Reorganisation of VPFC

The Finance and Controlling division is facing various challenges, such as increasing and rapidly changing regulatory requirements. These are resulting in greater reporting obligations and rising costs to ensure compliance. This is compounded by the financial pressure caused by rising costs at the same time as federal contributions are stagnating or falling. Although increasing third-party funding is making a positive contribution to the financing of university operations, it is also driving up the complexity of planning and reporting processes.

What are the reasons for the reorganisation?

In order to equip himself organisationally for the forthcoming challenges, Stefan Spiegel, as Vice President for Finance and Controlling, launched a broad-based participatory process for the further organisational development of his Executive Board domain in November 2024. This process served to develop various solutions by June 2025.

The adapted organisational structure now comprises five administrative departments instead of three. ¡°I expect the flatter hierarchy to result in shorter decision-making processes, faster procedures and an improved ability to adapt to change. We need clear processes and rules, but we also want to remain flexible,¡± says Spiegel.

The five administrative departments and their areas of responsibility

• The Accounting and Treasury department, led by Marco Str?ssle, continues to focus on ensuring transparent presentation of our assets, financial position and results of operations in accordance with the relevant regulatory requirements. In the future, it will also increasingly provide support and accounting work for ETH Zurich¡¯s holdings and subsidiaries. It is responsible for financial and operational accounting, subledgers, treasury (cash and asset management), and ensuring a proper internal control system (ICS).
• The Controlling department supports the Executive Board and ETH units with financial planning, forecasting, budgeting and reporting. It provides the necessary processes for transparent financial management at ETH, is responsible for the design of the financial management and control systems, and ensures the unification and standardisation of ETH-wide controlling processes. The department is led by Tekla Kopcsai.
• The Financial Management and Compliance department provides comprehensive support to ETH units when it comes to processing financial transactions and project reporting to external donors. It is responsible for ensuring financial compliance and developing and operating an ETH-wide compliance management system. Accordingly, the department makes a significant contribution to transparent, compliant and efficient financial processes. It is currently being led by Pasquale Nigro on an interim basis.
• The Management Information and Digitalisation department, with its Competence Center SAP and Institutional Research sections, is led by Markus Knaus. It is responsible for the operation and further development of ETHIS and for providing a basis for decision-making regarding the operational and strategic management of ETH. The Digital Transformation Office supports and coordinates administrative initiatives for digitalisation and standardisation.
• As before, the Procurement and Export Services department is responsible for the strategic orientation of procurement at ETH. This department also supports units in complying with export control regulations, goods dispatch, travel and commercial purchasing issues. It is led by Tobias Thanscheidt.

With a view to the future, Stefan Spiegel says: ¡°I look forward to working with the management team and all employees as we maintain this course and further develop our domain. As a valued and competent partner for financial matters, we want to continue supporting and advising executives and administrators across all areas in the future.¡±

More information is available at www.fc.ethz.ch