Chief Financial and Administrative Officer - Columbia University

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $260,000 - $300,000

Position Summary

The Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) reports to the Dean of Columbia College and serves as the senior officer overseeing the day-to-day financial and administrative teams within the Columbia College Office of the Dean that support the College functional units including admissions and financial aid, academic affairs and advising, undergraduate student life, career education, global engagement, and alumni relations and development.

In collaboration with the Dean and members of the College’s leadership team, the CFAO oversees the College’s operating budget, manages the administrative operations, and promotes the optimal utilization of financial resources through robust planning to effectively and efficiently meet the College’s mission and strategic priorities in support of future, current and former students, faculty and other key constituencies. The CFAO is responsible for creating the overall strategy for the finance and administrative functions, ensuring integration and productive collaboration across the College and between the Arts and Sciences and other University and external partnerships. With a focus on operational excellence and service, the CFAO is a forward-thinking and participative leader responsible for finance administration and strategic planning, human resources, information technology, and facilities operations and space planning. This position has responsibility for managing an annual operating budget of nearly $500 million.

The CFAO leads efforts to continuously improve the College’s finances and administrative operations with a can-do attitude and solutions-oriented approach. The incumbent will develop a comprehensive understanding of all major internal and external programs of the College and work collaboratively across the College and all its stakeholders to effectively manage the budget and administrative operations.

Responsibilities

Finance

• Develop long-range financial forecasts built on a sound operating model and allow for scenario planning. Hold lead responsibility for strategic budget planning and reporting working with key partners in Arts and Sciences and the University.
• Build a culture of fiscal responsibility, stability and accountability at the College, including developing and implementing rigorous financial planning and monitoring processes across functional units. Develop operational infrastructure for effective fiscal management. Work with the College leadership team to align strategic priorities and operational goals within budget parameters.
• Provide financial consulting and strategic support to the Dean and leadership team, including preparing board presentations, financial presentations, analysis and other projects.

Administration

• Human Resources: Promote and foster an inclusive community with exceptional standards for diversity, inclusion, collegiality and professionalism. Set and direct the talent management strategy for the College. Proactively identify and address improvement opportunities needed to achieve the College’s mission, vision, and people strategy. Provide direction and oversight for the HR function to execute and advance the College’s human resources goals and objectives.
• Information Technology: Set and direct technology strategy for the College across a diverse portfolio including technological infrastructure, hardware, software, web publishing, and application. Set and direct data reporting, assessment and analytical needs for the College’s strategic planning and operations.
• Facilities Operations and Space Planning: Set and direct planning for quality operations and the effective use of the College’s physical space and resources.

Leadership and Management

• Provide leadership and management support to the Dean’s Office finance and administrative functions. Work as a positive, change-oriented, transformational leader in alignment with the College’s core values. Create a culture of collaborative and effective partnership across teams as well as in work across the College’s functional units.
• Lead policy development, strategic planning, and assessment of the Dean’s Office finance and administrative functions in support of the College’s missions and the programs and services offered to its core constituencies. Champion initiatives to streamline administrative processes and enhance operational efficiency, leveraging technology and best practices to drive continuous improvement and encourage innovation.
• Ensure the full scope of finance and administrative services and support is operationalized and compliant with applicable policies and practices. Establish and update the school’s policies, internal controls and administrative standards, as well as ensure staff are trained on these policies and procedures.
• Serve as a member of the College’s leadership team. Work closely with the Dean and College leadership to integrate financial and operational planning and ensure resources are deployed in a manner that is consistent with the College’s overall strategic priorities and changing business needs.
• Represent the College as requested by serving on committees/task forces and/or attending meetings. Participate in special, long-range planning projects. Prepare materials for executive-level meetings and presentations. Build strong and effective partnerships with Arts and Sciences and University offices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree in business, public policy, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of related experience in financial and operational leadership roles in complex organizations.
• Relevant use of financial models, financial analysis, performance measures, and metrics to understand complex situations, inform decision making and communicate decisions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial planning and modeling that link resource allocation to performance and strategic planning.
• Experience managing human resources, information technology, data analysis reporting, and facilities operations functions or some combination thereof in a complex organization.
• Progressive strategic leadership and management experience in complex and dynamic environments.
• Ability to cultivate workplace teams committed to transparency and open communication structures.
• Experience building consensus and leading change in a dynamic environment to articulate vision, foster collaboration and teamwork and motivate others to achieve desired outcomes.
• Strong, strategic orientation with the ability to serve as a participative leader and critical thought partner focusing on constructive, creative solutions.
• Ability to adapt and learn quickly.
• Deep appreciation for the value of diversity, the expertise and opinions of others, and the complexity of student and staff culture in a large urban university.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collegial personality demonstrated through writing, speaking and active listening across multiple audiences.
• Unquestionable personal and professional integrity and reputation for performing with the highest levels of fairness, transparency discretion, sound judgment and ethics while working with highly confidential information and effectively managing multiple and sometimes contradictory demands and expectations.

**Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be reviewed.**

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or a non-profit environment is strongly preferred.
• An understanding of the academic mission and budget/resource planning in complex institutions of higher education is strongly desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.