The EVPO/CFO oversees Finance & Budget (including Financial Operations and Controller, Budget and Planning, Procurement and Business Services, Accounting, Accounts Payable, Bursar, Financial Systems, Payroll, and Treasury); Facilities Operations and University Planning (including Logistics, Trade Services, Custodial Services, Space planning and Campus Building Operations, Sustainability and Energy Management); Public Safety (including police, fire, emergency management, and environmental health and safety); Information Technology Services; Branding and Trademarking; and University Events and Conference Services. The goal of the Office of the EVPO/CFO is to create and maintain essential University services, infrastructure, and a physical environment that robustly supports the academic and research missions of the University of Connecticut. This is accomplished through quality customer service, effective collaboration with faculty and staff, and strong stewardship of the University’s financial, capital, and human resources.

The EVPO/CFO is responsible for overseeing long-range financial planning and management of the operating and capital budgets for all units of the University. Working closely with the President, Provost, and the other Vice Presidents, this individual oversees capital and operating budget development, monitoring, reporting, and revenue generating initiatives; coordinates operating and capital budgets in conformity with policies set forth by the Board of Trustees; develops financial policy and plans; serves as the point of contact for external agencies and partners on financial matters; acts as the President’s representative on financial matters to University units and constituencies; and generally promotes the financial health and stability of the University in support of its academic mission and strategic priorities.

The ideal EVPO/CFO will be a strategic decision-maker with a significant level of business acumen and judgment. They must be able to make practical, realistic and data-driven decisions and know how to establish strategic administrative priorities and align the organization with them. They will also be a collaborative leader who is able to work effectively with a range of constituencies, both internal and external to an organization. This person will recognize the role of the EVPO/CFO as supporting and enabling the success of the University’s academic goals and its educational and research missions and will understands how to engage staff and hold them accountable for excellence.

The successful candidate will be a skilled communicator who understands how to communicate effectively in a very large and diverse organization. This will include exceptional oral and written communication skills, including expertise presenting and negotiating. The next EVPO/CFO must also be results-oriented, understanding and interpreting complex problems, finding solutions, and effectively implementing them. This will require a sophisticated understanding of how to employ metrics to inform decisions, improve business processes, and drive performance and quality.

The EVPO/CFO oversees Finance & Budget (including Financial Operations and Controller, Budget and Planning, Procurement and Business Services, Accounting, Accounts Payable, Bursar, Financial Systems, Payroll, and Treasury); Facilities Operations and University Planning (including Logistics, Trade Services, Custodial Services, Space planning and Campus Building Operations, Sustainability and Energy Management); Public Safety (including police, fire, emergency management, and environmental health and safety); Information Technology Services; Branding and Trademarking; and University Events and Conference Services. The goal of the Office of the EVPO/CFO is to create and maintain essential University services, infrastructure, and a physical environment that robustly supports the academic and research missions of the University of Connecticut. This is accomplished through quality customer service, effective collaboration with faculty and staff, and strong stewardship of the University’s
financial, capital, and human resources.

• He/she is responsible for overseeing long-range financial planning and management of the operating and capital budgets for all units of the University. Working closely with the President, Provost, and the other Vice Presidents, he/she oversees capital and operating budget development, monitoring, reporting, and revenue generating initiatives; coordinates operating and capital budgets in conformity with policies set forth by the Board of Trustees; and develops financial policy and plans.
• He/she is responsible for the formulation of strategy and policies to ensure effective administration, institutional operations, sound business practices, and safety in conformity with policies established by the Board of Trustees. In collaboration with the Provost, he/she prepares strategic and tactical operations, plans, and initiatives for the non-academic functions of the University. He/she provides support to the President, the Provost, EVP/CEO of UConn Health, and Vice Presidents in development of operational and fiscal strategy, planning, coordination, and analysis.
• He/she is responsible for the development, renovation, maintenance, and safekeeping of the physical assets of the University. He/she oversees, manages, and coordinates the University’s responsibilities pertaining to planning, construction, renovation, operation, logistics, and security of the University’s grounds, buildings, facilities, utilities, and infrastructure.
• He/she serves as the University’s point of contact for external agencies and partners on business and operational matters; acts as the President’s representative on business and operational matters to University units and constituencies; and generally promotes the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the University. He/she interacts closely with the Office of the Governor, state government offices and agencies, and the state legislature.
• He/she interacts closely with the Board of Trustees, particularly its committees related to financial affairs and capital assets and management, and attends all Board of Trustees meetings.
• He/she ensures the timely completion of University of Connecticut financial statements. He/she makes reports to the State Comptroller or to other state or federal officials as may be required on the inventories, property, and financial operations of the University. He/ she submits regular reports to the President and, through the President, to the Board of Trustees showing the financial condition of the University and all of its constituent parts and submits an annual statement showing the assets and liabilities of the various funds of the University.
• He/she oversees and monitors the execution of major financing agreements and manages and coordinates the University’s responsibilities pertaining to bond financing of capital projects. He/she directs the University’s purchasing and contracting programs.
• He/she works closely with the CFO of UConn Health (UCH), including synchronizing the budgets and priorities of the University overall.
• He/she ensures a robust public safety and emergency response capability for the University. He/she oversees the department of public safety, including police, fire, emergency medical services, emergency management, and building inspector functions. He/she serves on the Executive Policy Group that ensures continuity of operations and makes strategic decisions during major storms and other emergencies.
• He/she oversees and monitors the University's Information Technology Services including infrastructure, technology expertise, security, and software and enterprise systems to ensure the University's information technology systems are able to support current and future academic, operation, and research needs.
• He/she oversees University Events and Conferences, Brand Partnerships and Trademark Management, as well as other revenue generating initiatives and programs.
• He/she serves ex-officio on the Board of Directors of the UConn Foundation, which solicits, receives, invests, and administers gifts and financial resources from private sources for the benefit of all campuses and programs of the University of Connecticut.
• He/she administers such support to units of the University as the President may designate.

Strategic Decision-Maker: Has a significant level of business acumen and judgment. Is able to make practical, realistic and data-driven decisions. Knows how to establish strategic administrative priorities and align the organization with them.

Collaborative Leader: Able to work effectively with a range of constituencies, both internal and external to an organization. Recognizes the role of the EVPO/CFO as supporting and enabling the success of the University’s academic goals and its educational and research missions. Understands how to engage staff and hold them accountable for excellence.

Skilled Communicator: Understands how to communicate effectively in a very large and diverse organization. Has exceptional oral and written communication skills, including expertise presenting and negotiating.

Results-Oriented: Understands and interprets complex problems and is able to find solutions and effectively implement them. Has a sophisticated understanding of how to employ metrics to inform decisions, improve business processes, and drive performance and quality.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

• A Master’s degree in finance, management, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required.
• At least 15 years of experience in increasingly responsible positions within finance and administration is required. Experience at a major research university will be especially compelling.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of finance (including infrastructure finance, internal controls, cash management, and treasury services) and budgeting (capital and operational); overseeing construction, renovation, operation, logistics, and security of a physical plant; payroll; purchasing; business services; and financial processes is required.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and lead an organization-wide, service-driven administrative and finance function that is proactive, progressive, and collaboratively aligned with the many disparate organizational entities that compose a university is required. This includes the ability to integrate effective business models with institutional processes and challenges and clear competency in balancing competing considerations when mitigating financial and operational risks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a senior team of managers and experts is required.
• Demonstrated success leading institutions strategically through both fiscal expansion and contraction is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience helping complex organizations develop and utilize measures of performance is required.
• Extensive experience with collective bargaining and experience in a complex unionized environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of the finances of an Academic Medical Center and the health care, research, and academic divisions therein is preferred.
• Extensive and comprehensive knowledge of complex university policies and procedures, accounting and auditing principles and standards, and federal and state regulatory requirements is preferred.
• Familiarity with public higher education administrative and finance requirements is preferred.
• Familiarity with information technology applications and controls is preferred.