Johns Hopkins University has retained Korn Ferry to manage the search for its next Associate Vice President, Controller.
Procedure for Candidacy
Confidential review of applications and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of interest that highlights the applicant’s relevant leadership experience. To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations and applications should be submitted electronically in confidence to: [email protected].
Position Specification
Johns Hopkins University is seeking an Associate Vice President, Controller that is a seasoned financial leader with a strong foundation in accounting and controllership, paired with the judgment and adaptability required to operate effectively in a dynamic academic environment. The successful candidate will bring both depth of technical expertise and the ability to engage across a wide range of stakeholders, with a mindset oriented toward continuous improvement and thoughtful evolution of the function.
The Associate Vice President, Controller is a strategic financial leader responsible for advancing Johns Hopkins University's financial operations through the integration of new technologies, predictive analytics, and modern change management practices. Serving as the institution's chief accounting officer, the AVP, Controller provides strategic leadership and hands-on management of all accounting, financial reporting, and internal control functions.
Overseeing approximately 125 team members, this position has responsibility for a broad portfolio of financial functions including general accounting, financial reporting, and grant accounting. This comprehensive scope strengthens institutional stewardship, enhances financial resilience, and supports informed decision-making across the university.
The AVP, Controller serves as a highly skilled analytical expert, high-level thought partner, and trusted strategic advisor to the VP, Chief Financial Officer. The role provides leadership across core controllership functions, including general accounting, financial reporting, tax, payroll, and accounts payable.
The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, sound judgment, and a commitment to operational excellence. They will demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to enhance processes, strengthen controls, and drive efficiency across the financial enterprise.
Additionally, as the financial landscape continues to evolve, this role will support the alignment of traditional financial reporting with emerging Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure practices. The AVP, Controller will also help leverage data, automation, and emerging technologies — including AI-driven tools — to streamline operations and drive innovation.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- The Associate Vice President, Controller will operate at the center of Johns Hopkins University’s financial enterprise, balancing technical accounting rigor with broader leadership across a complex and decentralized organization. The role requires both hands-on oversight and the ability to lead through others, ensuring the integrity of core financial processes while advancing the function to meet evolving institutional needs. The responsibilities outlined below reflect both the foundational expectations of the role and the opportunity to shape and modernize the controllership function over time.
Financial Leadership & Compliance
- Lead core financial operations, general accounting, financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls.
- Ensure fiscal integrity, internal controls, and timely regulatory reporting.
- Oversee external financial audits and act as liaison with auditors and University leadership.
- Oversee grant functions.
- Establish and carry out the university’s financial policies and transactional standards, ensuring consistency with the mission and strategic plans and compliance with the Board of Trustees policies, State and Federal fiscal management laws and regulations and generally accepted accounting standards.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including OMB Uniform Guidance for sponsored programs, tax-exempt bond covenants, and higher education reporting requirements.
- Monitor and implement changes to regulatory requirements, including GAAP, GASB, and FASB standards, ensuring timely institutional adaptation.
- Develop and maintain a robust compliance monitoring and risk assessment framework across all financial functions.
- Serve as a key liaison with external regulatory bodies, auditors, and compliance stakeholders to address inquiries and ensure audit readiness.
- Oversee the university’s external audits, ensuring compliance and integrity.
Reporting Analysis
- Oversee preparation and distribution of financial statements and budgetary reports.
- Lead year-end close processes and monthly reconciliations.
- Develop and evolve financial reporting formats to meet internal data needs and enhance decision-making.
- Drive increased transparency, consistency, and usability of financial information across a complex, decentralized environment.
- Manage ESG disclosures in coordination with compliance and sustainability stakeholders.
Strategic Technology and Change Management
- Leverage new technologies to champion enterprise-wide automation and process optimization.
- Develop and lead change management plans supporting new technologies and systems integration.
- Collaborate with IT and academic units to align financial systems with institutional needs.
- Ensure and prioritize improvements to financial tools and processes to support effective and efficient solutions that meet evolving needs.
- Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance the effectiveness and scalability of financial operations.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging thoughtful adoption of new tools, processes, and ways of working across the function.
Stakeholder Engagement & Supervision
- Supervise and develop the General Accounting and Financial Reporting teams.
- Provide mentorship, goal-setting, and annual professional development for finance staff.
- Develop a highly effective team who serve as collaborative partners, supporting corporate accounting functions and related financial needs of the University.
- Coordinate financial planning with senior academic leaders for operating and capital budgets.
- Engage university committees and present fiscal briefings to the Board of Trustees.
- Serve as a trusted partner to the CFO and senior leadership, contributing to broader financial strategy and institutional priorities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience; 5+ years managing large/complex teams.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Tax or related discipline.
- Certification in change management (e.g., Prosci, Kotter).
- Strong command of tuition revenue, endowment management, and academic budgeting.
- Effective engagement with academic leadership (Deans, Department Chairs).
- Skilled in preparing executive-level presentations and navigating board-level communications.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to analyze and present financial data to diverse audiences.
- Familiarity with reporting and financial stewardship practices.
- Experience driving modernization of accounting and reporting functions through data, automation, and emerging technologies.
- Demonstrated experience serving as a chief accounting officer or in a comparable senior controllership role within a complex organization.
- Proven experience leading institutional change through structured change management frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience leveraging data, automation, and technology to improve financial processes and reporting.
- Advanced knowledge of GAAP, GASB, FASB, public finance, and compliance regulations.
- Supervisory acumen with experience in personnel development and performance management.
- High emotional intelligence and ability to operate effectively in complex, decentralized academic environments.
- Technical fluency in ERP and financial systems (e.g., Oracle/PeopleSoft, Workday, JHU CMS).
- Strong planning, collaboration, and continuous improvement mindset.
- Experience within higher education institutions or an academic medical center, or ability to quickly adapt to the nuances of such environments.
- Must have ability to communicate, verbally, visually and in writing, complex findings and recommendations in a clear and concise manner.
- Position requires highly developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels and build credibility with senior leaders.
Core Competencies
- Demonstrated effectiveness in collaborating with academic executives on complex financial matters, including budgeting, cost allocations, compensation strategies, and fiscal containment.
- Strong analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Federal and State financial laws, regulations and operating guidelines as they pertain to institutions of higher education.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders across all levels of organizational management.
- Proven track record of developing and presenting financial and budgetary information to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Advanced problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to organize, plan, and execute a wide scope of operational and strategic initiatives.
- Committed to mentoring and supporting the professional growth of direct and indirect reports, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Results-oriented, energetic, and focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
- Recognized for excellence in mentoring, consensus building, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Strong service orientation and unwavering integrity, with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with confidence in applying data-informed decision-making and calculated risk-taking to drive operational and strategic goals.
- Intellectual curiosity and openness to new ideas, with the ability to adapt to a rapidly evolving financial and technological landscape.
The expected base salary range for this position is $400,000-$450,000. This position may be eligible for a discretionary bonus. Therefore, the actual compensation paid to the selected candidate may vary slightly from the salary range stated herein.
