Vanderbilt University seeks a highly accomplished strategic financial leader who embraces collaboration and pairs a bold, entrepreneurial mindset with rigorous financial discipline to serve as its Vice Chancellor for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (VCF&CFO). The VCF&CFO will play a central leadership role at one of the nation’s preeminent private research universities during a period of significant momentum, investment, and growth. Under the visionary leadership of Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Vanderbilt is defining and modeling the great research university of the 21st century. The level of ambition and transformation necessary to achieve this vision requires a sophisticated financial architect to ensure they become a durable reality.

Reporting directly to the Chancellor and serving as a trusted partner to university leadership, including the Provost, Board of Trustees, and other campus leaders, the VCF&CFO provides strategic counsel across the university’s financial and enterprise priorities. They lead a large and experienced team of more than 100 staff and oversee capital and operating budgets, financial affairs and reporting, procurement, debt and treasury management, and commercial transactions for a more than $2.0 billion operating enterprise. Although Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a separate legal and financial entity, the VCF&CFO partners closely with the CFO there to align research strategy and shared institutional goals. With an endowment of approximately $12 billion, total net assets of roughly $11.2 billion, and a Moody’s Aa1 rating, the VCF&CFO plays a central role in shaping Vanderbilt’s long-term financial strength across academics, research, athletics, and other campus initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a creative, flexible thinker who can deliver sound advice on financial and administrative matters, demonstrating creative thinking and strong judgment across complex issues. The VCF&CFO must lead their team with clarity, cohesion, and high standards, fostering a culture that embraces complex adaptive budgeting—financial frameworks that are flexible, iterative, evidence-based, and aligned with institutional priorities rather than static cost containment—translating ambitious institutional goals into actionable financial and operational models while reducing administrative burdens that slow decision-making or create unnecessary complexity. The VCF&CFO must embody the university’s commitment to radical collaboration by engaging diverse stakeholders, convening the right voices quickly, and communicating transparently about critical financial issues. The role demands an enterprise-level perspective, comfort managing complex priorities, and the ability to operate as a true institutional financial partner and colleague to leaders across campus.

Vanderbilt University has retained the national executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to assist in this important recruitment. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/vanderbilt-university/vice-chancellor-financechief-financial-officer

Vanderbilt University seeks a highly accomplished strategic financial leader who embraces collaboration and pairs a bold, entrepreneurial mindset with rigorous financial discipline to serve as its Vice Chancellor for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (VCF&CFO). The VCF&CFO will play a central leadership role at one of the nation’s preeminent private research universities during a period of significant momentum, investment, and growth. Under the visionary leadership of Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Vanderbilt is defining and modeling the great research university of the 21st century. The level of ambition and transformation necessary to achieve this vision requires a sophisticated financial architect to ensure they become a durable reality.

Reporting directly to the Chancellor and serving as a trusted partner to university leadership, including the Provost, Board of Trustees, and other campus leaders, the VCF&CFO provides strategic counsel across the university’s financial and enterprise priorities. They lead a large and experienced team of more than 100 staff and oversee capital and operating budgets, financial affairs and reporting, procurement, debt and treasury management, and commercial transactions for a more than $2.0 billion operating enterprise. Although Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a separate legal and financial entity, the VCF&CFO partners closely with the CFO there to align research strategy and shared institutional goals. With an endowment of approximately $12 billion, total net assets of roughly $11.2 billion, and a Moody’s Aa1 rating, the VCF&CFO plays a central role in shaping Vanderbilt’s long-term financial strength across academics, research, athletics, and other campus initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a creative, flexible thinker who can deliver sound advice on financial and administrative matters, demonstrating creative thinking and strong judgment across complex issues. The VCF&CFO must lead their team with clarity, cohesion, and high standards, fostering a culture that embraces complex adaptive budgeting—financial frameworks that are flexible, iterative, evidence-based, and aligned with institutional priorities rather than static cost containment—translating ambitious institutional goals into actionable financial and operational models while reducing administrative burdens that slow decision-making or create unnecessary complexity. The VCF&CFO must embody the university’s commitment to radical collaboration by engaging diverse stakeholders, convening the right voices quickly, and communicating transparently about critical financial issues. The role demands an enterprise-level perspective, comfort managing complex priorities, and the ability to operate as a true institutional financial partner and colleague to leaders across campus.

Vanderbilt University has retained the national executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to assist in this important recruitment. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/vanderbilt-university/vice-chancellor-financechief-financial-officer