Strategic Finance Leader for a Global University

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 376,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead the institution's financial strategy and stewardship. The role reports to senior administration and partners with the Board to translate priorities into sustainable, compliant financial decisions across campuses and units.

The CFO will guide budgeting, accounting, treasury, endowment, debt, and risk management, ensuring integrity and strategic clarity for academic, research, and community missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible financial management experience, including at least five (5) years leading a complex finance organization at a senior executive level.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial planning and analysis, accounting, financial reporting, treasury and debt management, capital planning, endowment management, and financial risk management.
• Experience advising senior executives and governing boards on complex financial matters, with the ability to translate technical financial information into clear, actionable guidance for non-financial audiences.
• Experience managing significant budgets, financial resources, and organizational complexity within a decentralized, multi-unit enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term financial strategies, including multi-year financial modeling, scenario planning, and sensitivity analysis.
• Experience with higher education financial models, including tuition revenue, enrollment forecasting, restricted funds, endowment resources and spending policy, sponsored research and facilities and administrative (F&A) cost recovery, financial aid discounting, auxiliaries, and capital financing.
• Experience with institutional transformation, financial restructuring, or significant organizational change.
• Senior financial leadership experience in higher education or another complex, mission-driven organization.

Responsibilities

• Budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning and analysis
• Accounting and financial reporting
• Treasury and cash management
• Debt and capital planning
• Endowment leadership
• Tax compliance and reporting
• Procurement and payroll
• Internal controls and financial risk management

Skills

Strategic financial leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial reporting

Treasury & cash management

Endowment management

Debt & capital planning

Regulatory compliance

Communication to leadership

Change management

Higher education finance

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, or a related field

Job description

Northeastern University seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead the institution's financial strategy and stewardship. The role reports to senior administration and partners with the Board to translate priorities into sustainable, compliant financial decisions across campuses and units.

The CFO will guide budgeting, accounting, treasury, endowment, debt, and risk management, ensuring integrity and strategic clarity for academic, research, and community missions.