Vice Chancellor for Finance and Chief Financial Officer

CSCU System Office • Hartford, CT

4d • $238,502 - $298,128 • Onsite

About The Position

Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) invites applications for the position of Vice Chancellor for Finance & Chief Financial Officer (VC/CFO). The VC/CFO is CSCU’s senior financial executive and serves as the principal financial advisor to the Chancellor and Board of Regents for Higher Education. The position provides strategic leadership and oversight of the System’s financial operations and risk management and leads systemwide financial planning, budgeting, accounting, treasury, procurement, facilities, capital financing and financial information systems. The role works in close coordination with institutional presidents, chief financial officers and finance leaders across CSCU. CSCU is seeking an accomplished, strategic and collaborative financial leader who can navigate a complex public higher education environment while balancing long-term financial sustainability, student affordability, institutional needs and responsible stewardship of public resources. This is a highly visible role with an unusually broad portfolio and a meaningful opportunity to help shape the financial future of public higher education in Connecticut.

About Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) is a multi-institution public higher education system comprising four regional state universities: Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University; Connecticut State Community College, a singly accredited institution with twelve main campus locations; and Charter Oak State College, a fully online institution.

CSCU provides affordable, accessible and high-quality educational opportunities that help students achieve their personal and professional goals while supporting Connecticut’s workforce and economic needs. Across its institutions, CSCU is focused on expanding access, increasing student success and completion, and strengthening pathways to rewarding careers and continued education.

The VC/CFO plays a critical role in advancing this mission. Strong financial leadership is essential to ensuring that CSCU can invest strategically in its students and institutions, maintain affordability, steward public resources responsibly, and build a sustainable financial foundation for the future. The next VC/CFO will have the opportunity to help shape that future by strengthening financial planning, improving transparency and coordination, and aligning resources with the System’s highest priorities.

The Opportunity
The next VC/CFO will help establish and execute CSCU’s long-term financial strategy while strengthening financial governance, planning, transparency and operational effectiveness across the System. The role provides leadership across areas including:
Systemwide financial strategy, long-range planning and financial sustainability
Annual and biennial operating budgets and capital financial planning
Accounting, financial reporting, audit coordination and fiscal controls
Treasury, cash management and enterprise financial information systems
Procurement, contract management and strategic sourcing
Facilities construction and maintenance, capital planning and bond financing
Insurance, enterprise risk management and fiscal protection
Budget allocation methodologies, revenue distribution and System Office cost allocation
State operating and capital funding strategy and advocacy
Systemwide financial governance and coordination with institutional finance leadership
Scope of the Role
As a System Office executive, the VC/CFO leads systemwide financial strategy and governance while working closely with institutional presidents, chief financial officers and finance leaders to coordinate priorities, establish common standards and practices, and support informed financial decision-making across CSCU. The VC/CFO serves as the management liaison to the Board of Regents Finance and Infrastructure Committee and provides executive support to the Audit Committee, as required.

Areas reporting directly to the VC/CFO include the Deputy CFO, Controller/Accounting, Purchasing (Procurement and Accounts Payable), Facilities, and Budget and Planning.

Requirements

• Proven ability to effectively work with a culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse faculty, staff and students.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills along with strong information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).
• Demonstrated leadership and strategic planning experience necessary to manage the financial and facilities programs of a large, complex organization with sound fiscal controls.
• Experience directing professional financial staff, developing and managing long-range budgets, and providing effective guidance to policy-making boards or governing bodies.
• Experience working within a collaborative team environment and operating successfully in a complex union environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, sound judgment, and the ability to make accurate and timely decisions.
• A high level of integrity, dependability and a results-oriented approach.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems is required.
• MBA or other advanced degree from an accredited institution required.
• CPA or comparable work experience required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant executive-level work experience is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in public sector financial management and/or public higher education finance is preferred.
• Banner experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal financial advisor to the Chancellor and Board of Regents, providing strategic counsel on fiscal policy, enterprise risk, financial sustainability and long-term resource stewardship.
• Lead the development and execution of annual and biennial operating budgets and capital financial plans that advance Board of Regents priorities, support long-term financial viability and provide prudent oversight of state appropriations, tuition, revenues and other funding sources.
• Present budget recommendations to the Chancellor and Board of Regents, represent CSCU in budget submissions to the Office of Policy and Management, and evaluate organizational performance against approved budgets and long-range strategic objectives.
• Provide executive leadership and governance of enterprise financial information systems, ensuring accurate, timely and actionable data to support strategic decision-making across the System.
• Direct systemwide treasury and cash management functions to ensure liquidity, optimize financial resources and safeguard CSCU’s ability to meet operational and financial obligations.
• Establish and implement a comprehensive financial strategy for CSCU, driving operational excellence, process modernization, shared services initiatives and continuous improvement, and advise institutional presidents, finance executives and System leadership on the financial implications of strategic, operational and policy decisions.
• Provide executive oversight and support to the Board of Regents Finance and Infrastructure Committee, ensuring comprehensive financial reporting, effective governance practices and informed decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles; oversee preparation of annual financial statements; coordinate audits conducted by independent auditors and the State Auditors of Public Accounts; ensure timely reporting to the Office of the State Comptroller; and work in coordination with the Director of Internal Audit and Chief Compliance Officer to support audit and Audit Committee responsibilities.
• Partner with the Chancellor, institutional presidents and finance leaders to develop and recommend tuition and fee strategies that balance student affordability, institutional needs and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead the development, administration and periodic evaluation of enterprise budget allocation methodologies, revenue distribution models, System Office cost-allocation frameworks and budget development processes to promote transparency, equity, accountability and alignment with Board policies and System priorities.
• Partner with the Chancellor and senior leadership to develop, advocate for and secure state operating and capital funding, and represent CSCU before the Governor’s Office, Office of Policy and Management, Connecticut General Assembly and other governmental entities on matters related to system financing, capital investment and fiscal policy.
• Provide executive leadership for systemwide financial governance by convening institutional finance leaders, establishing common standards and practices, and promoting alignment, accountability and coordination across CSCU institutions.
• Oversee the management of construction and maintenance of systemwide facilities and the securing and servicing of bond funds.
• Provide executive oversight of contract management and negotiations and coordinate, as appropriate, with CSCU legal counsel and the Office of the State Attorney General.
• Direct the negotiation, procurement and administration of systemwide insurance and risk management programs, including student accident insurance and other institutional coverage.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with federal and state agencies, bond issuers, rating agencies, financial institutions, auditors and other external stakeholders critical to CSCU’s financial operations and long-term success.
• Represent the Chancellor and CSCU on boards, commissions, committees and external organizations as appropriate, advancing the System’s financial interests and strengthening strategic partnerships.
• Maintain subject matter expertise in public sector and higher education finance, monitoring emerging trends, regulatory developments and industry best practices to inform strategic decision-making and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Benefits

• Generous paid leave
• A choice of retirement plans
• Comprehensive health insurance options
• Access to a range of supplemental benefits that provide additional opportunities for financial protection and retirement planning.
• Eligible employees may also have access to course privileges for themselves and eligible family members, subject to applicable policies and requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive