After searching high and low, NYU has found its new Chief Financial Officer in its very own backyard. Previously the Vice President for Financial Operations and University Treasurer, Stephanie Pianka will take on the role of Senior Vice President for Finance and Budget and CFO, effective June 15, 2017.

Pianka’s previous duties included revolutionizing the university’s financial systems to incorporate globalized, state-of-the-art business information and support. In her new position, the university expects her to continue to check and improve NYU’s financial operations with a focus on effective budget planning, affordability, supporting research initiatives and enhancing the diversity of the NYU community. 

In an interview with Washington Square News, Pianka said that after five years at NYU, she has an understanding of the university’s global, student-focused academic and research missions.

“I look forward to partnering with our senior leadership team, our schools and the NYU community to develop sound financial approaches that will support this mission,” Pianka said.

Pianka said she wants to build upon the already-existing strengths of the university’s finance team, both in the central administration and in the individual schools under NYU’s umbrella. 

Prior to her time at NYU, Pianka held a number of finance, management and operations positions at major firms including GE, Avaya and Data General, both in the United States and abroad.

Executive Vice President for Finance and Information Technology Martin S. Dorph said in an interview with WSN that Pianka is currently spearheading efforts to reduce costs for students through better purchasing practices. He said that affordability for students was a focus of her old role and will continue to inform her decisions moving forward.

“[Pianka] has been responsible for many operational improvements in the areas she has overseen, and we expect her to bring that creativity and drive to the entire finance operation,” Dorph said. “She developed a highly focused, metric and customer-oriented finance organization delivering continuous improvement, strategic solutions and best-in-class financial services to the NYU community.”

Dorph also said that she won’t be independently making decisions as the CFO — she will have a key financial adviser as budget requests are approached. 

NYU Spokesperson Matt Nagel said that Pianka is part of a reorganization initiative headed by NYU.

“This position is part of a reorganization and realignment of operational and strategic responsibilities under the Executive Vice President,” Nagel said.

However, Dorph said that the search for the perfect candidate for CFO was both nationwide and local.

“After a nationwide search, Stephanie Pianka was selected as NYU’s Senior Vice President for Finance and Budget and Chief Financial Officer,” Dorph said. “Quite simply, she was the best candidate for the job.”

Edit: this article originally listed NYU’s Executive Vice President for Finance and Information Technology as Martin S. Dorf. His name is correctly spelled Martin S. Dorph.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, May 1 print edition.

Email Miranda Levingston at [email protected]