photo by: Contributed Photo

Jeff DeWitt will serve as the University of Kansas' chief financial officer and executive vice chancellor for finance. He is scheduled to start his position on March 14.

The University of Kansas announced Wednesday evening that it had found its new chief financial officer and executive vice chancellor for finance.

Jeff DeWitt, the current chief financial officer (CFO) for the District of Columbia and former CFO for the city of Phoenix, Arizona, will be KU’s newest CFO. DeWitt has over 30 years of experience in public sector roles and is a “seasoned financial administrator,” according to a message from the chancellor.

“Our search for this position presented some tremendously talented candidates, which speaks volumes of the University of Kansas and the great work each of you is doing,” KU Chancellor Douglas Girod wrote. “Jeff stood out among this crowded pool of excellent applicants, and I am delighted he will be joining us.”

In his current role as CFO for the District of Columbia, DeWitt is responsible for a $16.9 billion annual budget and a six-year capital improvement program of $8.2 billion. He oversees 1,700 staff members, as well as the CFOs for the University of the District of Columbia, the United Medical Center Hospital, the Washington Convention Center and Sports Authority, and all District agencies, including public and charter schools.

University of Kansas spokesperson Joe Monaco said that DeWitt is scheduled to start his role at KU on March 14. His salary will be $335,000, Monaco said. KU’s former CFO, Diane Goddard, retired in December. KU does not currently have an interim CFO, Monaco said, but Goddard has continued to make herself available to KU after her official retirement date in order to help with the transition to a new CFO.

“As you know from previous campus communications, we have already begun to make some important changes to our finance and administration structure that better reflect our current challenges and opportunities,” Girod said in the message. “We look forward to Jeff’s leadership in helping us continue to enhance our financial process and practices.”