Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Colorado School of Mines; Evergreen (CO); On-site; USD 240,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Sick/vacation time

Retirement plan

Tuition benefits

RTD Ecopass

Campus amenities

Job summary

Colorado School of Mines is seeking a Deputy Chief Financial Officer to lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial management. The role oversees accounting, research administration, procure-to-pay, treasury, and related financial systems, ensuring alignment with the university's mission and growth plans.

The Deputy CFO partners with the CFO and executive leadership to drive financial strategy, risk management, and administrative excellence, while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business required.
• CPA license or MBA preferred.
• 15+ years in financial operations with leadership across a complex portfolio.
• Experience leading multi-portfolio teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting.
• Oversee accounting, research administration, procure-to-pay, treasury.
• Ensure compliance and strong internal controls across the function.
• Partner with executive leadership to align financial strategy with institutional priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning

Treasury management

Risk management

Stakeholder relations

People leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business

CPA license or MBA

Tools

Workday

Job description

Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Posting Number: JR109887

Location: Colorado

Engineering a world of possibilities

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief FinancialOfficer, and Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy Chief FinancialOfficer (Deputy CFO) is a strategic leader responsible foradvancing the University's financial sustainability, operationaleffectiveness, and administration capabilities. The role providesleadership for financial planning, resource stewardship, businessprocess improvement, risk management, and organizationalperformance, ensuring financial and administrative operations alignwith institutional priorities and support the University'sacademic, research, and growth objectives.

The areas of oversight for the Deputy CFO are Accounting, ResearchAdministration, Procure to Pay, Financial Planning and Analysis,Treasury, and the Business Systems Functional Team. Specific tothose areas, the functions are financial planning, budgeting,forecasting, cash flow management and reserve levels, debtcapacity, student accounts, purchasing and payments, andadministrative systems.

Strategic Financial Leadership

The Deputy CFO serves as a strategic partner to the CFO andexecutive leadership team, providing leadership and guidance onmatters affecting the University's financial health,sustainability, and growth. The Deputy CFO helps develop andimplement financial strategies that align resources withinstitutional priorities, support academic and research excellence,and ensure the University's continued ability to achieve itsmission. The position also evaluates the financial impact of newinitiatives, enrollment trends, legislative changes, and economicconditions, while ensuring compliance with applicable policies andregulations.

The Deputy CFO is responsible for monitoring and assessing theUniversity's overall financial condition, including operatingperformance, liquidity, reserves, debt capacity, and long-termfinancial forecasts. The position develops recommendations andstrategies to maintain fiscal strength, financial resilience, andan appropriate balance between current operational needs and futureinvestment opportunities.

The Deputy CFO will also represent the institution externally,partnering closely with business and financial leaders toincorporate best practices in all areas reporting to the DeputyCFO, working with outside higher education research companies,relevant trade organizations, the State of Colorado on funding andcompliance, and interfacing with other university or industrypartners.

Operational Excellence

The Deputy CFO will lead financial, administrative, and researchoperations, ensuring that key University business processes arestreamlined, effective, efficient, stable, and mature. The positionis responsible for advancing a culture of continuous improvementthrough business process re-engineering initiatives that simplifyworkflows, eliminate redundancies, strengthen internal controls,improve service delivery, and optimize the use of technology. TheDeputy CFO will ensure that operational processes are scalable,sustainable, and aligned with institutional goals while providingthe leadership and resources necessary to support organizationalsuccess.

Data Analytics, Financial Modeling, and DecisionSupport

The Deputy CFO will establish and advance financial analytics,forecasting, and modeling capabilities that support strategic andoperational decision-making across the University. The positionensures leaders have access to timely, accurate, and actionableinformation to evaluate opportunities, assess risks, allocateresources, and measure performance against institutionalobjectives.

Risk Management and Compliance

The Deputy CFO partners with university leadership to identify,assess, and mitigate financial and operational risks that mayimpact the institution's ability to achieve its strategicobjectives. The position ensures compliance with applicable laws,regulations, policies, and sponsor requirements while promoting astrong culture of accountability, transparency, andstewardship.

Service Excellence and Stakeholder Partnership

The Deputy CFO partners closely with academic and administrativedepartments to understand their needs and provide responsive,value-added financial, administrative, and research administrationservices. The position fosters a culture of customer serviceexcellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuousimprovement, ensuring that financial and operational processeseffectively support the University's teaching, research, and publicservice missions.

Minimum Qualifications

At least a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university inaccounting, finance, or business

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license OR a Master's Degree inAccounting, Master's Degree in Business Administration or relateddegree

At least 15 years experience in financial operations andprogressive leadership across a complex and broad portfolio thatmust have included at least:

• 12 years of experience leading multi-portfolio teams

• 10 years accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasurymanagement experience and financial systems

• Documented experience managing complex financial positions,$500 million or greater

Demonstrated track record of success building relationships andcollaborating broad range of stakeholders both internally andexternally

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience higher education

Experience in an R1 research setting is highly preferred

CPA license and Master's Degree in Accounting, or MBApreferred

Prior experience working in Workday, or similar complex enterpriselevel system

Previous experience collaborating with state, local and Federalpartners highly desired

Competencies

Visionary leadership with the ability to drive institutionalchange

Deep understanding of higher education operations andgovernance

Strong financial, analytical, decision-making, and problem-solvingskills

Ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operationaldemands

Demonstrated experience effectively communicating mission, visionand strategy at all organizational levels

Total Rewards

Salary: Rate of $240,000.00 - $280,000 annually

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate'seducation, training and experience as well as the position's scopeand complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role,work location, and external market and internal value whendetermining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits forall employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options

• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year -including a week-long winter break for the entire campus.

• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, withgenerous employer contribution

• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percentdiscount for dependents)

• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs throughthe State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics homegames, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center(fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) andequipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud tohave recently opened an on-campus daycare center. For more detailsabout benefits at Mines, visitmines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

Conditions of Employment

Successful completion of a background investigation, including a credit check is required for this position.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicablerequirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and theAmericans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and theirimplementation rules and regulations, in support of equalopportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meetthis goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during theemployment selection process and within our workingenvironment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabledveteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you areunable or limited in your ability to access job openings or applyfor a job on our site as a result of your disability. You canrequest a reasonable accommodation by contacting our HumanResources team at [e-mail] or 303.273.3250 forassistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required forthis position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for allpersons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex,gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry,creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin,disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran statusor current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliateagainst community members for filing complaints regarding orimplicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines' commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equalaccess is reflected in the administration of its policies,procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve atalented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies withfederal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations,executive orders and other legal requirements to preventdiscrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within theMines campus community and to address potential allegations ofinequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science universityfor 150 years and counting