Senior Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial Officer Search

Position Description

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and President’s Cabinet, the SVP/CFO is responsible for the leadership, management and strategic trajectory of the University's finance, budgeting, accounting and capital planning functions as well as purchasing and contracts and the financial management of the University’s auxiliary enterprises and service units.

The incumbent will have a key role in advancing TU’s Strategic Plan and the Presidential Priorities and for formulating financial strategies and plans to support institutional programming, financial sustainability, and the continued success of the University.

Leadership and Direct Reports

Towson’s financial health is among the strongest within the University System of Maryland, and the next SVP/CFO will inherit an organization that is running very well, with relatively few issues that require fixing. The University seeks a leader who likes to build and who will provide highly strategic oversight of the financial area, launching Towson into its next phase.

The SVP/CFO will lead an organization of 146 FTEs, with the following direct reports: Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance; Associate Vice President of Financial Affairs; Director of Management Advisory and Compliance Services; and Executive Administrative Assistant. The SVP/CFO will:

• Serve as the senior advisor to the President on all issues related to university finances, budgeting, accounting and capital planning.
• Lead a team of financial management professionals charged with the ethical management and stewardship of the University’s fiscal resources.
• Guide the university-wide planning efforts to optimize and modernize the use of human, physical and financial resources while overseeing and developing systems, controls, policies and procedures that effectively steward the day-to-day management of the University’s financial resources.
• Implement and ensure the goal-oriented and performance-based allocation of University resources to drive progress on the University’s strategic objectives and Presidential Priorities and initiatives.
• Participate in an inclusive decision-making environment, providing subject-matter expertise that supports and furthers collaborative planning, formulation and implementation of university-wide policies and procedures including regular reporting of financial data to support institution decision-making.
• Represent TU on a variety of external groups including the University System of Maryland, the Maryland Board of Regents and its Finance Committee, the Maryland Board of Public Works, and the Maryland Legislature as well as TU internal groups including serving as lead staff with respect to financial matters with TU’s shared governance units and principal liaison to the Resource Planning and Advisory Committee (RPAC), which serves as the Academic Senate’s representative voice into Towson’s annual resource planning process.

Strategic and Skillful Communicator

The successful candidate will be a highly strategic thinker, collaborative leader, skilled communicator, and innovative builder, able to think creatively and come up with out-of-the-box solutions. A strong results-orientation is critical, and the next SVP/CFO must have a sophisticated understanding of how to employ metrics to inform decisions, improve business processes and drive performance and quality. A bachelor’s degree is required, and advanced degree in business, finance, accounting or a related field is strongly preferred.

Required Experience

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience with at least five years in a senior position related to budgeting, fiscal planning, capital planning, procurement and financial support services. Experience working within higher education, ideally within a public university, is a plus but not required. However, respect for the academic mission of a university is critical, including deep appreciation for faculty, staff and students and a commitment to the process of shared governance. 

About Towson University

Located on a 330-acre campus in Towson, Maryland, just ten miles from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and a short drive or train ride to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, Towson University is home to nearly 17,000 undergraduate students, over 3,300 graduate students (including more than 300 doctoral students), nearly 1,700 faculty, and 1,500 staff. The University has been recognized as one of the region’s best and most diverse public universities, offering world-class bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs while maintaining moderate tuition prices. 

TU was ranked the #1 public university in Maryland by both the Wall Street Journal (2026 and 2025) and Washington Monthly (2025) as well as the #3 best public university in the North by U.S. News and World Report (2026).

Other noteworthy accolades include:

• #2 for “Best Bang for the Buck” in Maryland by Washington Monthly (2025)
• #1 in North America for gender equality by Times Higher Education (2025)
• #4 best colleges in the north for veterans by U.S. News and World Report (2026).
• 2025 Great Colleges to Work For by Great Colleges and ModernThink (a strategic human capital consulting firm)

Towson University’s operating budget is approximately $650 million. The University System of Maryland (of which Towson is a part) is rated Aa1 by Moody’s, AA+ by Fitch, and AA+ by S&P.

Nominations and Applications

View the full Position Specification (PDF). 

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit confidentially, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred) a resume and a letter of interest by January 5, 2026, to:

Jett Pihakis, Ph.D.
Russell Reynolds Associates
Towson.SVPCFO@russellreynolds.com
202-654-7870

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Towson University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteran status.