Chief Financial Officer

Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute•Albuquerque, NM

About The Position

Under limited direction the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, scientific leadership and board of Directors leadership and is responsible to develop and execute strategic plans that ensure fiscal health including all audits, compliance with sponsor rules and federal regulations, and the financial infrastructure to scale scientific impact. The CFO will be responsible for all leadership of all financial operations, technology implementation and fiscal strategy. Experience with fundraising, investor relations, grant proposals, effort reporting systems and /or federal award closeouts a plus. Familiarity with intellectual property commercialization, tech transfer finance, industry partnerships, multi-entry and/or multi-site research organizations. The role balances operational excellence with strategic planning; especially around grant funding, facilities and capital projects, commercialization and partnerships, and risk management.

Requirements

Requires Bachelors in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field
Minimum 10-15 years of progressive senior financial leadership experience; at least 5 years in a CFO or equivalent role preferred, with at least 5 years of personnel management and CPA highly recommended; or an equivalent combination of education and training from which comparable knowledge skills and abilities have been attained.
Experience in research institutions, academic medical centers, biotech, clinical trials, or nonprofit science organizations with a deep understanding of sponsored research accounting.
Strong knowledge of federal grant regulations, Uniform Guidance (2CFR Part 200), NIH grand mechanisms, industry contract structures and indirect cost recovery.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Masters with CPA is preferred.
ERP platforms common to research institutions (e.g., Deltek, CostPoint, Oracle/PeopleSoft, Workday, NetSuite, Banner, SAP) preferred.
Experience with fundraising, investor relations, grant proposals, effort reporting systems and /or federal award closeouts a plus.
Familiarity with intellectual property commercialization, tech transfer finance, industry partnerships, multi-entry and/or multi-site research organizations.

Responsibilities

Safeguard financial stability, optimize resources and provide analytics and insight to support scientific priorities, strategic growth and sustainability.
Implementing sound financial planning and cashflow management that aligns resource allocation with research priorities, commercialization strategies & facility needs while maintaining strong internal controls and audit readiness.
Ensuring compliant financial stewardship of sponsored research funds and federal regulations through rigorous grant and contract accounting.
Financial systems implementation and process automation.
Envisioning and managing various departmental transformation initiatives including selection and implementation of financial systems that optimize operational efficiencies, processes and workflow, while providing data integrity, visibility and reliable reporting.
Managing financial relationships with bankers, auditors, insurers, etc. and developing strategies that enable capital fundraising/financing for research, major facilities or equipment.
Evaluating and advising on new program financing, partnerships, IP licensing, and potential M&A or joint ventures.
Assure spending within budget or for approval for significant changes to budget; Including ownership of enterprise budgeting, multi-year forecasting and scenario planning for funding volatility.
Assessing and organizing the existing team (25 people) into a unit that leverages individual strengths and optimizes productivity.
Financial oversight and risk assessment of all contracts and business relationships, in coordination with legal, research administration, and operational leadership.
Responsible for all audits the institute is required to respond to.
Develop good working relationships with management, scientific and support staff at all levels within the institute.
Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board Finance and Audit Committees, including preparation of financial reporting, dashboards, and risk assessments.
Performs other related duties as assigned by CEO