About The Family Institute
Through research, education and clinical services, The Family Institute at Northwestern University (“The Family Institute”) is one of the nation's leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing children and adolescents, couples, families, and individuals.
The Family Institute recognizes the impact relationship-based behavioral health has on some of our greatest societal challenges. That’s why, for over 50 years, they are leading the growth and evolution in relationship-based behavioral health research, education and therapy to provide powerful and positive change for their clients, students and in the field.
The Family Institute is a collaborative team of over 125 clinicians and faculty who engage in continuous learning, consultation, information sharing and providing effective referrals. Clients receive personal and prompt attention, clinical excellence, professional discretion and confidentiality. Services include diagnostic assessment, psychological testing and consultation, as well as individual, group, couple and family therapy. The Family Institute serves clients who pay directly (private pay), clients insured by BlueCross and BlueShield, and clients who are seen in the Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, who pay no fee. The Clinic is staffed by outstanding graduate-level therapists-in-training, who are educated and supervised by The Family Institute’s renowned therapists.
In cooperation with Northwestern University’s Graduate School and Office of Research, The Family Institute houses the Center for Applied Psychological & Family Studies. Their long-standing partnership with Northwestern University ranks The Family Institute among the top relationship-based behavioral health graduate education and research programs in the country. Students enrolled in these programs are taught by nationally known clinicians who practice at The Family Institute. Clinicians are dedicated to ensuring students receive the high quality hands-on experiential training possible, both at The Family Institute and in the community.
Through research, The Family Institute scientifically investigates their interventions to better understand the therapeutic process and to develop improved treatments. As the leading center for relationship-based therapy, with a large and diverse client population, The Family Institute is uniquely positioned to pursue path-breaking research on individuals, couples and families. The Institute has led the way in developing and assessing the impact of using feedback data in therapy to improve outcomes.
With an annual budget of $75 million, The Family Institute is at the forefront of growth and evolution within healthcare, and specifically within behavioral healthcare. The Family Institute continues to take a leadership role in the movement of evidence-based care enabling analyses that will lead to meaningful findings important to improving care through the field of behavioral health. The Family Institute embraces change, establishing itself as an outcome-driven organization understanding new technologies and approaches resulting in higher expectations for client and student outcomes and impact.
For more information on The Family Institute, please visit their website.
The Opportunity
Reporting to and partnering with The Family Institute’s CEO, Jana Jones, the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) will be the organization’s top finance executive with frequent and regular Board exposure.
As part of The Family Institute’s Senior Executive Team and partner to the CEO, the CFO will ensure the organization maintains its strategic alignment, strengthens operational practices, upholds organizational standards, preserves a culture of excellence, and fosters leadership development to sustain consistent, high-quality results across all areas.
The CFO will manage an eight-person team, leading, managing, directing and coordinating the fiscal functions and management oversight for administrative support services including Finance, Information Technology, Risk Management, and Facilities Management.
The CFO will work with Board members to support The Family Institute’s financial and organizational health and growth trajectory. The CFO will work closely with the audit/finance committee of the Board of Directors and will be responsible for preparing, interpreting, and effectively communicating financial information and analysis to the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors in order to facilitate sound financial decisions.
The CFO will also be expected to provide strategic leadership across IT and Facilities, ensuring these functions effectively serve internal stakeholders and support TFI's overall mission. As a key operational leader, the successful candidate will drive cross-departmental collaboration to deliver integrated solutions that impact the entire organization.
Direct responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Preparing financial information and recommendations utilizing forward-looking predictive models and activity based financial analysis for strategic and business decisions.
- Enforcing sound business and financial systems policies, procedures and internal controls; ensure the accuracy of accounting and financial procedures in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and nonprofit best practices.
- Engaging members of the Executive Leadership team to facilitate collaboration, ensuring all financial and IT solutions support The Family Institute’s strategy and mission.
- Leading the organization development of the annual budget and multi-year planning, assuring the development of individual and departmental plans and budgets are consistent with the strategic plan and overall budget.
- Directing short-term and long-range plans and budgets based on the organization’s directional statements and recommendations; providing financial forecasts for operating and capital planning and budgets.
- Overseeing the facilities management functions, with a Director of Facilities as a direct report, to include, but not limited to asset management, predictive maintenance systems, work order management, preventive maintenance, capital improvements, procurement, and stakeholder experience, as it pertains to the four office locations and properties leased and operated by The Family Institute.
- Overseeing the Information Technology function, with a VP of IT as a direct report, to include systems and data security, strategic and annual IT planning, Help Desk staffing, and managing an out-sourced IT partner.
Candidate Profile
The Chief Financial Officer of The Family Institute will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics, among others:
An Expert in Finance and Planning
As a key strategic partner to the CEO, the CFO approaches challenges and solutions with a collaborative, and constructive mindset, supporting the success of the entire organization. Skilled in presenting complex financial information to the Executive Team and Board, the CFO demonstrates exceptional quantitative, analytical, and communication abilities. With intellectual agility and a naturally inquisitive mindset, the CFO combines strategic vision with tactical expertise, maintaining the ability to delve into detailed financial analyses while ensuring the organization’s overall financial well-being. Staying attuned to changes in the health and technology sectors, the CFO ensures financial and administrative operations adapt effectively. By leveraging financial modeling, data visualization, and metrics-driven insights, the CFO equips leadership with tools to fulfill the organization’s mission and enhance performance. Above all, the CFO prioritizes actionable outcomes, focusing on optimizing systems, processes, and relationships to drive results.
A Strategic Leader with Business Mindset
The CFO of the Family Institute will have a proven track record of converting strategy into effective execution. As The Family Institute continues to thrive, the CFO will be a future-minded financial leader who will serve as a visionary for the organization. A great listener and sound problem solver with excellent reasoning skills, this leader has the ability to understand and deal with complexities with ease and creatively overcome obstacles to achieve goals. This leader will be a ‘doer’ with the ability to drive decisions independently when necessary, but who prefers to and finds themselves most productive in collaboration and consistent communication with staff and leadership. A tactical executor, the CFO will have a strong data and analysis orientation and a proven ability to use metrics and data visualization to drive decisions and achieve strategic objectives. With the ability to engender trust, honesty, and integrity, the CFO’s management style will be empowering, organized and efficient. The CFO will be a builder with the ability to set priorities decisively, delegate responsibilities, assure accountability, and allocate resources to ensure results.
A Team Builder and Collaborative Leader
The CFO will establish rapport and cultivate relationships across all levels of the organization, including Northwestern University, fostering trust and collaboration among team members. While embracing the culture of The Family Institute, the CFO will keep a consistent eye on opportunities to foster best-in-class practices in a productive manner with colleagues. This individual brings a deep appreciation for complex, business challenges and an excitement to be part of a team that is focused on identifying creative and strategic solutions. In addition to ensuring the financial sustainability and resilience of the organization, the CFO will foster a culture of collaboration by delegating effectively and empowering team members to grow and excel in their roles. Consequently, the CFO will foster an environment based on communication, reciprocal cooperation, respect, transparency, and accountability. The CFO will be highly organized, have exceptional interpersonal and listening skills, and will motivate others to further The Family Institute’s mission.
A Passion for the Mission
The CFO will be energized by The Family Institute’s mission and commitment to helping families live healthier, strong lives. They will be an empathic, charismatic leader, treating others with respect and will have a strong faith in humanity. The CFO will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation. Experienced in working with diverse populations, the CFO will have the character and integrity necessary to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies. Lastly, this person will uphold The Family Institute’s core values including valuing differences and a commitment to equity.
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated annual salary range for this role is $225,000 - $275,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Family Institute provides competitive benefits including health, a 403(b) retirement savings plan, generous time off, and professional development.
Contact
Marissa Delgado and George Theotokatos of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest, please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile. Any questions can be directed to the team via email at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Family Institute is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.