Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

About the role

The Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer leads the Office of Budget and Finance at Rice University, upholding financial integrity, transparency, and strategic resource allocation. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, and Support and sitting on the President’s Cabinet, the CFO stewards an approximately $1.2 billion budget and partners with the President, Provost, and Board of Trustees to advance the University’s strategic plan. The role emphasizes translating complex financial realities into clear strategic choices, championing transparency and integrity, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across a portfolio that includes Capital Planning and Space Management, the Controller’s Office, Budget Office, Office of Research Administration, Procurement, and Risk Management.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership (30%)
  • Provides direct leadership over the Controller’s Office (including Research Administration Post-Award Accounting), Treasurer’s Office, Risk Management, Budget Office, Capital Planning and Space Management, and Procurement.
  • Serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet, contributing to institution-wide strategy, resource allocation, and policy decisions.
  • Partners with the Operations, Finance, and Support leadership team to execute shared goals.
  • Collaborates with the Provost and Provost’s budget office on the budget model, annual budget process, five-year budget plan, and annual capital budget.
  • Provides the Board of Trustees and its Finance Committee with clear financial analysis and proactive risk identification.
  • Develops and maintains strong relationships with rating agencies, external auditors, and banking partners.
  • Advises on capital structure strategy, debt financing, and major investment decisions in coordination with the endowment.
  • Represents Rice’s financial interests in federal relations and regulatory environments, particularly as they affect research funding and tax compliance.
• Innovation, Technology, & AI Integration (20%)
  • Champions the adoption of AI, automation, and advanced analytics across the organization, from intelligent financial reporting to automated compliance monitoring and predictive budget modeling.
  • Partners with Technology Services & Support and the institution’s emerging AI governance structure to identify, pilot, and scale financial technology solutions.
  • Works with the Chief Data & Analytics Officer to build a data-informed finance function, establishing dashboards, model libraries, and reporting tools that increase transparency and empower decision-makers.
  • Drives continuous process improvement using lean principles and technology to reduce manual effort, increase accuracy, and free staff capacity for higher-value work.
  • Ensures the organization leads in adopting next-generation tools for ERP, financial planning, research administration, and procurement.
• Financial Operations & Stewardship (20%)
  • Maintains accounting control over the University’s financial accounts, including operating, endowment, research, auxiliary, and plant funds.
  • Oversees timely preparation of the University’s annual financial statements and all external reporting requirements, including federal grant and contract reporting and the IPEDS Survey.
  • Directs cost accounting functions supporting the University’s Facilities & Administrative rate calculations and negotiations.
  • Ensures robust internal controls, a strong audit posture, and compliance with state and federal tax law across all reporting entities.
  • Manages treasury functions, including cash positioning, short-term investment of operating funds, and debt covenant compliance.
  • Maintains appropriate governance over all the University’s financial data and develops training and resources that promote transparency for units across campus.
• Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance (10%)
  • Leads Rice’s enterprise risk management function, maintaining a comprehensive framework that identifies, assesses, and monitors institutional risks across operational, financial, regulatory, reputational, and strategic dimensions.
  • Oversees the negotiation, procurement, and management of the University’s institutional insurance portfolio, including property, liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, directors and officers, and specialized research and cyber coverage.
  • Leverages emerging risk analytics and AI-enabled monitoring to move Rice’s risk posture from reactive to proactive and predictive.
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development (10%)
  • Leads, inspires, and develops a diverse, high-performing organization spanning multiple functional units, with supervision and mentorship that builds the team to the highest levels of performance and integrity.
  • Establishes a culture of excellence, accountability, psychological safety, and genuine customer service.
  • Builds leadership capacity through structured development, coaching, mentorship, and succession planning.
  • Refines roles, procedures, and organizational structure so that policies, systems, and internal controls reflect industry best practices and support the University’s strategic goals.
  • Sets clear performance expectations and holds staff accountable with compassion and consistency.
• Institutional Partnership & Communication (10%)
  • Serves as a trusted advisor and resource to leaders throughout the University and as a partner to cross-functional project and coordinating teams.
  • Designs and delivers financial education and literacy programs that equip non-financial leaders to make better decisions.
  • Communicates financial strategy and results clearly to diverse audiences, from Board presentations to faculty forums to staff town halls.
  • Leads or participates in University-wide task forces, working groups, and governance bodies.

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements
  • Master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.
  • Ten or more years of progressive management experience in accounting, financial planning and analysis or budget management, and business operations.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-function financial organizations.
  • Proven track record of strategic financial planning, budget management, and financial reporting at an institutional scale.
  • Working knowledge of AI applications in financial operations, including automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent reporting.
  • Experience leading or contributing to major financial technology implementations (ERP, planning tools, procurement platforms, etc.).
  • Experience presenting to and advising senior leadership, boards, or trustees.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Financial leadership experience in higher education, academic medicine, or a complex research environment.
  • Experience with sponsored research financial management, including F&A rate negotiations and federal compliance.
  • Demonstrated success integrating auxiliary or revenue-generating operations into a financial management structure.
  • Experience in enterprise risk management, including institutional insurance negotiation and portfolio oversight.