Join Our Team as Chief Financial Officer – KPBS

At KPBS, we inform, enlighten, and empower our community through trusted news, inspiring storytelling, and meaningful public service. As San Diego’s public media station, KPBS serves more than one million people each week across television, radio, and digital platforms. We are deeply committed to journalistic integrity, community connection, and financial transparency in everything we do.

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and visionary Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the station’s financial operations, ensure long-term sustainability, and serve as a strategic partner to the General Manager and Management Council. This is a rare opportunity for a mission-driven financial leader to join one of the nation’s most respected public media organizations and shape its next chapter of growth and innovation.

The KPBS Chief Financial Officer oversees all financial and accounting operations for the organization, ensuring stewardship, transparency, and strategic financial leadership. The CFO plays a key role in aligning financial management with the mission of public service and the operational frameworks of SDSU and the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF).

Key Responsibilities Include

Providing leadership and oversight for all financial, budgetary, and accounting functions of KPBS.
Leading the annual budgeting process, financial planning, and long-term forecasting to ensure fiscal stability.
Managing all aspects of financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with GAAP, GASB, and university and foundation policies.
Serving as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the General Manager and leadership team, translating financial data into actionable insights.
Building strong partnerships with SDSU, SDSURF, and external stakeholders to support operational efficiency and mission alignment.
Overseeing audits, internal controls, insurance, and compliance with regulatory requirements (including FCC).
Leading, mentoring, and developing a high-performing finance and accounting team that embodies collaboration, service, and accountability

Why You’ll Love Working at KPBS

Mission-Driven Impact: Your work directly supports trusted journalism and educational programming that serves the San Diego community.
Collaborative Leadership: Partner with talented professionals across media, development, and operations to drive organizational success.
Innovation & Growth: Help shape the financial strategy of an award-winning station that is expanding its reach and impact.
Hybrid Flexibility: Balance on-site collaboration with remote work opportunities in a culture that values flexibility and well-being.

Position Information

This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
The individual hired into this role will work on campus at KPBS/SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

KPBS Public Media is San Diego’s trusted PBS and NPR station, bringing award-winning news, in-depth investigations, educational programming, and cultural storytelling to the region for more than 60 years. Anchored on the campus of San Diego State University, KPBS connects, reflects, and serves all of our communities by delivering media that informs, inspires, and drives meaningful dialogue.

As a public media leader, KPBS is deeply committed to equity and inclusion while embracing diverse perspectives, nurturing a culture of belonging, and fostering a workplace and content ecosystem in which all voices are heard.

With a robust presence across television, radio, digital, and live events, KPBS empowers audiences by offering stories that are not only current and local but also globally relevant.

For more information regarding KPBS, click here.

Education And Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
Minimum of Eight (8) years of progressive financial management experience, including leadership of accounting or finance teams.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is required.

Key Qualifications

Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and service excellence across departments.
Demonstrated success in financial leadership, including strategic resource planning, budget management, investment strategy, and risk management.
Strong background in strategic planning, with a record of designing, implementing, and achieving measurable organizational results.
Skilled in contract negotiation, grants management, and fiscal oversight within complex or multi-entity organizations.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
Excellent diplomatic and negotiation abilities, with a focus on problem-solving and representing the station’s interests with professionalism and integrity.
Experience with organizational change management and leading process or system improvements across functional teams.
Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments, maintaining sound judgment and composure.
History of successful cross-departmental collaboration and team-oriented leadership in dynamic settings.
Experience working in nonprofit, public media, or fundraising environments, with familiarity in membership, underwriting, or development operations.
Experience in unionized or higher education settings preferred.

Compensation And Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that’s just the beginning! Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $165,000 to $200,000 annually.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by November 30, 2025, to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Casie Martinez at cmartinez12@sdsu.edu.

San Diego State University Jobs

KPBS Chief Financial Officer