The University of California, Riverside seeks a strategic, forward-thinking, and analytically driven financial leader to join its executive team as the next Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration & Chief Financial Officer. Reporting directly to the Chancellor as a key member of the leadership team, the Vice Chancellor will serve as the institution’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), ensuring that financial, capital planning, and administrative priorities fully support UCR’s long-term strategic goals and its mission of teaching, research, and service.
The ideal candidate will serve as a strategic financial partner to campus leadership, guiding UCR through fiscal constraints while maintaining its mission and advocating for the institution within the UC system. The position involves evolving budget models and financial tools, overseeing operational excellence, capital planning, and the growing UCR Health enterprise to ensure long-term sustainability. Success depends on combining financial stewardship with thoughtful resource allocation, transparent communication, and active engagement with faculty, staff, and students in the spirit of shared governance.
The University of California, Riverside invites nominations, applications, or expressions of interest to be submitted to our search partners at Opus Partners. Applications should include a cover letter and resume. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to our search partners by March 1, 2026. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.
vice chancellor for finance and administration & cfo leadership profile
As a valued member of our campus community, we encourage you to participate in the process by offering feedback and submitting nominations of individuals who may be well-suited for this opportunity. Nominations and inquiries can be directed, confidentially, to Thomas Lapierre (Thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net) at Opus Partners.
Search Advisory Committee
Elizabeth Watkins, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor (Chair)
Ryan Choi, Vice President of Finance, ASUCR
Anna Kafie, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, SOB
Christopher Lynch, Dean, Bourns College of Engineering
Paige Mejia, Financial Operations Manager
Jacqueline Norman, Associate Vice Chancellor, Campus Architect
Jennifer Nuckles, UCR Board of Trustees
David Oglesby, Professor and Planning & Budget Chair of the Academic Senate
Mary Lou Ortiz, Chief Financial Officer & Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, UCI
Heidi Scribner, Associate Vice Chancellor, Auxiliary Services
Veronica Ruiz, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, ASSET (Compliance Liaison)
Cindy Williams, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, CHASS
Contact Information
For questions regarding this search, please contact:
Kenna Boyd
Partner
Opus Partners
kenna.boyd@opuspartners.net
Thomas Lapierre
Senior Associate
Opus Partners
thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net
Craig Smith
Senior Partner
Opus Partners
craig.smith@opuspartners.net
Tanya Adams
Director of Human Resources & Executive Searches
Office of the Chancellor - Administrative Services & Strategic Executive Team
tanya.adams@ucr.edu