Chief Financial Officer, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Department Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the department’s leadership team and serves as the senior financial leader and strategic partner. The CFO oversees all financial operations, planning, and compliance, ensuring fiscal integrity, long-term sustainability, and alignment with the department’s clinical, research, education, and public service missions.

The CFO leads core financial functions, including budgeting and forecasting, financial oversight, research administration, and management of complex internal and external agreements. The role also provides strategic operational analysis and supports research facilities planning and financial oversight.

As the department’s primary point of contact for accounting and financial compliance, the CFO provides leadership across divisions, centers, programs, and labs. This role ensures consistent financial processes, accurate reporting, strong internal controls, and adherence to regulatory and institutional requirements.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as senior financial advisor to the Chair and CAO on strategy, growth, and sustainability 
• Develop and execute long-range financial plans aligned with clinical, research, and education missions 
• Lead financial strategy for program expansion, faculty recruitment, and new initiatives 
• Translate financial data into actionable insights for executive decision-making

 

Financial Planning & Performance Management

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning across all fund sources 
• Monitor financial performance, key metrics, and variance trends across divisions and programs 
• Develop business cases and financial models to support investments and operational decisions

 

Clinical, Research & Academic Finance Oversight

• Provide financial oversight for clinical operations, research portfolios, and academic programs 
• Partner with clinical and research leaders to optimize margin, cost structure, and funding strategies 
• Ensure alignment with UCSF Health and campus financial frameworks

 

Operations, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with UC/UCSF policies, healthcare regulations, and sponsored research requirements 
• Maintain strong internal controls, audit readiness, and financial policies 
• Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks 

 

Resource Stewardship & Funds Management

• Oversee the department’s multi-fund portfolio (clinical, grants, gifts, endowments, state) 
• Guide resource allocation to align with strategic priorities 
• Lead capital planning and major financial commitments

 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Lead and develop a team of finance managers, analysts, and administrative staff 
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement 

 

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Represent the department in UCSF/UCSF Health financial committees and governance 
• Partner with central finance, school leadership, and affiliated sites (e.g., ZSFG, VA) 
• Communicate financial strategy and performance to faculty and leadership

 

Department Description:

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is one of the largest departments in the School of Medicine. The Department’s mission is research (basic, translational, clinical), teaching, patient care and public service. The Department has an organizational structure that crosses all major UCSF sites – Parnassus, Mission Bay, Mount Zion, ZSFGH, and SFVAMC. The Department is large and administratively complex. It is the only department at UCSF with a state-originated and funded institute—Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute—which in turn has a separately licensed hospital—the Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital & Clinics that is part of UCSF Health. The Department has an operating budget of $230 million (in FY26), including $70M in contracts with the City and County of San Francisco and its departments for community-based programs, with total staffing of nearly 1,500, including over 500 faculty, 170 trainees, and 750 staff.

 

The UCSF Department of Psychiatry is among the nation's foremost resources in the field of child, adolescent and adult mental health. Psychiatry faculty members are recognized for their leadership roles in state-of-the-art, comprehensive and compassionate patient care, pioneering research, excellence in training the next generation of leaders, advancing public policy to advance mental health, and commitment to diversity.

Minimum Requirements: - Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, or Finance or equivalent combination of experience/training - Minimum 8 years of related experience - 7+ years of increasing Accounting and operations management experience in a health care setting, preferably with an Academic Medical Center, encompassing financial management, strategic planning and organizational development, clinical practice management, and human resources management - Minimum 7 years in a lead/supervisory role - At least 2-4 years of experience hiring and managing high performing employees - Strategic financial leadership in complex academic healthcare environments - Comprehensive knowledge of finance and budget policies, practices and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; human resource planning; generally accepted accounting and bookkeeping policies and procedures - Knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources - Effective verbal and written communication skills - Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with a diverse populations - Independent and critical thinking paired with strong skills in team work and use of judgment in determining priorities and what decisions need to be moved to a higher level - Client services oriented - good listening, critical thinking and analytical skills - Ability to multi-task - Strong work ethic Preferred Qualifications: - Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Business administration, public administration, accounting or finance - Professional certification preferred - Deep understanding of clinical revenue cycles and research funding mechanisms - Knowledge of UC/UCSF policies and healthcare regulatory environment

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values . In addition to , UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available https://diversity.ucsf.edu/ . Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.