What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Operating and Financial Officer position at Inside Higher Ed?
Chief Operating and Financial Officer, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Chief Operating and Financial Officer.
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate school of business, The Wharton School (“Wharton”) is a global leader in business education, research, and thought leadership. Wharton educates more than 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, and executive education students annually and is supported by a global alumni network of nearly 100,000 leaders who shape business and society worldwide. With a distinctive combination of scale, academic excellence, and entrepreneurial culture, Wharton is deeply committed to innovation, impact, and rigorous inquiry in a rapidly changing global environment.
Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer (“COFO”) serves as a central strategic partner to the Dean and a critical member of the School’s senior leadership team, with responsibility for aligning financial stewardship, operational excellence, and long-term strategy in support of Wharton’s mission and global impact. The COFO provides enterprise-wide leadership across the School’s core administrative and infrastructure functions, including Finance, Operations, Computing and Information Technology, Human Resources, and Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS). Leading a complex organization of over 300 staff across these functions and a ~$650M financial enterprise, this role ensures that resources, systems, and structures are effectively aligned to advance the School’s strategic priorities.
Operating in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment, the COFO serves as a trusted advisor to the Dean and a key partner to University leadership, helping to translate strategy into execution by building alignment, navigating complexity, and enabling institutional decision-making. This leader plays a critical role in ensuring that Wharton’s priorities are effectively supported and advanced within the broader University context, while strengthening the operational and financial foundation necessary to sustain the School’s continued growth and innovation.
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and strategic leader with a demonstrated track record of senior financial and operational leadership within a complex organization, the ability to lead at scale, and a deep appreciation for the mission of higher education and research-intensive institutions.
The University Of Pennsylvania Has Retained Korn Ferry, a Global Organizational Consulting Firm, To Assist With The Search. The Search Is Being Led By Victoria Antolini, Ken Kring, And Lila Wojnarowicz. All Inquiries, Nominations And Expressions Of Interest Should Be Submitted In Confidence To Korn Ferry. Applications Should Include a Detailed Curriculum Vitae And a Letter Of Interest. To Ensure Full Consideration, Inquiries, Nominations, And Applications Should Be Submitted Electronically, In Confidence, To
WhartonCOFO@KornFerry.com
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Chief Operating and Financial Officer.
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate school of business, The Wharton School (“Wharton”) is a global leader in business education, research, and thought leadership. Wharton educates more than 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, and executive education students annually and is supported by a global alumni network of nearly 100,000 leaders who shape business and society worldwide. With a distinctive combination of scale, academic excellence, and entrepreneurial culture, Wharton is deeply committed to innovation, impact, and rigorous inquiry in a rapidly changing global environment.
Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer (“COFO”) serves as a central strategic partner to the Dean and a critical member of the School’s senior leadership team, with responsibility for aligning financial stewardship, operational excellence, and long-term strategy in support of Wharton’s mission and global impact. The COFO provides enterprise-wide leadership across the School’s core administrative and infrastructure functions, including Finance, Operations, Computing and Information Technology, Human Resources, and Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS). Leading a complex organization of over 300 staff across these functions and a ~$650M financial enterprise, this role ensures that resources, systems, and structures are effectively aligned to advance the School’s strategic priorities.
Operating in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment, the COFO serves as a trusted advisor to the Dean and a key partner to University leadership, helping to translate strategy into execution by building alignment, navigating complexity, and enabling institutional decision-making. This leader plays a critical role in ensuring that Wharton’s priorities are effectively supported and advanced within the broader University context, while strengthening the operational and financial foundation necessary to sustain the School’s continued growth and innovation.
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and strategic leader with a demonstrated track record of senior financial and operational leadership within a complex organization, the ability to lead at scale, and a deep appreciation for the mission of higher education and research-intensive institutions.
The University Of Pennsylvania Has Retained Korn Ferry, a Global Organizational Consulting Firm, To Assist With The Search. The Search Is Being Led By Victoria Antolini, Ken Kring, And Lila Wojnarowicz. All Inquiries, Nominations And Expressions Of Interest Should Be Submitted In Confidence To Korn Ferry. Applications Should Include a Detailed Curriculum Vitae And a Letter Of Interest. To Ensure Full Consideration, Inquiries, Nominations, And Applications Should Be Submitted Electronically, In Confidence, To
WhartonCOFO@KornFerry.com
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.