Assistant Vice President, Finance and Treasury Management
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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?
Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.
Job Description
Harvard University seeks an experienced finance leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Finance and Treasury Management, Harvard’s equivalent of a Corporate Treasurer. As a key member of the University’s senior leadership team, the AVP plays a vital role in ensuring Harvard’s long-term financial stability and success.
Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, the AVP provides strategic guidance on financial policies, procedures, and best practices, and represents the University in external relations with banks, rating agencies, and other financial stakeholders.
The AVP directs the Office of Treasury Management, a 15-person team encompassing Cash Management and Debt/Asset Management functions, and leads university-wide initiatives that deliver strategic financial insights and solutions to senior leadership.
The ideal candidate will possess demonstrated leadership abilities, strong technical and professional expertise, and a collaborative approach to teamwork. They will have experience mentoring and developing others, a commitment to embracing diverse perspectives, and the ability to think strategically, creatively, and collaboratively while adapting to evolving priorities and demands.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
The AVP plays a critical strategic leadership role in several areas, including understanding the key financing trends and best practices in higher education finance and their implications and applications for Harvard. The incumbent utilizes a thoughtful and strategic approach to the University’s capital planning and funding processes, modernizes cash operations through new technology and process efficiency review, and sources creative and original financing and funding concepts and approaches for potential implementation at Harvard.
Additionally, the AVP provides leadership in managing the University’s centrally held assets and liabilities through oversight of the Central Bank; oversees the strategy, operation, and performance of the University’s external debt portfolio (currently $6.2B); plays an integral role in the projection and monitoring of University cash flows (currently $6B+/year); oversees the development of University policies related to cash and debt; and ensures the provision of banking and transactional services to the University community. The AVP also manages Harvard’s liquidity and working capital investments, including a portfolio of fixed-income investments (currently $1B), and plays a key role in developing the University’s capital funding plan, including making resource allocation recommendations to senior leadership and the Corporation Finance Committee.
The AVP maintains a strong and productive working relationship with the Harvard Management Company (HMC), ensuring the University’s strategic and tactical liquidity and funding needs are satisfactorily met. The AVP also advises schools and units on decisions affecting debt, financing strategy, and cash management, while partnering with HMC, the Office of Finance and Strategic Planning, the Office of the Controller, schools and units, as well as external parties such as investment and commercial banks, rating agencies, legal counsel, trustees, and investors. The AVP is a member of the CFO’s Financial Leadership Team and attends meetings of the Corporation Finance Committee.
In addition to these core responsibilities, specific duties include:
• Directing the development and implementation of policies and analysis to support the operation of the Central Bank and optimization of the external debt portfolio
• Overseeing the strategic issuance of external debt for the University and maintaining relationships with lenders, investors, banks, and rating agencies
• Leading strategic cash management, including the ongoing expansion of payment options
• Managing and monitoring the performance of investment assets to advance institutional goals while minimizing risk
• Developing and ensuring the quality of financial and risk models and reports
• Forecasting, monitoring, and arranging for liquidity/cash-flow requirements to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet operating expenses and obligations
• Hiring and developing a highly competent and diverse workforce, embodying organizational values in a trusting, engaging environment
• Developing relationships across the University to help guide and implement strategic financial decisions in a complex organization
• Serving as a strategic financial advisor to senior University leadership
• Establishing policies and procedures to ensure appropriate management of cash and external and internal debt throughout the University
• Ensuring compliance with debt-related tax regulations
• Monitoring developments in the capital markets
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree, with advanced degree preferred
• 15+ years of progressive experience in finance or treasury with experience in the capital markets
• Knowledge of treasury functions and accounting required
• Proven operational and financial systems knowledge and skills
• Demonstrated experience of communication at the Board and/or C-suite level
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Strong leadership, relationship management and staff management abilities
- Exceptional planning and organizational abilities
- Excellent analytic, quantitative, problem-solving, conceptual, and communication skills
- Attention to detail and commitment to compliance
- Experience in higher education or other complex organizations is preferred
Additional Information
This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a leading University. The AVP will play an integral part in charting our financial course for years to come. If you are looking for a senior leadership role where you can apply your expertise to support world-class education and research, we encourage you to apply.
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable):
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit
Work Format Details
This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 063. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.