Vice President for Financial Affairs

University of Portland (UP), a thriving, diverse, ambitious community of over 3,100 students from around the nation and the world, is seeking an innovative, strategic, and mission-driven leader to serve as the next Vice President for Financial Affairs and join a leadership team that is reimagining the University for a new age of Hope, Renewal, Transformation.

Since shortly after its inception in 1901, the University of Portland has been guided by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, a Catholic order of priests and brothers. The founder of the order, Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., wrote, "The mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” This commitment to educating the hands, heart, and mind is a hallmark of UP’s belief in educating the whole person. The University is Oregon’s only comprehensive, liberal arts-grounded university with schools of business, education, engineering, and nursing; a College of Arts & Sciences; and a graduate school. It is also the state’s only Catholic university and largest private undergraduate institution. The University’s scenic location, a beautiful 150-acre campus situated on a bluff near the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, is the inspiration for its nickname, “The Bluff.”

Since July 2022, the University of Portland has been led by President Robert D. Kelly, Ph.D. President Kelly is the first layperson to lead UP. His tenure on The Bluff has featured the launch of the visionary Strategic Plan 2022-2027: Hope, Renewal, Transformation; the dedication of the state-of-the-art Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation; the formation of an exceptional leadership team; the successful introduction of several new academic programs; the most successful fundraising years in institutional history; a renewed commitment to UP’s Catholic, Holy Cross identity; and strengthened relationships locally, nationally, and globally. The University of Portland maintains a solid financial foundation, supported by an endowment of approximately $350 million and strong credit ratings.

Reporting to the President, the Vice President serves as the institution’s chief financial officer, providing strategic leadership and oversight for all financial operations and serving in a role of high-visibility leadership for the University. The Financial Affairs Division includes the Offices of Budget, Controller, and Student Accounts, as well as Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Bon Appétit (UP Dining). The Division works to responsibly steward the fiscal and physical assets of the University to maintain institutional strength and ensure continued success. By managing resources effectively and creatively, the Vice President will play a critical role in enabling the University to achieve its ambitious goals and advance its mission. The Vice President will be responsible for ensuring the sustainability of UP's financial position while advancing a culture of transparency, collaboration, and collective effort toward achieving institutional goals. The Vice President leads a highly-experienced, skilled staff and manages a University budget of $147.5 million and a divisional budget of $2 million. The Vice President is charged with developing talent, clarifying roles, and building a high-functioning, service-oriented division.

The University is seeking a strategic, systems-oriented thinker with exceptional communication skills and sound judgement, capable of navigating ambiguity and leading through complexity. The Vice President will foster a positive, inclusive work culture grounded in respect and will demonstrate strong collaboration and creativity in developing innovative financial strategies, policies, and processes that support both near-term priorities and long-term institutional resilience. The ideal leader will also bring a forward-looking perspective on emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—and a commitment to continuous learning. The Vice President will embrace their positioning as a highly visible leader of the institution and will be committed to forging external relationships throughout the community. Although the Vice President need not be Catholic, they will possess an authentic and deep respect for, and ability to contribute to, the mission and values of the University as a Catholic, Holy Cross institution.

The successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or a related field, with at least ten years of progressive leadership experience in financial affairs. They will demonstrate proven success in developing and managing multi-million-dollar budgets, strong financial acumen, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners and constituents to successfully lead organizational change. A graduate degree in a related field and prior experience in higher education are preferred but not required. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

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 this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting University of Portland in this search. For fullest consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by March 13, 2026.

Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to:

Amy Crutchfield, Ben Haden, and Kim Migoya

[email protected]

University of Portland does not discriminate in its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, or employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, or sexual orientation. The University expressly reserves its rights and obligations to maintain its commitment to its Catholic identity and the doctrines of the Catholic Church.