Associate Vice President, Controller (Office of the Controller)

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research

university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working

together as one university.

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: JHU-Controller@KornFerry.com.

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. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports

our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More

information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a

pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns

Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation

during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the

HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY

users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which

campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise

accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of

employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees

who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or

clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or

possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet

this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas,

laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving

community contact requires documentation of immune status against

Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella

(chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the

Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include

documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella

vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory

testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are

ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for

those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization

documentation from their own health care providers. Any

vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost

in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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