Our Mission and Culture

Columbia Finance provides central financial stewardship and services in support of the distinguished teaching, research, and patient care undertaken by University faculty, students, staff, and external partners.

Columbia Finance is comprised of the offices of Management and Budget; Controller; Internal Audit; Procurement; Treasury; Registrar; and the Investment Management Company.

In addition to managing centralized operations, our goal is to enable the success of a broader finance network of administrators across the University. To that end, we:

  • Strive for operational efficiency and strong internal controls in our division
  • Provide tools and training to financial managers across the University
  • Enable the use of financial data for effective decision-making across the institution

Through our business and technical expertise, leadership in the management of the resources of the University, and commitment to customer service, we continue building upon a foundation of operational excellence and compliance that enables the University to fulfill its mission and goals.

As we engage Finance employees in the pursuit of our mission, we emphasize values that include effective communication, collaboration, adaptability, leadership, collegiality, and customer service. 

Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis.

It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the University to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.