Human Resources

Chief Financial Officer

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan – Main Campus

About the University 

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan. With more than $300 million in total revenues, $100 million in total research expenditures, and 18 research centers and institutes, Michigan Tech (MTU) fosters a world-class and diverse faculty, staff, and student population and is home to more than 7,200 students from 69 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, MTU offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. Our rural campus is situated on the Keweenaw peninsula just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. We are Michigan’s flagship technological university, grounded in and fueled by our shared vision: to prepare students to create the future.

About the Position

Michigan Tech is seeking a highly experienced executive financial and administrative officer who will help fiscally lead the university as we achieve our Portrait of Michigan Tech 2035 vision.  Qualified professionals with significant experience in finance, healthcare, banking, non-profit, or higher education industries will be considered. 

Reporting to the President, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) leads a large portion of the non-academic administration of the university. The CFO holds primary responsibility for the accounting and investing of the University and the Michigan Tech Fund, serves as the Treasurer of University Board of Trustees, and serves as a Director of the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors. The CFO serves as the executive officer directly responsible for providing leadership and general management of the following financial service units: Auxiliary Services, A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Facilities Planning and Administration, Finance, Information Technology, Institutional Research.

Responsibilities

• Promote the financial well-being of the University by providing budget management, monitoring appropriate investments of temporary cash balances, exercising executive control over university budgets, and safeguarding all financial assets of the University.

• Advise the President, senior University administration officers, and members of the Board of Trustees on issues relating to the financial status of the University by serving as a member of the President’s Council and reporting financial information as Treasurer at Board of Trustees meetings, including budget updates, cash flow analysis, debt capacity analysis, and long-range forecasts, and by preparing additional reports, recommendations, findings, and other communications, and presentations as required.

• Help ensure achievement of the goals and objectives of the University by overseeing the preparation of an annual appropriations request to the State of Michigan and overseeing the preparation of an internal budget using budget models to project future revenue and following established policies for expenditures.

• Ensure compliance with professional accounting standards, rules, regulations, and laws by directing, supervising, and facilitating the preparation and maintenance of required and appropriate financial records, monthly and annual financial reports, and all other financial reporting as may be required by federal, state, local agencies, or established accounting standards.

• Facilitate the governance of the University by providing financial information to the President and Board of Trustees and implementing the Board’s decisions through the establishment of policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Prevent institutional liability in financial operations by facilitating the access of the independent auditors to requested records during the conduct of the University's annual audit.

• Ensure compliance with the institutional mission of the University by working with unit managers to develop and review unit plans, goals, and objectives, assuring development of effective business processes incorporating automation with appropriate technologies, designing systems of effective controls to guide work toward expected outcomes, and evaluating progress towards their accomplishment.

• Ensure academic programs are provided with the financial information necessary to support innovation and growth, such as preparation of financial reports and the development of incentive funding and cost recovery models.

• Ensure efficient and effective operation of the procurement function by overseeing procurement services, property and receiving as well as all University real estate transactions and risk management/insurance analysis and transactions.

• Enable employees to perform their assigned tasks by overseeing the preparation and implementation of the annual budget for Financial Services.

• Explore innovative and forward-thinking models of higher education funding to ensure financial viability and success of the institution.

• Facilitate a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.

• Provide leadership to foster a culture of safety; promote safety through actions, communication, and training.

• Ensure that miscellaneous assignments are completed in the best interests of the University by accepting and accomplishing all other tasks assigned by the President.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated successful experience establishing and executing a vision for strategic growth in an organization. 

• Capital planning and financing experience.

• Broad leadership experience, including leading managers and teams of people using a collaborative style.

• Experience driving and managing organizational change.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing financial activities.

• Experience in compliance with professional financial reporting as may be required by federal, state, local agencies, or established accounting standards.

• Excellent written and verbal skills.

• Understanding of and respect for shared governance and an ability to communicate and collaborate with students, faculty and staff, as needed and appropriate.

• The ability to project a strong positive image of MTU through interaction with all constituencies and stakeholders conducting business with the University, including the media.

• Demonstrated executive problem-solving skills and the ability to organize and manage complex functions.

• 10+ years of relevant organization financial and management experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in contract review and contract management.

• Positive track record of innovation. 

• Relevant finance experience in the Higher Education industry.

• Experience in overseeing and preparing State appropriation requests. 

• Experience in an R1 or R2 level research university.

• Experience with real estate transactions and risk management/insurance analysis and transactions.

• Demonstrated success in working with people from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for people with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

• Commitment to applying continuous improvement strategies to strategic goals and leadership skills.

Application Procedure

The Search Committee invites nominations and applications to be submitted directly to Michigan Technological University through the online application portal. Confidential review of application materials will begin 7 days after posting and continue until the position is filled. For additional information, please contact: MTU Human Resources at acollias@mtu.edu or 906.487.1976.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906.487.2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.