Description
The University of San Francisco (USF), a private Jesuit Catholic institution founded in 1855 and known for its diverse urban location in the heart of San Francisco, is excited to announce the search for its next Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO serves as the senior financial officer of the University of San Francisco, reporting directly to the President. In this capacity, the CFO is a trusted strategic advisor, working in close, daily collaboration with the President to guide the University’s financial direction in support of and in alignment with its mission.
The CFO provides leadership and oversight of all financial functions—including financial planning, budgeting, cash management, accounting, investments, and debt management—and leads sophisticated scenario analysis to anticipate emerging challenges, assess potential opportunities, and shape proactive strategies. This forward-looking approach ensures that financial decisions are informed, resilient, and aligned with the University’s long-term priorities.
Successful candidates for the role will have many of the characteristics mentioned below:
- Extensive and proven leadership experience in financial management of a complex, mid-to large-scale organization, preferably in higher education or similarly regulated sectors.
- Demonstrated commitment to transparency by fostering open dialogue with faculty, staff, and students, and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, meaningful, and timely updates that inform and engage the University community.
- Expertise in nonprofit financial management, including compliance, endowment management, grant administration, and oversight of multiple revenue streams.
- Demonstrated success in strategic multi-year financial planning, capital budgeting, and investment management to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Strong record of communicating complex financial information clearly to Boards, senior leadership, and external stakeholders.
- Commitment to ethical stewardship of resources, operational excellence, and alignment of financial strategies with the mission, values, and Jesuit Catholic character of the University of San Francisco.
- Ability to integrate financial decision-making with the University’s commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and care for the whole person.
- Ability to adapt and respond effectively to a rapidly changing environment and to drive and manage change when needed.
- Ability to operate with humility, honesty, integrity, and kindness.
Specific duties and qualifications, along with additional information about the position and the University of San Francisco, can be found in the leadership profile.
Salary Range and Alignment with Mission
The salary range for this position is $350,000 to $400,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Beyond compensation, this role offers the opportunity to steward the University’s financial health in service of its Jesuit Catholic mission. The Chief Financial Officer will be a key partner in ensuring that resources are aligned with USF’s values—supporting academic excellence, advancing student success, and sustaining the University’s distinctive identity of faith, justice, and service.
Application and Nomination Process
Applications for the University of San Francisco’s CFO will be received and considered until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by Friday, April 3, 2026 and must include:
- A letter of interest addressing the strategic opportunities and qualifications identified in this profile;
- A current curriculum vitae; and
- Five professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers, including their relationship to the candidate. References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the candidate.
AGB Search is partnering with the University of San Francisco for this search. All application materials will be received in full confidence and should be submitted in PDF format through the AGB Search portal system at: bit.ly/4jxQEsN
Please direct any nominations, expressions of interest, or questions regarding the application process to USF_CFO@agbsearch.com or to the AGB Search team:
Melissa K. Trotta, Ed.D.
Associate Managing Principal
AGB Search
melissa.trotta@agbsearch.com
202-380-8927
Margaret (Peggy) Plympton, Ed.D.
Principal
AGB Search
margaret.plympton@agbsearch.com
484-554-4542
Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
The University of San Francisco is an equal opportunity institution of higher education. The University does not discriminate in employment, educational services or academic programs on the basis of an individual’s race (including hair that is part of the cultural identification of an ethnic group or that is a physical characteristic of an ethnic group such as braids, locks or twists), color, ethnicity, religion (including religious creed, dress or grooming practices), ancestry, national origin, age (except minors), sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related and genetic-related), pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), genetic information, mental or physical disability or handicap (including HIV and AIDS disabilities), characteristics such as height, weight, and place of birth, and U.S. (state and federal) military and veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. The University reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities under the law.
Human Resources coordinates this policy in relation to the recruiting, compensation, and benefits processes of the University. For inquiries concerning the application of Federal and State Laws and Regulations or to file a complaint regarding employment discrimination, please contact (415) 422-6707 or humanresources@usfca.edu. For information on how the University reviews, refers, and supports impacted parties around reports of bias incidents, please visit the Bias Education and Resource Team (BERT) web page.
