Chief Financial Officer

DO NOT CLICK ON "APPLY ONLINE".  See instructions under Applications and Expressions of Interest below to apply

Download Position Profile Here

Columbia College Chicago invites nominations and applications for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Reporting directly to President and CEO Dr. Shantay N. Bolton, the CFO serves as a critical member of the President's Cabinet and senior leadership team. The CFO will be responsible for shaping and executing the financial vision that ensures the College's long-term stability. As the chief steward of fiscal integrity and resource strategy, the CFO will partner with colleagues across the institution to align financial planning with the College's mission, values, and strategic priorities.

The CFO will play a defining role in this next chapter by modernizing financial systems, advancing strategic resource allocation, and positioning Columbia for a sustainable and dynamic future.

Founded in 1890, Columbia College Chicago is a private, not-for-profit college whose curriculum is focused on the creative disciplines, including academic programs in film and theatre, communications and writing, media and digital arts, music, and sound, performing arts, visual arts, and business and management. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago's Cultural Mile, Columbia College Chicago thrives within a vibrant cultural landscape, leveraging the city's artistic and professional opportunities to deliver a unique student experience. Columbia's unique culture is rooted in social progress and in serving a creative community of approximately 4,500 students, 170+ full time and 400+ part-time faculty, and 400+ staff members. To learn more about Columbia College Chicago, visit:

A complete Leadership Profile with additional information may be found above.

Applications and Expressions of Interest

To apply for the Chief Financial Officer position, candidates should submit:

1. A curriculum vitae or resume

2. A letter of interest addressing how the candidate's background and experience align with the role and its priorities

3. Contact information for five professional references (references will be contacted only with the candidate's permission).

Nominations and expressions of interest are encouraged. 

For best consideration, application materials should be submitted by December 1, 2025, to  The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Position Minimum Annual Salary: $250,000

Position Maximum Annual Salary: $275,000

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life, and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits. Click here for more information.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement, and real-world experiences.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Position subject to a background screening

• This is a non-union position

• This is a full-time position

• This position is overtime ineligible

Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.