Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

The Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer leads the Office of Budget and Finance. Guided by the University's vision for the future, the office upholds the financial integrity, transparency, and strategic allocation of resources. Through responsible stewardship of funds, the office supports academic excellence, drives research innovation, and fosters institutional growth, ensuring Rice's continued impact and leadership in higher education.

The portfolio includes budget and fiscal analysis, capital planning and space management, the controller's office, the office of risk management, and the office of treasury.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, and Support (EVP-OF&S) and sitting on the President's Cabinet, the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (CFO) leads a broad portfolio spanning Capital Planning and Space Management, the Controller's Office, Budget Office, Office of Research Administration, Procurement, and Risk Management.

As CFO and Treasurer, this leader holds fiduciary responsibility for an approximately $1.2 billion budget and serves as a strategic partner to the President, Provost, and Board of Trustees. The role requires the ability to translate complex financial realities into clear strategic choices, to steward responsible resource allocation in service of the University's strategic plan, and to champion an organizational culture defined by transparency, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Job Duties

Strategic Financial Leadership - 30%

• 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 ensure seamless execution of shared goals
• Partners with the Provost and the 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 Al, 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 Al governance structure to identify, pilot, and scale financial technology solutions
• Partners 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 across campus
• Drives continuous process improvement, applying lean principles and technology to reduce manual effort, increase accuracy, and free staff capacity for higher-value work
• Ensures the organization leads the industry 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…