Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Application Deadline: 30 November 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 Hawai'i 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.