Job Description
Position Overview
Are you an executive financial leader driven to oversee the fiscal stewardship and accounting operations of a multi-billion-dollar endowment and philanthropic enterprise?
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - a world-renowned leader in health sciences, biomedical discovery, and patient care - is seeking an exceptional, strategic, and forward-thinking
Executive Director.
Foundation Gift Policy & Accounting. In this pivotal executive role, you will direct the finance, accounting, and financial reporting shared service functions for the UCSF Foundation, the BCH-Oakland Foundation, and UCSF's enterprise-wide gift and endowment operations.
Serving as the
Chief Financial Officer for the UCSF Foundation, you will oversee corporate finance, treasury, legal and tax compliance, and short-term investment operations for an enterprise that receives approximately $800 million annually in charitable contributions - philanthropy being the third highest revenue source for UCSF. You will steward a $4 billion unitized endowment and $400 to $600 million in short-term investments whose earnings help fund the Chancellor's Core Financial Plan, directly enabling discretionary investments and discovery across the university.
Why This Role Is Unique
- Enterprise CFO Leadership: Serve as CFO for the UCSF Foundation, directing all corporate functions, treasury operations, audit processes, and tax compliance across UCSF Foundation entities.
- Massive Fiscal Scope & Impact: Steward foundation operations holding a $4 billion unitized endowment and manage treasury activities for $400 to $600 million in short-term investments supporting campus-wide strategic funding.
- High-Level Executive Collaboration: Report to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Central Development Services, and partner closely with the UCSF CFO, UCSF Controller, UCSF Health CFO/Controllers, and board committees.
- Policy & System Modernization: Maintain and advise on 11 UCSF administrative policies while championing financial system innovations, automation, and internal controls that safeguard university assets.
- Inspiring Mission & Collaborative Culture: Lead a dedicated, multi-tier accounting and financial analysis team within University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), an elite advancement organization operating at the very top of its field.
Desired Mindset & Competencies
- Executive Financial Sophistication: Deep mastery of non-profit accounting, fund accounting, endowment administration, and complex tax compliance within a major research university or health system.
- Systems & Process Visionary: A track record of modernizing financial systems, building automated workflows, and enhancing internal control frameworks.
- Collaborative Diplomat & Influencer: High political acumen, negotiation skills, and consultative capability to navigate complex campus stakeholder structures, hospital controllers, and board audit committees.
- note: Salary commensurate with internal equity based on education, scope, and experience
Department Overview
At UCSF's Office of University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), we're proud to be the kind of place where great ideas can come from anyone, and you can do the most impactful work of your career alongside fantastic colleagues. From our pioneering work in the AIDS crisis to the creation of a silicon brain, you will experience the world-class nature of our work and the difference it makes.
UDAR is a team of innovative professionals who partner with world-class scientists, healthcare providers, and philanthropists to advance breakthrough research and life-changing patient care. We're one of the nation's top fundraising organizations, home to smart, driven people who care deeply about UCSF's mission to advance science and transform health.
Our success comes from the combined talents of many roles: frontline fundraisers who build transformative partnerships with donors; alumni relations professionals who nurture lasting connections with the UCSF community; writers and designers who help tell the university’s story; researchers and analysts who provide critical insights; and operations and information systems experts who keep us running smoothly.
What makes UDAR special? A commitment to growing talent from within, celebrating collective wins, and creating an environment where our staff thrive. Our culture of team-based fundraising is distinctly collaborative, and we're always eager to embrace fresh approaches.
Regardless of your role at UCSF you'll be part of a unified team operating at the very top of its game.
Read more about UCSF here https://magazine.ucsf.edu/
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent combination of experience / training
- At least 10 years of experience in a complex accounting environment
- Demonstrated awareness of GASB and FASB guidance in accounting and financial reporting
- Supervisory experience in a complex Foundation or nonprofit finance and accounting function
- Advanced knowledge of complex financial policies, practices, and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; human resource planning; accounting and bookkeeping
- Thorough knowledge of finance, accounting, business, systems operations, and regulatory compliance requirements
- Expertise in internal control practices. Experience in implementing controls that strengthen the control environment throughout the organization
- Advanced negotiation skills
- Demonstrated experience in automating and improving processes involving financial systems
- Excellent skills using common desktop/web applications
- Sophisticated service orientation, strong management skills, leadership skills, sound judgment and decision-making, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and effective verbal and written communication skills
- Advanced ability to effectively communicate complex findings and recommendations verbally and in writing
- Knowledge of industry best practices
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations
- Client services oriented; good listening, critical thinking, and analytical skills
- Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills
- Ability to multitask
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's or PhD degree in business, finance, or accounting, or related area, and/or equivalent experience/ training
- At least 3 years' experience as a CFO, controller, or assistant controller in a complex
- accounting environment
- Professional certification (CPA)
- Familiarity with unitized endowment fund management
- Experience implementing automated financial systems
- Thorough knowledge of the organization's operational, personnel, and financial transactions and financial systems
