So, how well do you know your CFO? A recent survey by NACUBO, reported on in Inside Higher Ed by Jack Stripling, finds that they are mostly white and male and a lot have MBAs. They consider not having enough money and "the belief that you are infinitely available" as their two most vexing problems. About one-third say that coping with deans is a problem.

“The tough part for us is we have to be the people willing to say no,” [Bob] Keasler said.

As the survey suggests, deans are the administrators who are often on the receiving end of that tough news. But that’s as it should be, Keasler said.

“It’s a dean’s job to lobby for his area, and that’s one of the things I tell new people in this business is to expect that and to be glad when you have a dean who’s passionate about what they do and passionate about their programs,” he said. “If you don’t have one like that, then worry. They might not be much trouble, but that’s not a good sign.”