Senior Vice Chancellor, Chief Financial Officer

The Opportunity
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or the University) is seeking a dynamic and experienced financial professional to serve as Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), leading and managing the University’s financial functions. Reporting to the Chancellor, Andrew D. Martin, the CFO will support the goals of the University by providing financial services and strategies that enhance the academic and research experience of faculty, students, and staff. Providing financial wisdom and insight, coupled with creative financial thinking and innovative strategy, the CFO will enable the University to embark on and achieve its goals for growth and for excellence.

The successful candidate must be capable of providing exceptional leadership in the development and execution of strategies, approaches, and solutions that address complex, multi-factor financial issues, both short- and long-term. This includes helping WashU champion and implement a budget model redesign across the campus. As a visible representative of the University in the St. Louis community and beyond, the CFO must have the interpersonal skills to successfully interact with a wide range of internal and external constituents and potential partners. The CFO will support the Chancellor on a wide range of Board topics regarding financial and other strategic matters. The responsibilities of this CFO go far beyond managing the University’s finances, and as a result, we are seeking the most talented finance executives for this role.

The ideal candidate will exhibit expertise in strategic, financial, leadership, and operational skills and have a demonstrated track record of success in a role of analogous complexity in academia, government, or the private sector. An advanced degree is preferred.

As an independent, R-1 institution, Washington University belongs to a small class of elite universities characterized by a deep commitment to excellence in education and research. It is nationally and internationally renowned for teaching and learning, patient care, research, and service to society with distinctive programs in the life sciences; a strong arts and sciences core; a rich collection of professional schools spanning architecture and the arts, business, engineering, law, and social work; innovative, interdisciplinary graduate programs; and a top-ranked, thriving academic medical enterprise. Today, the university has 16,433 undergraduate and graduate students, 4,551 faculty, and 21,804 employees and is ranked as a top employer in the region.

In fiscal year 2024, the university’s operating revenues were $5.23 billion and its operating expenses were $5.08 billion. The university’s strong operating results comprise $2.55 billion in patient care and affiliated hospital revenues, grants and contracts revenue of $978 million, $479.3 million in net tuition and fees, and endowment spending distribution of $576 million. As of June 30, 2024, the market value of the university’s endowment was $12.00 billion, a number that has risen exponentially with successful capital campaigns and wise investments.

WashU 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. Korn Ferry will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries for the position to the search firm at the contact information below:

Vickie Antolini, Senior Client Partner
Beau Lambert, Senior Client Partner
Megan Maxwell, Senior Associate
WashU’s specific email: WashU-CFO@kornferry.com