Assistant Director, Finance & Accounting

Under the direction of the Business Office Director, the Assistant Director of Finance and Accounting provides operational leadership for accounting, grants management, procurement compliance, and financial reporting for the Lake County campus. This position serves as the campus Grant Finance Designee and ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal financial requirements related to grants, gifts, accounting, procurement, travel, and asset management. This role supports strong internal controls by overseeing accounting, reconciliation, and compliance functions intentionally separated from student payment processing activities.

Location: East Chicago with frequent travel to Gary and Crown Point; some regional and statewide travel is required.

Responsibilities

• Grants and Gift Fund Management
  • Serve as the campus Grant Finance Designee as defined by the Systems Office.
  • Ensure compliance oversight for grant and gift procurement and travel business processes.
  • Assist with grant proposal development, budgeting, extensions, and award setup, including required forms and file maintenance.
  • Manage grant accounting activities, including pre- and post-award administration, budget modifications, journal entries, payroll costing allocations, payroll accounting adjustments, and required financial reporting.
  • Maintain grant award tracking, documentation, and task management using Asana in coordination with the Systems Office Grants Officer.
  • Train project directors and provide ongoing financial guidance to support compliant grant administration.
  • Manage gift fund accounting activity, billing, and reporting.
• Accounting, Reconciliation, and Financial Reporting
  • Perform and oversee accounting and reconciliation activities in accordance with College policy, ensuring appropriate separation of duties from cash handling functions.
  • Prepare and review journal entries, accounting adjustments, and supporting documentation.
  • Oversee inventory and fixed asset accounting, including asset additions, transfers, tagging, and disposals.
  • Prepare routine and ad hoc financial reports and analyses to support campus leadership and decision-making.
  • Support audit preparation and respond to financial and compliance inquiries as assigned.
• Procurement, Purchasing, and Travel Compliance
  • Approve Workday procurement transactions, spend authorizations, and expense reports in a compliance review capacity.
  • Provide purchasing and travel guidance to campus employees, ensuring appropriate documentation and policy adherence.
  • Provide procurement support, including obtaining quotes, coordinating bids, supporting contracts, managing purchase order cancellations, and processing disencumbrances.
  • Process vendor setup and maintenance, including new vendor requests and credit applications via DocuSign.
  • Coordinate travel arrangements, including airfare and lodging, in accordance with College policy.
  • Maintain procurement-related documentation and reference materials.
• Operational Support and Cross-Training
  • Collaborate closely with the Assistant Director of Bursar Operations to support seamless finance operations while maintaining required separation of duties.
  • Provide cross-training and backup support for business office functions during peak periods or staff absences, consistent with internal control requirements.
  • Represent the Business Office in compliance-focused, grant-related, and operational meetings as assigned.
  • Perform other duties logically associated with the position to support campus financial operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in accounting, grants management, procurement, or financial compliance.
• Knowledge of internal control principles and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a grant finance or compliance designee.
• Experience with Workday, Banner, Asana, and DocuSign.
• Experience in higher education, public sector, or grant-funded environments.

Selected candidate for employment will be subject to pre-employment background checks, including a criminal history check, and any offer of employment will be contingent upon that outcome.

Pay

$50,000 - $57,000 per year

Benefits

• Health & Wellness
  • Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution.
  • Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia.
  • Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses.
  • Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources.
  • Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care.
• Retirement & Financial Security
  • 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years.
  • Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage.
  • Short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Educational Benefits
  • Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
  • Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
  • Paid professional development opportunities.
• Work-Life Balance
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess.
  • Flexible work arrangements where available.
  • Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks).
  • Paid parental leave (4 weeks).
• Additional Perks
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
  • Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services.

Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.