Senior Vice President (SVP) for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Senior Vice President (SVP) for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Join to apply for the Senior Vice President (SVP) for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role at Towson University

Job Summary

Towson University (TU) invites nominations and applications for the position of Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (SVP/CFO). Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and President’s Cabinet, the SVP/CFO is responsible for the leadership, management, and strategic trajectory of the University’s finance, budgeting, accounting and capital planning functions, as well as purchasing and contracts and the financial management of the University’s auxiliary enterprises and service units. The incumbent will have a key role in advancing TU’s Strategic Plan and Presidential Priorities and in formulating financial strategies and plans to support institutional programming, financial sustainability, and the continued success of the University.

Towson’s financial health is among the strongest within the University System of Maryland, and the next SVP/CFO will inherit an organization that is running very well, with relatively few issues that require fixing. The University seeks a leader who likes to build and who will provide highly strategic oversight of the financial area, launching Towson into its next phase.

The SVP/CFO will lead an organization of 146 FTEs, with the following direct reports: Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance; Associate Vice President of Financial Affairs; Director of Management Advisory and Compliance Services; and Executive Administrative Assistant.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as the senior advisor to the President on all issues related to university finances, budgeting, accounting and capital planning.
• Lead a team of financial management professionals charged with the ethical management and stewardship of the University’s fiscal resources.
• Guide the university-wide planning efforts to optimize and modernize the use of human, physical and financial resources while overseeing and developing systems, controls, policies, and procedures that effectively steward the day-to-day management of the University’s financial resources.
• Implement and ensure the goal-oriented and performance-based allocation of University resources to drive progress on the University’s strategic objectives and Presidential Priorities and initiatives.
• Participate in an inclusive decision-making environment, providing subject-matter expertise that supports and furthers collaborative planning, formulation, and implementation of university-wide policies and procedures including regular reporting of financial data to support institution decision-making.
• Represent TU on a variety of external groups including the University System of Maryland, the Maryland Board of Regents and its Finance Committee, the Maryland Board of Public Works, and the Maryland Legislature as well as TU internal groups including serving as lead staff with respect to financial matters with TU’s shared governance units and principal liaison to the Resource Planning and Advisory Committee (RPAC).

Qualifications and Skills

The successful candidate will be a highly strategic thinker, collaborative leader, skilled communicator, and innovative builder, able to think creatively and come up with out-of-the-box solutions. A strong results-orientation is critical, and the next SVP/CFO must have a sophisticated understanding of how to employ metrics to inform decisions, improve business processes, and drive performance and quality. A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience with at least five years in a senior position related to budgeting, fiscal planning, capital planning, procurement, and financial support services. Experience working within higher education, ideally within a public university, is a plus but not required. Respect for the academic mission of a university is critical, including deep appreciation for faculty, staff, and students and a commitment to the process of shared governance.

Position Specification:

Salary and Benefits

Targeted hiring range is $370,000 – $430,000. Full university benefits include 22 days of annual leave, up to 16 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life and retirement plans; and tuition remission. Please click here to learn more about our benefits. TU also offers a variety of perks and discounts, which can be found here.

Contact

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit confidentially, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred) a résumé and a letter of interest by January 5, 2026.

Jett Pihakis, Ph.D.
Russell Reynolds Associates

Job posting date: Nov 20, 2025

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