Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and CFO

Overview

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) welcomes applications for the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer. UCR is a distinctive member of the UC system that delivers top‑tier research and academic excellence while remaining deeply committed to access, social mobility, and student success for one of the nation’s most diverse student populations.

The VC‑CFO will join UCR at a pivotal moment. The campus is financially disciplined, growing, and ambitious, yet operating in an increasingly constrained fiscal environment that demands clarity, agility, and thoughtful change. With a new chancellor, an evolving budget model, major capital and health initiatives underway, and enterprise systems still maturing, this is a rare opportunity for a strategic, action‑oriented CFO to serve as a key institutional leader and shape UCR’s resource allocation, strengthen organizational trust, and position the university for sustained success over the next decade.

Responsibilities

The VC‑CFO is responsible for providing leadership and direction for all aspects of UCR’s financial, capital planning, and administrative operations in support of the campus’s strategic goals and overarching mission of research, teaching, and service. The VC‑CFO will advise leadership on all financial and resource planning matters for the campus’s annual operating budget (approximately $1.7 billion) and complex capital planning budget.

The VC‑CFO partners with the leadership of UCR’s health enterprise to ensure the ongoing growth of medical education, patient care, and biomedical research. Over the next 5–10 years, UCR Health is on course to build a 175,000‑square‑foot ambulatory center and to build or acquire its own hospital to advance patient care in the Inland Empire and to accelerate physician education and training.

The VC‑CFO leads a diverse workforce of approximately 1,026 staff employees and a divisional operating budget of over $570 million. The major campus units included in the VC‑CFO portfolio are Administrative Services & Strategic Executive Team, Auxiliary Services, Business & Financial Services, Environmental Health & Risk Management, Facilities Services, Financial Planning & Analysis, Planning, Design & Construction, and Real Estate Services.

The VC‑CFO serves as a strategic financial partner to campus leadership, guiding UCR through fiscal constraints while maintaining its mission and advocating for the institution within the UC system. The position involves evolving budget models and financial tools, overseeing operational excellence, capital planning, and the growing UCR Health enterprise to ensure long‑term sustainability.

Qualifications

At least 10 years of senior‑level leadership experience with responsibility for finance, resource planning, and administrative operations in complex organizations is required. An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required, as is demonstrated ability to serve as a strategic thought partner and informed advisor to executive leadership.

An advanced degree in business, public management, finance, or a related field is preferred, as is familiarity with a large, decentralized public higher education system and an academic medical center or health system.

Benefits & Compensation

The anticipated hiring salary is between $300,000 – $475,000 annually. The initial posting period will close on March 1 2026, but the position will remain open until filled.

Application Information

To be considered by UCR’s search committee, candidates must provide a resume and a letter of introduction that addresses the specific responsibilities, expectations, and qualifications described above. Candidates may apply through Opus Partners. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be submitted by email to Thomas at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of California, Riverside is an equal employment opportunity employer and complies with all equal employment laws and regulations enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Civil Rights Department. Equal employment laws apply to all aspects of employment, including hiring, termination, promotions and terms and conditions of employment.