• Provides leadership in developing and implementing financial plans and strategies that support and enable University-wide strategic and operating plans.
• Works in partnership with the Chancellor, the Chief Administrative Officer and University leadership to develop financial plans that support strategic initiatives and ensure the institution's sustainability.
• Engages with Board and University leadership on matters of fiduciary responsibility.
• Provides strategic financial input on issues affecting the University, including structure, evaluation of potential business relationships, growth opportunities, and new business models.
• Evaluate and advise on the financial impact of short-term and long-range planning, the introduction of new programs/strategies, and legislative and regulatory actions.

Financial Leadership:

• Ensures financial viability and sustainability of the University’s financial position (as a unified enterprise and of its major components) by providing timely, accurate financial reporting and analyses.
• Serves as the key financial advisor to University leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Optimizes appropriate investment of working capital.
• Ensures the existence of robust internal controls throughout the institution.
• Ensures financial resources are effectively deployed throughout the University.
• Ensures the development of a budget that aligns with overall strategic plans and financial imperatives.
• Optimizes credit facilities and banking relationships.
  • Serves as the University’s senior representative to the external financial community, including rating agencies and financial institutions.

• Provides senior-level leadership of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and manages the university's finance offices, ensuring appropriate alignment throughout.
• Build buy-in and continue to develop a culture of financial excellence across the university.
• Establish more efficient and consistent communication across the constituent groups including central administration and academic leadership.
• Provides high-quality, cost-efficient, and shared financial services that demonstrate administrative excellence.
• Comfortability leading through budget model changes and implementation.

• Provides input and support to the following committees of the Board:
  • Finance Committee
  • Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee
  • Investment Management Company (WUIMC)

• Link the budget to strategic priorities and performance.
• Advance WashU’s mission while maintaining institutional excellence and focusing on student success.
• Align incentives with strategic priorities while enhancing research, innovation, and clinical activities.
• Provide appropriate incentives for collaborations within and across colleges and disciplines.

• Reflect a shared commitment to WashU’s financial health.
• Inform stakeholders about financial realities, budgetary limitations, and trade-offs as expenses continue to challenge revenue generation.
• Enhance transparency of decision-making and funding usage that builds trust and both institutional and unit-level financial accountability.
• Align decentralized decision-making with overall institutional goals.
• Emphasize administrative streamlining and evaluate shared services as appropriate to minimize duplicative administrative efforts while supporting nimble responsiveness

• Advance the university’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Balance incentives and rewards for innovation, revenue generation, and cost containment with central funding for campus-wide initiatives.
• Emphasize transparency & accountability in the budget process.
• Promote financial stewardship and sustainability by examining pathways to balance growing costs and revenue opportunities including revisiting the structures that ensure responsible management.
• Balancing complexity and equity, seek to simplify revenue and cost allocation methodologies.
• Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Support a continuous no-exclusion analysis of all mission and administrative functions to ensure the university optimize the nimble and efficient delivery of all core missions in teaching, research, clinical care and service and the supporting business and related essential administrative services through an institution-wide commitment to customer service, best practices, and organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Consider high-impact practices and student success factors beyond enrollment data to improve retention and graduation rates by the 2-3% needed to compete at the highest level of elite universities.
• Offer adequate communication intervals to stakeholders with information about proposed budget model revisions, with appropriate opportunities to provide feedback for consideration by decision-makers before changes are implemented.
• Provide understandable links between resource allocation and revenue generation with rules that are predictable, clear, and consistently applied.
• Produce a set of reliable, understandable data, planning forecasts, and performance reports.

• Minimum of 10 years experience in senior financial and operational roles; higher education, healthcare, financial services, and/or consulting experience in the corporate sector is desirable. Broad and deep knowledge of and experience with complex financial business models is required.
• Demonstrated success in strategic and operational leadership at senior levels in an organization of similar complexity
• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or related discipline preferred.
• A record of experience in executive-level financial management in a variety of operational areas; experience in developing operating budgets, financial planning and modeling, analysis and forecasting using current techniques; and demonstrated ability to develop budget policy and align programmatic priorities with current and future financial resources.
• Expertise in leading teams and collaborating with other key leaders to achieve organizational goals is required. A demonstrated track record of instilling a culture of accountability and collaboration is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience working at the Board level and interacting with extremely talented and accomplished Board members.
• Sensitivity for and understanding of academic disciplines and issues preferred.
• Experience with contract negotiation, municipal finance, and business plans is preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, presentation).
• Comfortability around change management and ability to build consensus.
• Systems implementation (specifically Workday) is preferred.
• Understanding multiple budget models and experience working in a mix of centralized, hybrid, or decentralized environments.

• Solid business acumen in financial principles and understanding of varied business operations and industries.
• Strong management skills and the ability and demonstrated commitment to recruit, lead and mentor a diverse and talented workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
• Ability to establish trust, credibility, and influence with the Board of Trustees, all levels of institutional leadership, and the local business community.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and individuals to accomplish goals and effectively maintain relationships. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to provide clear direction with a results-oriented style, both within and outside the organization.
• Commitment to WashU’s values and a demonstrated track record of personal and professional leadership in these values.
• Operates with the highest ethical standards and inspires the same in others.
• Personal accountability. Assumes ownership, control, and accountability for all areas of responsibility and commitments made to others.
• Strength of character to take and sustain difficult positions; the ability to say “no” without alienating others.
• Non-political, sincere, open, and direct communicator. Puts organizational interests above self- interests and is comfortable expressing candid opinions.

• The 169-acre Danforth Campus is at the heart of Washington University and is the academic home to the majority of the university’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Its academic buildings feature predominantly Collegiate Gothic architecture and are bordered by Forest Park and the cities of St. Louis, Clayton, and University City.
• The Washington University Medical Campus spreads over 17 city blocks and 164 acres. The campus is home to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and its affiliated hospitals, clinics, patient care centers and research facilities. The Medical Campus is located in St. Louis’ vibrant Central West End, home to some of the region’s best shopping and restaurants.

• to foster excellence and creativity in our teaching, research, scholarship, patient care and service
• to welcome students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds to create an inclusive, equitable community that is nurturing and intellectually rigorous
• to cultivate in students habits of lifelong learning and critical and ethical thinking, thereby enabling them to be productive members and leaders of a global society
• to contribute positively to our home community of St. Louis, and to effect meaningful, constructive change in our world

• to hold ourselves to the highest standards of excellence
• to educate aspiring leaders of great ability from diverse backgrounds
• to encourage faculty and students to be innovative, bold, independent, critical thinkers
• to build an inclusive, equitable, respectful, ethically-principled environment for living, teaching, learning and working for the present and future generations
• to focus on meaningful and measurable outcomes for all of our endeavors

• Arts & Sciences is the heart of Washington University and comprises the core disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
• The Brown School is a leader among schools of social work and programs of public health because of its dedication to equity and impact.
• The School of Continuing & Professional Studies (“CAPS”) offers a variety of degree and certificate programs tailored to meet the demands of the regional job market.
• The McKelvey School of Engineering is a leader in providing scientific insights and enabling technologies critical to solving fundamental research challenges of the world today and in preparing students for the rapidly changing world of tomorrow.
• Olin Business School is known for its strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, finance, and leadership. The school offers a range of programs, including undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and specialized master's programs, along with doctoral programs in business disciplines. Olin is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States and is recognized for its rigorous curriculum, faculty expertise, and close-knit community.
• Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts is advancing our fields through innovative research and creative practice, excellence in teaching, a world-class university art museum, and a deep commitment to addressing the social and environmental challenges of our time.
• The School of Law’s mission is to equip students with knowledge and skills to ethically and effectively practice law and pursue justice in a dynamic and globally interconnected legal environment.
• School of Medicine students learn from master clinicians and researchers while pursuing their studies in a wide array of academic departments and programs. Students select the program for the culture of camaraderie and support, a flexible curriculum, and outstanding opportunities after graduation.