Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Location: Houston, TX, United States · Reference: 6176
Special Instructions to Candidates
Rice University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search
firm, to assist with this important search. Confidential applications,
inquiries, and nominations should be directed to:
https: // www. imsearch.com/open-searches/rice-university/vice-president-chief-
financial-officer-and-treasurer
This posting is NOT accepting applications. All confidential
applications, inquires, and nominations should be directed to Isaccson,
Miller.
Position Summary
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%
Provides direct leadership over the Controller's Office (including Research
Administration Post-Award Accounting), Treasurer's Office, Risk Management,
Budget Office, Capital Planning and Space Management, and Procurement.
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 appropriate governance over all the University's financial data,
and develops training and resources that promote transparency for units
across campus
Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance - 10%
Leads Rice's enterprise risk management function, maintaining a
comprehensive framework that identifies, assesses, and monitors
institutional risks across operational, financial, regulatory,
reputational, and strategic dimensions
Oversees the negotiation, procurement, and management of the University's
institutional insurance portfolio, including property, liability,
professional liability, workers' compensation, directors and officers, and
specialized research and cyber coverage
Leverages emerging risk analytics and Al-enabled monitoring to move Rice's
risk posture from reactive to proactive and predictive
Organizational Leadership & Talent Development - 10%
Leads, inspires, and develops a diverse, high-performing organization
spanning multiple functional units, with supervision and mentorship that
builds the team to the highest levels of performance and integrity
Establishes culture of excellence, accountability, psychological safety,
and genuine customer service
Builds leadership capacity through structured development, coaching,
mentorship, and succession planning
Refines roles, procedures, and organizational structure so that policies,
systems, and internal controls reflect industry best practices and support
the University's strategic goals
Sets clear performance expectations and holds staff accountable with
compassion and consistency
Institutional Partnership & Communication - 10%
Serves as a trusted advisor and resource to leaders throughout the
University, and as a partner to cross-functional project and coordinating
teams
Designs and delivers financial education and literacy programs that equip
non-financial leaders to make better decisions
Communicates financial strategy and results clearly to diverse audiences -
from Board presentations to faculty forums to staff town halls
Leads or participates in University-wide task forces, working groups, and
governance bodies
Qualifications and Characteristics
Leadership competencies
Strategic agility: anticipates future trends and consequences
accurately, creating competitive and breakthrough strategies.
Change leader: ensures business changes are implemented and realized
to their full potential through effective leadership and sponsorship.
Collaborator: builds strong partnerships across the University,
working with academic and administrative leaders to align financial
strategy with institutional priorities and achieve shared goals.
Strong manager: recruits, develops, and motivates a diverse
professional staff, holding them accountable for accurate, timely results
and excellent service.
Effective communicator: communicates effectively at all levels,
including the Board, and presents complex concepts and financial models to
a broad range of audiences.
Customer focus: dedicated to meeting the expectations of internal and
external constituents; builds trust and lasting relationships.
Intellectually inquisitive: knowledgeable about and open to leading-
edge business practices that support the University more effectively and
efficiently.
Exceptional personal qualities: a reputation for integrity and the
highest ethical standards; sound judgment; creativity in problem-solving;
and a collegial style with a keen desire to be part of the community.
Minimum requirements
Master's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a
related discipline from an accredited college or University
Ten (10) or more years of progressive management experience in
accounting, financial planning and analysis or budget management, and
business operations
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-function financial
organizations
Proven track record of strategic financial planning, budget management,
and financial reporting at an institutional scale
Working knowledge of Al applications in financial operations, including
automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent reporting
Experience leading or contributing to major financial technology
implementations (ERP, planning tools, procurement platforms, etc.)
Experience presenting to and advising senior leadership, boards, or
trustees
Preferred qualifications
Financial leadership experience in higher education, academic medicine, or
a complex research environment
Experience with sponsored research financial management, including F&A
rate negotiations and federal compliance
Demonstrated success integrating auxiliary or revenue-generating
operations into a financial management structure
Experience in enterprise risk management, including institutional
insurance negotiation and portfolio oversight
Rice University HR Benefits: https: // knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and
welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers
qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion,
age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin,
genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also
provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If
an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the
application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University's
Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank
you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
