Chief Financial Officer

We Are:

Fermilab is America's premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and at locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

We are strategic risk takers, innovators, and collaborators. We are engineers, scientists, technicians, administrative professionals. We are over 2,000 employees advancing knowledge for the benefit of humankind. Fermilab has been at the forefront of particle physics for more than 40 years. We build world-leading accelerators and detectors to conduct some of the most advanced particle physics experiments possible. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with some of the most powerful computers in the world. We conduct this research on a 6,800-acre prairie, 35 miles outside Chicago, a treasure that has been designated a National Environmental Research Park.

You Will:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as a member of the Senior Management Team, will be responsible for the long- term financial and business strategy in support of laboratory mission, goals and objectives. This includes budget development and execution, relevant business-operations and efficiencies, work authorization systems, innovative collaborations, contract and compliance related matters, the acquisition of all goods and services required by the Laboratory, and the identification and mitigation of associated risks. The CFO provides professional advice and support to the Laboratory through the development, promulgation, and consistent application of financial policies and practices in compliance with the prime contract and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and DOE requirements.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provides business intelligence, leadership, professional analysis, projections, advice, counsel, and guidance to senior management on financial aspects of business strategy and operational issues.
• Leads the senior management team through a yearly prioritization process (with multi-year projection) of indirect-funded activities and supports their execution. Establishes internal budget formulation and monitoring processes. Provides accurate and timely budget and cost information to support management decision-making.
• Develops, promulgates, implements, and consistently applies financial policies, procedures and practices in compliance with the prime contract and applicable laws, regulations and DOE requirements. Keeps apprised of changing law, regulations, standards, and Department of Energy Orders and effects changes as appropriate.
• Responsible for the laboratory's system of internal controls over financial information, assuring integrity and adequacy of financial controls and compliance with the prime contract. Understands the design and implement lab wide execution of proper internal controls over financial transactions while ensuring industry compliance and confidence.
• Provides leadership and management of Controllership (Accounting, Payroll, Travel, Accounts Payable), Budget, Procurement, and Sponsored Program Administration functions. Recruits, retains and develops business staff to create a sustainable high performing organization.
• Works in coordination with Senior Science leaders, and the field financial managers in support of the divisions, to assure accountability and adherence to financial policies and practices.
• Works collaboratively with the Department of Energy and specifically the Office of High Energy Physics to coordinate the annual budget formulation process and other important funding matters. Responsible for the annual budget submission to the Department of Energy.
• Sets labor burden and indirect rates and chargeback pricing in accordance with Cost Accounting Standards, monitoring and redistributing variances as necessary.
• Executes contracts, purchase orders, and other legal documents with delegated procurement authority; and re-delegates that authority as appropriate to accomplish laboratory objectives.
• In cooperation with the Chief Information Officer, implements new financial management systems and enhances existing systems to meet the current and future needs of the laboratory. Participates in setting priorities with respect to business systems investments.
• Coordinates and collaborates with internal auditors throughout the fiscal year as various required internal and external audits are conducted. Serves as executive point of contact for all financial audits and assessments, internal and external.
• Works closely with the FRA Board and members of FRA to meet Corporate financial and business expectations.
• Abides by and is responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.
• Maintains a high-level of diplomacy and discretion in dealing with internal and external members as required.

• Respects, understands and values individual differences that embody the principles of diversity.

• Abides by all environment, safety, and health regulations.

We Are Looking For:

Minimum required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or related fields. A minimum of 10 years of experience in financial management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. Preferred Education and Experience: Master's degree or higher. More experience can be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required:

• Experience in a government or research environment preferred.

• Strong knowledge and skill in accounting principles and practices, including:

  • Budget development and execution,

  • Business-operations and efficiencies,

  • Work authorization systems,

  • Innovative collaborations,

  • Risk mitigation,

  • Contract and compliance related matters, and

  • The acquisition of all goods and services

• Excellent organizational planning, communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong leadership and management skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

Fermilab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes a diverse and inclusive environment based on mutual respect is essential to our mission. Fermilab is committed to recruiting and developing the most hardworking people and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, country of birth, geography/postal code, disability, marital status, parental or gestational status, or other non-merit factor.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab and FRA requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.