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Chief Financial Officer

Req Number: I0SOR4
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Posted: 8/28/2026
Category: Life Sciences/Healthcare : Hospital/Health Systems
Job Type: Permanent

The Health System
Children’s Wisconsin is a nationally ranked, freestanding, pediatric children's health system based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent healthcare system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. It offers a wide range of care and support for children of all ages. The $2.0 billion health system has a comprehensive service offering, a health plan, ambulatory facilities with 49 locations throughout the state and a strong academic partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Its services include medical care, dental care, child and family counselling, foster care, adoption, social services, child advocacy and injury prevention. Children's Wisconsin cares for every aspect of health — physical, social, mental and dental. It is a community of 7,500 dedicated team members that share an unwavering passion to care for kids. 

Children’s Wisconsin’s Services
Children’s Wisconsin provides care and services through a variety of clinical, digital and community settings throughout the state. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens, and young adults aged 0–21 throughout the Wisconsin region. Services include:
  • Hospital care
  • Specialty care
  • Primary care
  • Urgent care
  • Emergency care
  • Mental and behavioral healthcare
  • Child and family counselling
  • Dental care
  • Community health services
  • Foster care and adoption
  • Child advocacy services
  • School-based services
  • Family Resource Centers
  • Child abuse prevention and evaluation
  • Safety and injury prevention
Children’s Wisconsin has hospitals located in Milwaukee and Fox Valley. The Milwaukee campus offers comprehensive clinical services and is the base for Children’s Research Institute. The Milwaukee hospital offers a Level I children’s surgery center, an ACS-verified Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, which is one of two in the state, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a 76-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The Milwaukee hospital is one of the nation's leading pediatric facilities, earning top ratings from U.S. News & World Report and others.

The Fox Valley Hospital, located in Neenah, is the only hospital in northeast Wisconsin dedicated exclusively to the care of kids. It has 42 beds, including a 22-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill newborns. The 20-bed pediatric unit has specially trained staff who provide family-centered care for children of all ages. The Fox Valley Hospital also offers or supports a variety of resources and programs for children, parents, healthcare providers, teachers, caregivers, law enforcement and other community agencies to increase the safety and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Furthermore, Children's Wisconsin has specialty outpatient clinics in the region to provide specialized care locally for kids.

Select Partnerships
Children’s Wisconsin is doing more to meet the unique needs of every child and family it serves. Children’s Wisconsin knows that kids need healthy families and strong communities to live well. That’s why it develops services and community partnerships designed to support children and families where they live, learn, work and play. Children’s provides more than 7 million touchpoints annually to children, families, professionals and communities across Wisconsin.

Children’s Wisconsin is proud to partner with the Medical College of Wisconsin to bring many of the world’s most renowned pediatric doctors, advanced practice providers, and scientists to Wisconsin kids and families. Through a 30-year affiliation agreement renewed in 2021, Children's, MCW, and Children's Specialty Group (CSG) have deepened strategic, clinical, and academic alignment, creating one of the strongest pediatric care and research platforms in the country. Every day, its researchers are working to develop cutting-edge treatments and medical breakthroughs designed to improve the health of children. 
Children’s Wisconsin is committed to caring for children across the state and knows that children should have access to high quality specialty care close to home, which is why it established Connected for Kids, a pediatric joint venture between Children’s Wisconsin, Emplify Health (Bellin Health) and ThedaCare, which connects children, teens and families to the highest level of pediatric health and wellness services in Northeast and Central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

Forward Pediatric Alliance is a collaboration between Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health Kids, based in Madison, Wis., to expand access to world-class congenital heart care and improve health outcomes for congenital heart disease patients along the continuum of care.

Chorus Community Health Plans
Children’s Wisconsin is deeply committed to advancing population health by improving the overall health and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and families across the state. Chorus Community Health Plans (CCHP), an affiliate of Children’s Wisconsin, connects more than 100,000 individuals to high-quality healthcare services by partnering with community organizations, primary care providers, and specialists across the state to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes. By integrating care delivery with its award-winning health plan, Children’s advances impact upstream to deliver innovative, targeted programs that bring the right care, at the right time, in the right place, while breaking down persistent systemic barriers in healthcare. This integrated approach is strengthened by a deep commitment to community partnerships and helps Children’s Wisconsin achieve its mission of improving the lives of children in the region.

Mission, Vision & Values
Vision 
The children of Wisconsin will be the healthiest in the nation.

Mission 
CARE: Care, Advocacy, Research, Education

Values and Guiding Behaviors 
Children’s Wisconsin’s five values guide and inspire the organization. The guiding behaviors describe how it pursues its mission and vision. These actions demonstrate its passion and show how much it cares for and about children, families, and each other.

Purpose - We act in service of children and families.
  • I focus on what matters most to children and families.
  • I am passionate about providing the safest, highest quality and most equitable care and services.
  • I hold myself and my colleagues accountable for high performance and resource stewardship.
Collaboration - We work together to care for and about children, families and each other.
  • I respect and value diverse backgrounds, styles and perspectives.
  • I invite and recognize the strengths and contributions of others.
  • I include people in decisions that impact them.
Integrity - We build confidence and trust in all interactions.
  • I assume positive intent and treat others with respect, equity and compassion.
  • I listen for understanding and communicate openly and honestly.
  • I follow through on commitments and decisions.
Health - We are at our best.
  • I make choices to achieve balance and well-being at work and at home.
  • I cultivate a sense of belonging through connection, appreciation, respect and care.
  • I am aware of my own moods and cast a positive shadow.
Innovation - We commit to improvement with breakthrough ideas and solutions.
  • I learn from children, families, colleagues and the community.
  • I embrace curiosity and change through the open exchange of feedback and diverse perspectives.
  • I create an environment where it is safe to learn from experiences and try new things.

Purpose of the Position
The Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will lead Children’s Wisconsin’s financial strategy, stewardship and operations, including accounting, financial reporting, capital planning, investment activities, treasury, financing relationships, tax compliance and external financial partnerships. This includes recognizing and leveraging Chorus Community Health Plans as a distinctive asset in advancing population health, access, affordability and financial sustainability. The CFO will provide executive oversight across core financial and administrative functions and ensure financial performance is aligned with organizational priorities and long-term strategic objectives.
The CFO is a key member of the Senior Team and CEO Advisory Group, serving as a trusted strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team to shape strategy, enable growth, and strengthen mission impact. The CFO will define the financial vision and lead in delivering exceptional service. This leader will help Children’s Wisconsin navigate an evolving healthcare landscape while supporting high-quality outcomes for children and families across the region.

Reporting Relationship: 
Gil Peri, President and Chief Executive Officer

Direct Reports:
Vice President, Accounting and Financial Reporting
Vice President, Financial Planning and Decision Support
Vice President, Network Strategy and Development
Vice President, Revenue Cycle
Vice President, Supply Chain
President, Chorus Community Health Plans

Key Responsibilities
  • Provide strategic leadership for financial services, ensuring long-term financial strength, operational excellence and sustainable growth aligned with Children’s Wisconsin’s mission and priorities.
  • Build and lead a high-performing finance organization capable of supporting a complex pediatric health system through effective financial planning, talent development, accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Provide strategic leadership for finance and performance excellence across the organization, aligning resources, analytics, and execution to advance growth, operational excellence, financial sustainability, and superior patient and family outcomes.
  • Serve as executive staff liaison to the Finance, Investment, Audit & Compliance Committees, and support the Children's Wisconsin System and Chorus Community Health Plans Boards, providing strategic counsel, governance leadership, financial oversight, and regular presentations on organizational performance, risk, strategy, and key business initiatives
  • Lead the development of annual operating and capital budgets, multi-year forecasts and long-range financial plans aligned with organizational priorities and growth initiatives.
  • Partner with executive and operational leaders to evaluate strategic opportunities, including partnership opportunities, service line growth, ambulatory expansion, access initiatives and clinical program development.
  • Develop financial models and business cases to inform growth, operational initiatives and strategic decisions, including recommendations to expand or optimize services that support mission and financial sustainability.
  • Oversee treasury, liquidity, debt strategy, capital structure and relationships with financial institutions, auditors and rating agencies to maintain a strong financial position.
  • Provide governance, financial, and operational oversight for Chorus Community Health Plans, ensuring strong performance across population health, payer strategy, value-based care, access, affordability, quality outcomes, and regulatory compliance while advancing the health of children and families.
  • Monitor industry trends, reimbursement dynamics and emerging financial models to improve organizational performance and support future investment.
  • Lead revenue cycle strategy and performance, including patient access, revenue integrity, reimbursement optimization, billing, collections and operations.
  • Establish financial performance measures, monitor results and partner with leaders across the enterprise to identify opportunities and implement corrective actions when needed.
  • Oversee the preparation and communication of financial reporting, forecasting and analysis to support executive leadership, governance and strategic decision-making.
  • Lead enterprise capital planning to effectively prioritize resources and deploy capital consistent with Children’s Wisconsin’s strategic objectives, growth agenda and financial goals.
  • Oversee supply chain including expense management, supplier and contract governance.
  • Partner with government relations to assess healthcare policy, reimbursement, regulatory requirements and financial reporting changes and develop appropriate organizational responses.
  • Partner across clinical, operational and administrative teams to improve efficiency, resource utilization and long-term value creation.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, engagement and professional development across all areas of responsibility.
  • Set annual goals and performance priorities with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team and ensure measurable progress against strategic objectives.

Year One Critical Success Factors
  • Establish trust and credibility across the organization and broader community. Build strong relationships with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board, physician and clinical leaders, operational partners, finance team and key external stakeholders to develop a deep understanding of Children’s Wisconsin’s mission, priorities and growth objectives.
  • Serve as an accessible, collaborative enterprise leader, considering the needs of the entire system. Engage across the health system to strengthen relationships, increase financial transparency and connect strategic financial decision-making to exceptional care, operational excellence and long-term sustainability.
  • Assess and strengthen the finance function ensuring it supports organizational priorities. Foster a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement through clear goals, talent development, succession planning and performance management.
  • Partner with leadership to align financial plan with Children’s Wisconsin’s new 5-year system strategic plan for growth and investment priorities.
  • Strengthen long-term financial stability by improving performance, optimizing resource allocation and enabling sustainable growth while preserving Children’s Wisconsin’s mission and commitment to exceptional pediatric care and overall improvements in child health and well-being.
  • Develop a strong understanding of Children’s Wisconsin’s operating model, academic partnership and regional referral strategy to support its continued leadership in pediatric healthcare.
  • Leverage AI, data and technology to improve efficiency, strengthen financial insight, streamline processes and support better enterprise decision-making.

The Candidate
Experience and Professional Qualifications
  • Demonstrated progressive executive leadership experience in healthcare finance with increasing scope and complexity. Prior experience serving as a CFO, Deputy CFO, Senior Finance Executive or equivalent leadership role within a large, complex health system, children’s hospital, academic medical center, integrated delivery network or similarly sophisticated healthcare environment is strongly preferred.
  • Experience leading financial strategy and operations within organizations navigating growth, transformation and evolving reimbursement environments. Experience supporting ambulatory expansion, service line growth, physician integration and strategic capital investment is highly valued.
  • Demonstrated expertise across healthcare financial disciplines including financial planning and analysis, treasury, capital structure, budgeting, forecasting, revenue cycle, reimbursement strategy and enterprise financial performance management.
  • Exposure to payer strategy, reimbursement optimization, pediatric healthcare economics, managed care, risk-based arrangements and population health initiatives is preferred.
  • Growth mindset with experience supporting strategic initiatives including business planning, partnerships, affiliations, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and evaluation of new growth opportunities.
  • Demonstrated success aligning financial strategy with operational priorities while influencing across a complex, matrixed environment and partnering effectively with executive, physician and operational leadership teams.
  • Strong strategic and strong analytical capabilities with the ability to evaluate complex issues, make informed decisions, solve problems creatively and translate financial insights into actionable business strategies.
  • Servant leader with proven experience building and developing high-performing teams through mentorship, succession planning, talent development and accountability.
  • Demonstrated executive presence, organizational agility and the ability to lead through influence, collaboration and change while fostering strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Experience communicating effectively with Boards of Directors, rating agencies, financial institutions and other external partners while maintaining credibility and trust.
  • Experience in technology adoption (Workday, Epic, Microsoft Teams, etc.) and visualization skills to drive insight, action, efficiency and effectiveness; embraces AI as an enabler of improved performance and decision-making.

Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or relevant field is required.
  • Master’s degree or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is required.   

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.

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