Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs

The Opportunity
Founded in 1891, Seattle University is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. The University currently provides an academic experience steeped in the Jesuit-Catholic tradition to more than 7,000 graduate and undergraduate students within six schools and colleges. Nestled in between the First Hill, Capitol Hill, and Central District neighborhoods, Seattle University offers state-of-the-art facilities, including a new Center for Science and Innovation building on an environmentally friendly 50- acre campus that was named the greenest in the state of Washington.

For 19 years running, Seattle University has been recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation for undergraduate education by the Princeton Review. The Wall Street Journal ranked Seattle University in the top 16 percent of all universities. Awards and high rankings for academic rigor, sustainability, and community engaged learning are among the University’s touchstones of excellence. Seattle University has more than 90,000 alumni in 98 countries. Seventy percent remain in Washington after graduation, contributing to the state’s economic vibrancy and talent pool.

Seattle University seeks a talented, collaborative, and dynamic leader to serve as the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs (“CFO”). Reporting to President Eduardo Peñalver and serving as a member of the University Cabinet, the CFO will lead the management of finances and operations for the University, working closely with the schools and colleges, and programs to remain aligned with its academic mission and commitment to student success.

The CFO is the University’s chief administrative and financial officer and will serve as a trusted partner to the President and Board of Trustees on financial planning and strategy, allocation and management of resources and development and leadership of strategic plans. The CFO will work closely with other members of the executive team, deans, faculty and senior administrators across the University to strengthen its business, financial and administrative policies and strategies to achieve its academic, research, and service missions.

The CFO provides leadership and oversight to the University’s operating budget of $220M and an organization of approximately 200 employees with direct reports across for financial analysis and reporting, treasury operations, risk management, insurance, endowment management, and overseeing the areas of procurement and facilities management.

The ideal candidate will have ten years of executive level administrative and financial management experience with demonstrated success in a role of complexity in academe, government, or the private sector; proven experience managing, mentoring, and developing diverse teams; experience leading strategic planning and multi-year financial planning; and exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. An advanced degree is preferred.

Seattle University has retained Korn Ferry, a national executive recruiting firm, to assist with this search. All nominations, inquiries, and application materials should be submitted in confidence to Korn Ferry. The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. However, in order to assure the fullest consideration, candidates are encouraged to have complete applications submitted to the search firm assisting the university by Friday, April 28th.

Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries for the position to the search firm assisting the University at the contact information below:

Victoria Antolini, Principal
Beau Lambert, Senior Client Partner
Lila Wojnarowicz, Associate
Seattle University specific email: SeattleU-CFO@kornferry.com

In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals whose differing backgrounds, beliefs, ideas, and life experiences will further enrich the diversity of its educational community.