The characteristics and qualifications of chief financial officers (CFOs) of large public universities, the internal organizational relationships of CFOs, and their responsibilities were studied in 1983. Findings of a similar 1973 study are also considered. A total of 135 usable questionnaire responses provided information on age; sex; length of time as CFO; previous professional experience; career goals; educational level; specialization in highest degree; selection factors; relationship with the president, governing board and chief academic officers; areas of responsibility; and title of position. Respondents also indicated the scope of the CFO's responsibilities and the variables that affected the scope of responsibility, including enrollment size and student composition, single- or multi-campus structure, and the CFO's qualifications. It was found that most CFOs carry the words "vice president" in their title. In one-fifth of the colleges, business and financial responsibilities were shared by two or more vice presidents. Academic training for CFOs seemed to be mainly in business administration and management, although several respondents had specialized in educational administration. Additional findings and eight recommendations for further study are presented. (SW)