Chief Financial Officer
Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
Department: Finance
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: W.M. Keck Headquarters
Reporting To: Rich Matsuda
Compensation: $183,141 - $229,714 / year
Description
Help Shape the Future of Discovery
At W. M. Keck Observatory, our mission is to expand humanity's understanding of the universe-while honoring our responsibility to the land, community, and future generations.
As we look ahead to our Keck 2035 vision, we're seeking a Chief Financial Officer to help guide the Observatory through its next chapter-ensuring we remain strong, sustainable, and ready to support world-class science.
This is more than a finance position-it's a leadership opportunity to help shape the future of an institution at the forefront of discovery.
As CFO, you'll be a key partner to the Director and executive team, helping align financial strategy with mission priorities. You'll oversee the full spectrum of financial operations while also thinking ahead-bringing insight, foresight, and stewardship to every decision.
Our Mission & Values
At Keck Observatory, our work is driven by a shared commitment to advancing scientific discovery while honoring our responsibility to people, place, and community.
We are guided by core values rooted in:
- Stewardship - We care for our people, facilities, environment, and community with integrity and long-term responsibility.
- Service - We prioritize collective impact, supporting one another, the global astronomy community, and our local Hawaii community to achieve shared goals.
- Collaboration & Inclusion - We work across disciplines and perspectives to solve complex challenges and advance discovery together.
- Excellence & Safety - We deliver high-quality work while maintaining a strong commitment to operational excellence and safety in everything we do.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership and Strategy
- Lead the Finance Department and establish priorities, performance expectations, and accountability for finance leadership roles.
- Partner with the Director and senior leadership to align financial strategy with organizational objectives and long-term plans.
- Identify, assess, and manage financial risks to protect organizational assets and sustainability.
Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis
- Lead and ensure the development of annual budgets, multi-year financial plans, forecasts, and scenario analyses.
- Review and approve planning assumptions, resource allocations, and financial strategies prior to presentation to the Board of Directors.
- Ensure clear, accurate, and timely financial reporting to leadership and the Board.
- Partners with the Chief Human Resources Officer to ensure compensation programs are financially sustainable and aligned with organizational and Board expectations.
Financial Reporting, Controls, and Compliance
- Maintain accountability for the accuracy and integrity of financial statements and financial reporting.
- Ensure a strong system of internal controls and compliance with GAAP, Uniform Guidance, applicable federal regulations, and organizational policies.
- Oversee audit readiness and support successful completion of external financial and compliance audits.
Treasury and Financial Risk Management
- Direct treasury strategy, cash management, liquidity planning, and financial risk management activities.
- Monitor financial position and ensure prudent stewardship of organizational resources.
Sponsored Awards and Restricted Funds Oversight
- Ensure appropriate financial oversight of sponsored awards, grants, and restricted funds, including compliance with financial reporting and audit requirements.
- Maintain responsibility for indirect cost rate development, documentation, and approvals.
Finance Systems and Data Enablement
- Provide leadership over finance systems strategy to ensure systems support reliable financial operations, reporting, data integrity, and audit requirements.
- Ensure financial dashboards, analytics, and reporting tools effectively support decision-making.
Board and Committee Support
- Serve as the primary financial staff liaison to the Board of Directors and its Finance and Audit & Compliance Committees.
- Support the Board in evaluating significant financial strategies and long-term commitments, including potential capital investments, partnerships, or operating arrangements.
Continuity, Mentorship, and Capacity Building
- Ensure continuity of critical finance functions during periods of recruitment, onboarding, or staff development.
- Provide mentoring, guidance, and support to finance leadership and staff to build capability and confidence over time.
- When necessary, assume or support execution of key financial tasks to mitigate risk, meet deadlines, and maintain compliance, with the intent of transitioning responsibilities as organizational capacity matures.
Fiduciary Responsibilities
- Serve as a fiduciary for the organization's retirement plan, ensuring compliance, due diligence, and prudent financial oversight.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Education
- Bachelor''s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
Experience
- Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive senior financial leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit, research, or federally funded environment.
- Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.