Job Description

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Department Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the department’s leadership team and serves as the senior financial leader and strategic partner. The CFO oversees all financial operations, planning, and compliance, ensuring fiscal integrity, long-term sustainability, and alignment with the department’s clinical, research, education, and public service missions.

The CFO leads core financial functions, including budgeting and forecasting, financial oversight, research administration, and management of complex internal and external agreements. The role also provides strategic operational analysis and supports research facilities planning and financial oversight.

As the department’s primary point of contact for accounting and financial compliance, the CFO provides leadership across divisions, centers, programs, and labs. This role ensures consistent financial processes, accurate reporting, strong internal controls, and adherence to regulatory and institutional requirements.

Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

Serve as senior financial advisor to the Chair and CAO on strategy, growth, and sustainability
Develop and execute long-range financial plans aligned with clinical, research, and education missions
Lead financial strategy for program expansion, faculty recruitment, and new initiatives
Translate financial data into actionable insights for executive decision-making

Financial Planning & Performance Management

Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financialplanning across all fund sources
Monitor financial performance, key metrics, and variance trends across divisions and programs
Develop business cases and financial models to support investments and operational decisions

Clinical, Research & Academic Finance Oversight

Provide financial oversight for clinical operations, research portfolios, and academic programs
Partner with clinical and research leaders to optimize margin, cost structure, and funding strategies
Ensure alignment with UCSF Health and campus financial frameworks

Operations, Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with UC/UCSF policies, healthcare regulations, and sponsored research requirements
Maintain strong internal controls, audit readiness, and financial policies
Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks

Resource Stewardship & Funds Management

Oversee the department’s multi-fund portfolio (clinical, grants, gifts, endowments, state)
Guide resource allocation to align with strategic priorities
Lead capital planning and major financial commitments

Leadership & Team Development

Lead and develop a team of finance managers, analysts, and administrative staff
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

Represent the department in UCSF/UCSF Health financial committees and governance
Partner with central finance, school leadership, and affiliated sites (e.g., ZSFG, VA)
Communicate financial strategy and performance to faculty and leadership

Department Description

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is one of the largest departments in the School of Medicine. The Department’s mission is research (basic, translational, clinical), teaching, patient care and public service. The Department has an organizational structure that crosses all major UCSF sites – Parnassus, Mission Bay, Mount Zion, ZSFGH, and SFVAMC. The Department is large and administratively complex. It is the only department at UCSF with a state-originated and funded institute—Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute—which in turn has a separately licensed hospital—the Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital & Clinics that is part of UCSF Health. The Department has an operating budget of $230 million (in FY26), including $70M in contracts with the City and County of San Francisco and its departments for community-based programs, with total staffing of nearly 1,500, including over 500 faculty, 170 trainees, and 750 staff.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, or Finance or equivalent combination of experience/training
Minimum 8 years of related experience
7+ years of increasing Accounting and operations management experience in a health care setting, preferably with an Academic Medical Center, encompassing financial management, strategic planning and organizational development, clinical practice management, and human resources management
Minimum 7 years in a lead/supervisory role
At least 2-4 years of experience hiring and managing high performing employees
Strategic financial leadership in complex academic healthcare environments
Comprehensive knowledge of finance and budget policies, practices and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; human resource planning; generally accepted accounting and bookkeeping policies and procedures
Knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with a diverse populations
Independent and critical thinking paired with strong skills in team work and use of judgment in determining priorities and what decisions need to be moved to a higher level
Client services oriented - good listening, critical thinking and analytical skills
Ability to multi-task
Strong work ethic

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Business administration, public administration, accounting or finance
Professional certification preferred
Deep understanding of clinical revenue cycles and research funding mechanisms
Knowledge of UC/UCSF policies and healthcare regulatory environment

About Us

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values .

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here .

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

University of California, San Francisco Jobs

Chief Financial Officer, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences