Chief Financial Officer

• 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 Hawaiʻi 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. 

Why Choose W. M. Keck Observatory:

• Competitive starting annual compensation ranging from $200,000 to $250,000.
• Generous benefits package, including 4 weeks of annual paid vacation.
• Robust 403(b) retirement plan featuring an 8% employer contribution with a 4% mandatory employee contribution.
• Tuition assistance for dependent children grades K-12 attending private school on Hawai’i Island.
• Comprehensive employer-provided health insurance, with a variety of coverage options available to employees.
• Opportunity to be part of a dedicated team advancing the frontiers of astronomy

• 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.
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• 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.
  
  

• Direct treasury strategy, cash management, liquidity planning, and financial risk management activities.
• Monitor financial position and ensure prudent stewardship of organizational resources.
  
  

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Serve as a fiduciary for the organization’s retirement plan, ensuring compliance, due diligence, and prudent financial oversight.

•  Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.

• 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.