Job DescriptionPosition OverviewAre 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.
Responsibilities% of timeEssential Function (Yes/No)Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor)25Yes
Regularly interacts with executives and/or major customers. Interactions normally involve controversial situations, customer negotiations, or influencing and persuading other senior-level managers.
- In collaboration with UCSF Central Development Services, design and
implement processes to document donations, gifts, and contributions in a manner compliant with both the Foundation's policies and the donor's intent. Provide directions to gift administration and development staff as needed regarding charitable contribution tax laws and state legal and regulatory compliance.
- Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Central Development Services, UCSF Development and Alumni Relations, and in collaboration with the UCSF CFO, UCSF Controller, and UCSF Health controllers, develops objectives for the Treasury and Gift and Foundation accounting functions, with goals and plans to meet goals.
- Assist the development officers and other fundraising staff in determining whether certain complex assets may be accepted by UC, and if they meet our acceptance guidelines, to determine the most effective way to liquidate them into cash.
- Serves as a member of the UDAR Executive Team, CDS Leadership Team, and the Council of Managers.
- Responsible for the development and execution of the annual Gift Policy and Accounting business plan.
35Yes
Provides direction and expertise to financial analysis, department projects, and work assignments.
- Provides direction and expertise to the financial analysis department on projects and work assignments.
- Acts as Chief Financial Officer for the UCSF Foundation, providing oversight of the finance function of the UCSF Foundation Investment Company
- Directs the treasury operation, focused on short-term needs for UCSF Foundation gift and investment funds, makes new investments, and receives funds from gifts and investment distributions
- Manages the day-to-day financial and related activities of the Foundations.
- Directs the preparation of quarterly and annual UCSF Foundation consolidated financial statements.
- Directs the annual audit process with the Foundations' external auditors.
- Manages the processing of all gift and financial transactions, ensuring they are timely, accurate, and in compliance with GAAP.
20Yes
Provides direction to all compliance activities of the UCSF Foundation and BCH-Oakland Foundation
- Manages the activities of a functional area through several unit managers within the organization, having overall responsibility for planning, budgeting, implementing, and maintaining costs, methods, and employees.
- Provides analysis and reporting of accounting information for management, including reporting to the Board of BCH-Oakland, the UCSF Development and Alumni Relations Office, UCSF leadership, and department managers throughout UCSF and BCH-Oakland.
- Oversees analysis and policy development for issues and processes related to
Foundation operations, and works collaboratively to coordinate policy
development with UCSF Development and Alumni Relations and UCSF Health.
- Oversee the accounting and reporting for the UCSF Foundation endowment, a $4 billion investment pool with approximately 1,000 unitized funds.
- Coordinates the preparation of all federal and state tax and compliance filings for the Foundations
5Yes
Represents UDAR in organization-wide and system-wide meetings and discussions; plans, designs, and implements organization-wide budget processes.
- Leads the UDAR team in the development of the annual update to the Philanthropic Gifts and Related Income portion of the overall UCSF 10-year plan, in conjunction with the Budget and Resource Management (BRM) staff.
- Presents the 10-year plan to a joint meeting of the UDAR and BRM teams.
15Yes
Plans, designs, and implements organization-wide internal controls to protect University resources.
- Responsible for the updating, maintenance, and communication of the UCSF Administrative Policies that fall under the UDAR umbrella.
- Conceives, recommends, and implements financial systems improvements,
including improvements to the chart of accounts, system interfaces, feeder systems, vendor applications, payment systems, banking, and financial analysis systems.
- Directs the development of new processes, including automation of existing processes to improve efficiency, risk management, and quality
- Hire qualified staff, and provide supervision, guidance, development, and
leadership to staff members.
QualificationsMinimum 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
