Career Center

University of Texas at Austin

Associate Vice President of Finance

What starts here changes the world. The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), the public flagship institution of the state and one of the world's preeminent research universities, seeks a strategic, creative and exceedingly astute financial leader for its associate vice president of finance (AVPF) position. This position provides an outstanding opportunity for a seasoned executive who desires the complexity, challenges and rewards of working for a dynamic and world-class institution.

Austin is one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant metropolitan areas in the entire country, a national creative center that draws talented people from across the world to its high quality of life, abundant resources, lively entertainment and active lifestyle. UT Austin sits at the heart of the Austin community, a thriving intellectual hub that cultivates both the city’s creative, artistic communities and its scientific and technological innovators. Austin, known as the Live Music Capital of the World, is home to more than 150 performing arts venues and exhibition spaces, countless museums (several on UT’s campus), and some of the country’s most vibrant food scenes. There is no shortage of things to do in the city and the region.

Like the state and city it calls home, UT Austin is a bold, ambitious leader. Ranked among the biggest and best research universities in the country, UT Austin is home to more than 52,000 students, 17,000 staff and 3,000 teaching faculty. Together they are changing the world through groundbreaking research and cutting-edge teaching, working and learning techniques, as well as providing exemplary administrative service and expertise at all levels of university staffing. At UT Austin, tradition and innovation blend seamlessly to provide students with a robust collegiate experience.

Reporting directly to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Darrell Bazzell, the AVPF will work across the enterprise to optimize the university’s decision-making capabilities and inspire the highest standards of financial performance. As a key member of the institution’s finance team and its senior accountant, the AVPF will help to develop and implement strategies and procedures that will ensure the financial viability of the university, enabling UT Austin to continue to advance its educational mission. The AVPF will oversee a team of more than 80 dedicated, talented and experienced professionals and functional areas including budget, accounting and financial reporting, tax reporting, and strategic planning, benefits, payroll, among others. The AVPF provides a range of financial services and operations to support the fiscal integrity of the university. Through strong stewardship of the university’s financial resources, enforcement of effective policy, procedures, and internal controls, and through accurate financial reporting, the team strives to serve the university’s diverse customer base and safeguard the public trust through responsive and reliable financial management.

The ideal candidate for the AVPF position will embody UT Austin’s core values: Integrity, Teamwork, Diversity, Respect, Receptivity, Opportunity, Ownership and Communication. Moreover, the new leader should not simply value principles of diversity, equity and inclusion — they will commit to meaningful results and outcomes in their daily work, including the budgeting choices they make and the ways they mentor and communicate with their staff. They must possess a strong record of leadership and accomplishment in the field of accounting and business operations, finance, and senior administration. This individual must exhibit a high degree of integrity, credibility and discretion, while demonstrating the ability to work in a participatory manner with colleagues at all levels of the university to achieve positive results through astute financial management, fiscal stewardship and exceptional customer service to both internal and external constituents.

The AVPF will have an exemplary background of demonstrated success in building and maintaining a broad-based team of strong budget and accounting professionals and fiscal operational leadership. The AVPF will supervise a diverse, tight-knit and exceptionally hard-working team; these staffers deserve a leader whose enthusiasm, passion and talent matches their own. Other essential qualities include outstanding interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, personal integrity and accountability, technical ability, applied business experience, and excellent oral and written communication skills. The candidate will also demonstrate impeccable attention to detail and the ability to keep abreast of the latest trends and regulatory changes that directly affect the higher education environment.

The national executive search firm WittKieffer has been retained to assist UT Austin with this recruitment. All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile at www.wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received as soon as possible.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to UT Austin's lead consultant Kim Brettschneider and the team at: UTAUSTINAVP@wittkieffer.com.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

For additional information regarding human resources at The University of Texas at Austin, visit: Human Resources.