Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be responsible for overseeing the Salk's finance, accounting, grants administration (pre- and post-award) and procurement functions. This role ensures that the appropriate organizational structures, personnel, tools and strategies are in place. The CFO is a member of the Salk Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and is a liaison to the various Board committees, including the investment, finance and audit committees. Reporting directly to the president, the CFO leads a team of 38 professionals through six direct reports. In addition to providing strategic and hands-on leadership, the CFO is responsible for making financial strategy decisions, managing budgeting, financial modeling and analysis, accounting practices and procedures, indirect cost proposals and negotiations, tax reporting and compliance, and all borrowing, investing and cash management activities. The CFO also maintains the Institute's relationships with lending institutions and rating agencies and formulates and executes financing strategies to meet capital and operational funding requirements. Further, the CFO is a key contributor to the formulation and execution of the Institute's long-term planning initiatives. The next CFO of Salk will serve as a visionary financial leader with a proven track record of success in a multi-faceted financial management function. Ideal candidates will have recent experience in roles such as vice president (VP) of finance, CFO, or equivalent, in organizations
with revenues commensurate with Salk's scope and scale; experience with federally funded grants and contracts in academic or research environments is highly preferred. The successful candidate will be a team player who has effectively interacted, both internally and externally, with individuals at all levels, including executive leadership, board members and financial officials.

THE SALK INSTITUTE
In 1957, Jonas Salk dreamed of creating a collaborative environment where scientists could explore the basic principles of life and realize the broader implications of their discoveries for the future of humanity. Following in the footsteps of our founder, we are committed to improving the world for the benefit of humankind. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies ("Salk" or "the Institute") has a long legacy of making critical scientific breakthroughs in fields ranging from cancer to immunobiology to neuroscience to plant biology. The Institute provides brilliant scientific minds with access to cutting-edge technologies and a culture that encourages bold ideas and nurtures collaboration.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Salk has an operating budget of $160 million. This is composed of $80 million of government grants and contracts, $20 million of private grants, $40 million in gifts, and $20 million in endowment income. In addition to Salk faculty being highly competitive for federal funding, Salk has a long history of significant support from the philanthropic community. This support has been critical for cutting-edge research, attracting top faculty, and providing a rich infrastructure for science to thrive. The Salk endowment is approximately $600 million, providing an important annual revenue stream for research at Salk. Salk has approximately 50 faculty, 170 postdocs, nearly 100 graduate students and employs 900 people. Careful fiscal stewardship has resulted in balanced budgets over the last 30 years, and Salk has received the coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Finance Experience: A proven track record of success in a senior financial leadership position, ideally with prior experience in a dynamic academic, research, and/or nonprofit setting. Experience with federally funded grants and contracts in academic or research environments is highly preferred.

Strategic Partnership: A strong strategic orientation, with the ability to effectively collaborate with senior leaders and board members. Data-Driven Analytical Acumen: Extensive knowledge of accounting and financial systems, with prior experience leading strategic financial planning, financial and investment management, debt financing and management, and cash flow management.

Systems Expertise: Experienced with evaluating, selecting, implementing and managing information systems in a medium-sized organization. Experience with ERP/CRM systems implementations is highly desired.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively across a broad range of constituent groups.

Strong Credentials: Strong academic credentials required, including a preference for an M.B.A. in finance and/or a CPA.

COMPENSATION
The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $400,000 - $425,000. Actual base salary will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the individual's skills, experience and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1. Any combination of characteristics.
2. A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3. A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.