finance and Treasurer. Reporting to the President, the CFO will provide strategic leadership, planning, management and coordination for all financial and treasury functions of the University. The successful candidate will have a major role in enabling the successful implementation of the University’s strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create. This ambitious effort is integral to the future growth and success of the University.

The Division of Finance at Stevens Institute of Technology is committed to providing the highest quality of service in support of the University's education and research mission. The overarching responsibility of the Division of Finance is to sustain and further strengthen the University's financial vitality and to ensure transparency in utilizing institutional resources to advance the university’s institutional mission and strategic goals. Adoption and implementation of industry standards and best practices in administrative, business and fiscal management are a critical aspect of achieving this goal. The CFO is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of all areas of the division of finance that employs 50 staff members. Those areas include accounting and financial reporting, financial planning and budgeting, and treasury functions for both the endowment and operations, as well as risk management and purchasing functions. The ideal candidate will also possess experience in financial planning and management of major capital projects. The CFO is the key administrator supporting the Audit, Finance and Investment Committees of the Board of Trustees. Working collaboratively with the other members of the President’s Cabinet, the CFO will assume a strategic leadership role in the financial support of the University’s 2012-2022 Strategic Plan that projects major growth of the University. For example, according to the plan, over the next eight years, Stevens’ undergraduate student body will grow in selectivity and in size from the current 2,892 to 4,000 students. In graduate studies, the goal is for Stevens to increase selectivity of graduate admissions and to increase the size of the master’s and full time Ph.D. student population by at least 20 percent from the current baseline of 3,956. Another goal is to increase the externally-supported annual research expenditures from the current $32 million to an inflation-adjusted $75 million. The strategic plan also calls for hiring 100 new faculty members by 2022. Finally, the Strategic Plan projects growth to six from three designated national research centers. The CFO will be responsible for the implementation of sophisticated investment and financial plans to support the realization of these ambitious goals. The President and his Cabinet envision a future that incorporates a high level of energy, collaboration, efficiency and common purpose across the University. The Division of Finance provides important financial and administrative services to the entire University. The new CFO will lead a strong professional team committed to the highest level of customer service and continuous improvement in support of Stevens’ exciting future.

The new CFO will be asked to address the following critical leadership issues, among others:

• Assess organizational efficiency and effectiveness against both the annual budget and Stevens’ strategic financial plan; develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to the President, and make actionable recommendations;

• Lead the development of the Division of Finance by fostering a shared vision, acting as a role model, and demonstrating the organization’s values of teamwork, superior customer service, and excellent financial management;

• Foster a culture of openness, collaboration and transparency while promoting a dynamic customer service orientation and open communication in decision-making and information dissemination across the Institute;

• Provide the members of Board of Trustees with the clear communication and financial expertise and analysis that they need to carry out their fiduciary responsibilities for the University; Stevens Institute of Technology Chief Financial Officer

• Use sophisticated financial approaches to work in partnership with external entities to support significant capital projects as part of the strategic and master plans. As both undergraduate and graduate enrollments grow, as new faculty are added, and as sponsored research increases, Stevens will need new residential, academic and research buildings. The expertise of the CFO will be key to the successful implementation of the University’s master plan;

• Provide financial expertise in support of the growing undergraduate and graduate student populations in assessing pri