The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the School of Public Health (SPH) reports to the Dean and is a key member of the SPH senior leadership team, collaborating with the Dean and school leaders, to provide financial leadership advancing the school’s mission, strategic goals, priorities, and operating objectives.

The CFO is responsible for establishing SPH’s financial strategy and goals and oversight of  SPH’s finance activities, functional accounting, fiscal management and reporting. This includes grants/sponsored programs and endowed funds, and data governance to ensure that academic and administrative priorities are being met. The position also has oversight of space and facilities and information technology for SPH.

SPH is committed to antiracism and anti-oppression in our mission and operations. In pursuit of this goal, we consider an applicant’s record working with individuals from historically marginalized backgrounds and experience identifying and eliminating systemic barriers to success in an academic environment. SPH seeks to increase the diversity of its workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in our discipline, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, and those from LGBTQIA+ communities.

Please note: At this time, the University’s employment site is limited in how it collects applicant demographic information. Applicants are encouraged to provide their preferred name and/or pronouns within their attached application materials.

Principal Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Financial Leadership (50%)

• In collaboration with the dean and SPH leadership, set the school’s financial strategies and goals, and align resource allocation with the financial strategy, school and University values and priorities (MPact 2025 strategic plan), and operating objectives and processes. 

• Oversee the school’s annual budget and compact processes and long-term financial and capital plans. Analyze, interpret, and communicate information pertaining to the financial performance of the school, including productivity and return on investment

• Research revenue opportunities and economic trends, conduct financial modeling and assessments, and provide creative and proactive financial guidance and advice to senior leadership.

• Identify and develop solutions for complex and systemic problems

• Optimize support to our students, faculty and staff, analyze internal operations and staffing, identify areas of cost reduction and process enhancement, and implement action plans for improved operational accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness at the initiation of SPH and in alignment with the University’s Positioned for Excellence, Alignment and Knowledge (PEAK) Initiative.

• Model SPH values and engage in collaborative, transparent stewardship and communication across the school. Provide clear and consistent leadership to challenge racism and create equity in resource distribution (Strategic Plan for Antiracism).

• Represent the school as a visible and trusted leader nationally (particularly with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health) and within the University and school communities, including representing SPH on committees.

Fiscal Management and Operational Oversight (40%)

• Serve as the school’s chief financial manager/primary liaison with University Budget & Finance with accountability for all financial activities of the school and its four academic divisions, 33 centers, 20+ programs, and numerous work groups (constituting a resource responsibility center), through collaborative relationships with direct reports and their teams (approximately 5 FTE) and the four division administrators and their teams (approximately 23 FTE). These activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Oversight and approval of the school’s financial operations and transactions, including executing delegated authorities for purchasing, lease and use, affiliation, and other agreements and releases;

  • Creation and maintenance of the school’s financial policies, procedures, and internal controls in alignment with University policies;

  • Development, training, and performance management of the school’s financial staff;

  • Monitoring and auditing of school’s financial status, transactions, and operational risks;

  • Adoption of mitigating, disciplinary, and incentive measures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and standards;

  • Responsibility for investigation, drafting responses, and implementation of recommendations surrounding financial concerns and audits;

  • Maintaining finance-related communication between SPH and University Budget & Finance, the Controller's Office, Sponsored Projects Administration, Audits, and the divisions, centers, and units within the school; and

  • Annual evaluation and continuous improvement of SPH financial operations and performance.

• Collaborate with the Chief of Staff and others to implement and oversee a comprehensive data governance model in SPH for the creation, reporting, and use of administrative data for planning, decision-making, and daily operations at the school and division level.

• Provide direct supervision for Assistant Finance Director, financial data analyst,  and Director of Information Technology and provide overall leadership for these teams.

• Lead and collaborate with the Assistant Finance Director and division administrators to:

  • Oversee the school’s space and facilities to enable the school’s mission delivery.

  • Assess current space and facilities and develop plans to address anticipated needs. 

• Lead and collaborate with the Director of Information Technology and division administrators to:

  • Oversee the school’s information technology function and ensure its capabilities and resources enable the school’s mission delivery.

  • Assess current systems and develop plans to meet future technology needs and expenditures.

Sponsored Projects Oversight (10%)

• In coordination with the Associate Dean for Research share responsibilities to review and approve sponsored project proposal routing forms (PRFs) prepared in the divisions, including:

  • Evaluate requests for facilities and administrative (F&A) waivers or reductions;

  • Review conflict of interest disclosure form and facilitate institutional oversight; and

  • Review proposed cost sharing for appropriateness.

Work arrangements: Flexible, hybrid option

Starting pay is dependent upon the selected candidate’s relevant qualifications and internal equity: $170-190,000 annually