Matthew M. Fajack, chief financial officer at the University of Florida, has been named the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s chief financial officer and vice chancellor for finance and administration.
Chancellor Carol L. Folt announced the appointment, effective June 9, following approval by the Board of Trustees. She selected Fajack after a national search and the work of a search committee led by James W. Dean Jr., executive vice chancellor and provost. Kevin Seitz has been the interim vice chancellor since October.
Fajack has served as the University of Florida’s vice president and chief financial officer since 2008. He has been primarily responsible for financial planning and analysis while overseeing the budget process, finance, treasury and accounting. His office implemented significant initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative processes. He helped design and implement financial systems and processes that centralized a formerly diffuse financial structure and more closely aligned decision making with the financial consequences of those decisions.
That experience, combined with three previous years as executive director of financial affairs at Kent State University and 14 years as chief financial officer for the Dallas-based Beta Capital Group, “positions Matt well to lead the strategic management of our University’s financial resources,” Folt said.
“He brings not only a wealth of experience at two distinguished public universities, but also a thorough understanding of risk management and administrative services,” she said. “Throughout Matt’s career, efficiency and improvement in business performance have been paramount.”
As vice chancellor, Fajack will serve as the principal finance and business officer. His responsibilities will include oversight of campus-wide financial planning and budgeting; treasury and risk management; facilities planning, construction and operations; real estate development; purchasing; public safety, environmental health and safety; and energy services.
Before joining Beta Capital Group in 1990, Fajack spent 11 years in the airline and security systems industries. He was an audit manager for Arthur Anderson & Co. A native of Ohio, Fajack earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota.
May 6, 2014