Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer
Simmons University

Simmons University seeks a talented and experienced financial executive to join the senior leadership team's collaborative and strategic efforts to advance the University's mission, vision, and goals as its next Chief Financial Officer

Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons University is a private university, home to a respected women's undergraduate program and coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, liberal arts, communications, social work, public health, and library and information science. Simmons has established a model of higher education that only today are other colleges and universities beginning to adopt: the rigorous intellectual foundation of the liberal arts combined with education for leadership in high-demand professional fields. The result is a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life — a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life's work.

During this time of increasingly complex challenges in higher education, the Simmons CFO will be expected to provide creative, effective leadership to enhance the University's long-term financial stability and support strong academic programs through sound financial management, revenue growth, and cost containment. Joining a forward-thinking and dedicated senior team, the CFO will have the opportunity to support the financial goals set forth in the University's strategic plan.

Several major initiatives will require the leadership of a forward thinking and sophisticated finance executive for the University to achieve its vision for the future. The ongoing execution of the institutional master plan includes several major real estate projects, including the $120 million Science Center and Enabling Moves project (funded by tax exempt debt and the monetization of the University's parking garages) and construction of the Living and Learning Center (funded by an exchange transaction involving a 99-year ground lease to a developer of the residential campus). In addition, the University's partnership with 2U has been instrumental to the growth of the University's graduate programs, prompting the recent expansion of the partnership into distinctive undergraduate offerings, including adult degree completion. Skillful management of this partnership will be critical to Simmons' long-term success.


To apply, all nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be directed to simmonscfo@russellreynolds.com.

A full position description can be found here.


Consistent with the University's goals to achieve diversity at all levels of university leadership, Simmons encourages nominations and applications from individuals in traditionally underrepresented groups and those dedicated to building a culture of inclusive excellence at Simmons.

The University is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, ancestry, class, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

jeid-273f9035b6cf5643bf3fd00178a1570f