The Wright Institute is a nationally respected graduate school of psychology dedicated to educating students to be critical thinkers and ethical problem solvers who address community and societal needs. The Institute offers a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and a master’s program in Counseling Psychology, which prepare students to become skilled, ethical clinicians and leaders in mental health. Operating with approximately $17 million in annual revenue, $20 million in endowment/reserves, and debt free, The Wright Institute is financially stable and well-positioned to invest thoughtfully in its academic mission, students, and long-term impact. The Institute is further strengthened by a highly experienced, long-tenured staff and senior leadership team whose deep institutional knowledge, continuity, and shared commitment to mission create a collaborative, trust-based environment. This stability provides an exceptional foundation for the Chief Financial Officer to lead strategically, build strong partnerships, and drive sustainable progress. For more than five decades, the Institute has educated psychologists committed to clinical excellence through rigorous training and applied practice.
Compensation, Benefits, Workplace
Salary: Up to $250,000
Workplace: Onsite
Benefits: medical and retirement
The Opportunity
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the Institute’s senior financial executive and principal advisor to the President and Board of Trustees on budgeting, financial strategy, sustainability, and risk. The CFO will have institution-wide responsibility for budget development and oversight, accounting, payroll governance, audit coordination, treasury, compliance, financial aid administration, facilities financial oversight, and financial systems.
Budget leadership is the center of gravity of this role. The CFO, in full coordination with the President, is responsible for the institutional budget from design through Board approval and ongoing monitoring, ensuring that financial resources are aligned with enrollment realities, academic priorities, accreditation expectations, and long-term sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Institutional Stewardship
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and Board, helping guide institutional strategy, investment decisions, and long-range planning
- Lead yearly budgeting and multi-year financial modeling and scenario planning, and ongoing budget-to-actual reporting with clear variance analysis.
- Support long-range planning tied to enrollment, tuition strategy, accreditation, and capital priorities.
- Prepare analyses and recommendations for the Board’s Finance, Audit, and Executive Committees.
- Contribute to major institutional decisions regarding programs, staffing models, facilities, and technology investments.
- Translate financial data into clear, decision-ready information for senior leadership and the Board.
Accounting Operations & Financial Reporting
- Supervision of the Controller and Accounting Analyst, and overall management of all general accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, documentation, and internal controls.
- Review and approve internal monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
- Ensure effective use and integrity of the Institute’s financial systems (e.g., Sage Intacct).
- Executive oversight of payroll processing conducted by the Accounting Analyst
Audit, Tax, and Regulatory Compliance
- Executive oversight of the annual financial audit, and serve as primary liaison to external auditors.
- Review audit findings and oversee corrective actions as needed.
- Review and approve the IRS Form 990 prior to filing.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state nonprofit requirements and higher education accreditation-related financial standards (WSCUC, APA, CACREP).
- Maintain financial policies, procedures, and internal control documentation.
Treasury, Cash Management & Investments
- Oversee institutional cash flow, liquidity planning, and banking relationships.
- Maintain short-term and long-term cash flow forecasts, including payroll cash requirements.
- Support Investment Committee oversight of the quasi-endowment, including reporting and coordination with advisors.
- Monitor operating reserves, debt obligations, and capital thresholds.
Risk Management, Facilities & Operations
- Oversee institutional insurance programs (general liability, D&O, professional liability, cyber, workers’ compensation, student practicum).
- Maintain the institutional risk register.
- Supervise the Facilities Manager, providing financial oversight of building operations and maintenance, vendor contracts, leases, capital projects, and deferred maintenance planning
Financial Aid Administration
- Supervise the Director of Financial Aid.
- Oversee financial aid operations, compliance, audits, and reporting.
- Ensure alignment between financial aid strategy, enrollment modeling, and the institutional budget.
- Partner with Admissions and Institutional Research on enrollment and yield analysis.
Systems, Technology & Data Integration
- Provide executive oversight of financial systems and integrations across Finance, HR, Admissions, and Student systems in the WI Portal, the Institute’s ERP system.
- Coordinate with the IT consultant to ensure appropriate access controls, data integrity, and audit readiness in the WI Portal.
- Support continuous improvement of financial and payroll workflows in Sage Intacct and the WI Portal.
Cross-Departmental Leadership
- Partner closely with HR, Admissions, Institutional Research, Academic Program Directors, and Student Services.
- Support financial literacy and budget accountability across the institution.
- Serve as a collaborative and trusted member of the Executive Leadership Team.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field.
- Minimum 8 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in budget development, forecasting, and financial analysis.
- Experience overseeing accounting operations, payroll governance, and audits.
- Strong understanding of nonprofit GAAP and internal controls.
- Experience supervising staff in a lean organization.
- Excellent communication skills with senior leadership and Boards.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA, MBA, or equivalent.
- Experience in higher education or nonprofit organizations.
- Familiarity with tuition-dependent financial models and accreditation expectations.
- Knowledge of California payroll and wage-and-hour compliance.
Attributes for Success
- Strong budget strategist with disciplined execution skills.
- Able to balance mission priorities with financial realities.
- High integrity, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
- Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
- Collaborative leadership style suited to a small, complex academic community.
Compensation & Benefits
The Wright Institute offers salary of $225,000 to $250,000, 403b contribution/match up to 6%, and medical benefits.
Application Process
This retained search is managed by Mary Law Executive Search, the California leader in placing private education and nonprofit Finance and HR professionals.
Mary Law
mary@marylawexecutivesearch.com
925-785-6991 direct
