Chief Financial Officer
Job Description
W&M, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1693. Renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and public service, W&M offers a dynamic and intellectually rigorous environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and global engagement. As a Public Ivy, the university combines the resources and opportunities of a major research university with the close-knit, personalized experience of a smaller liberal arts institution. William & Mary enrolls more than 9,700 students, and the university is home to 680 full-time instructional faculty members. W&M also sponsors 23 varsity sports that compete at the Division I level in the Coastal Athletic Association. For fiscal year 2023, William & Mary had an operating budget of $587.3 million and an endowment in excess of $1.36 billion. The university offers its employees a competitive benefits program, resulting in Forbes recognizing the university as the #1 best place to work among all universities in Virginia.
Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration, the CFO will be responsible for leading the institution’s financial operations and strategic vision. In addition to direct supervision of the AVP for Budget & Financial Planning, AVP for Financial Analytics, and University Controller, the CFO will convene regular meetings of business leaders from W&M’s academic and administrative units, liaise with financial leadership from its affiliated foundations, and lead development of institutional responses to the Commonwealth of Virginia for major financial processes. The CFO will be the primary voice communicating key information on W&M’s major financial policies and processes to the campus community and beyond. This unique position offers exciting opportunities for significant and lasting impact, and the successful candidate will adeptly balance William & Mary’s rich traditions with its ambitions for innovation and advancement.
The ideal candidate for this role will bring a collegial and solutions-oriented mindset in addressing the challenges and opportunities outlined below. They will lead with a collaborative approach that prioritizes creativity, innovation, transparent communication, and dedication to the values of the university. This individual will have a demonstrated track record of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, with a passion for contributing to initiatives that foster an inclusive and equitable campus culture. The CFO will bring forward-thinking and strategic leadership, ensuring readiness to capitalize on emerging opportunities and effectively utilizing resources to promote the growth and long-term sustainability of William & Mary.
William & Mary is a community that shares values of belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect, and service. The university supports the right to free expression of a range of ideas and works to create an educational environment that draws on diverse backgrounds and perspectives to foster mutual respect, collaboration, critical thinking, and meaningful relationships. The institution affirms the vital role of the university in recognizing and fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging related to social identities and positions that have been excluded or marginalized in our community, including differences such as ability, class, country of origin, gender identity and expression, language, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and other cultural or political affiliations.
A bachelor’s degree is required, with a master’s degree in finance, business administration, accounting, or a related field strongly preferred. At least 15 years of experience in financial management, with substantial experience in senior leadership roles in higher education or large, complex organizations is required.
Nominations and applications are now being accepted. Requested application materials include a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae or resume. Although applications will be welcomed until a new CFO is selected, for best consideration, all candidates should submit materials as soon as possible by filling out our Talent Profile.
This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Virginia. The starting salary for this position is anticipated to range from $290,000-325,000, commensurate with experience.
Carly Rose DiGiovanni, Managing Associate
Christine Falcone, Senior Search Associate
Storbeck Search
William & Mary (W&M), including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (the university), is committed to compliance with all laws, federal, state or local, that require equal opportunity or affirmative action and that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, sex/gender, race, color, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status and other protected classifications (Equal Opportunity Laws).