Assistant Director of Finance

This is a 100% career position located within the Department of Public Health Sciences, a large, complex teaching, research, and clinical department with 5 divisions, 5 centers and programs, over 50 faculty, 250 staff, and 300 student employees. The department has grown by nearly 10% in total FTEs since 2022 and by 21% in Faculty FTEs over the same period, with NIH funding doubling in three years from $14 million to $28 million annually and total extramural awards exceeding $75 million annually.

About the role

The Assistant Director of Finance serves as the senior financial leader in the Department of Public Health Sciences, providing oversight for departmental budget development, financial reporting, contracts & grants, gifts/endowments, funds flow, reserve management, financial agreements, accounts payable, and contract administration. This position provides strategic financial guidance to the Department Chair, Division Chiefs, and Center Directors, playing a critical role in fiscal planning for the department’s $60M+ operating budget.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership and guidance to department leadership, including fiscal planning and decision-making.
• Oversee departmental budget development, financial reporting, and reserve management for a $60M+ operating budget.
• Manage contracts, grants, and sponsored projects, including pre- and post-award financial administration, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university regulations.
• Delegate work to the Contracts and Grants Supervisor 2 and manage a team of Finance and Research finance analysts to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations.
• Oversee funds flow, financial agreements, accounts payable, and contract administration.
• Analyze financial data and reports to draw meaningful conclusions and provide actionable recommendations.
• Implement internal controls to strengthen the financial control environment.
• Supervise professional staff, including providing guidance, performance management, and professional development.

Key Responsibilities Allocation

• 35% - Strategic Financial Leadership
• 35% - Budget Development and Oversight
• 20% - Supervision and Team Management
• 10% - Contract, Agreement Management, and Compliance

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or equivalent experience/training.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, accounting, or financial management, including experience in budgeting, reporting, and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff, including providing guidance, performance management, and professional development.
• Experience working with fiscal policies, procedures, and regulations applicable to university, healthcare, or research administration environments.
• Experience managing contracts, grants, and sponsored projects, including pre- and post-award financial administration.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills to independently coordinate and complete complex projects in a matrix organizational structure.
• Ability to work with minimal direction, take initiative, and solve problems quickly.
• Ability to assess situations, needs, and issues, and identify and develop effective solutions and strategies.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet and database applications for financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and accounting policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of organizational policies and procedures related to procurement, travel, and expense management.
• Knowledge of federal financial guidelines as stated in Uniform Guidance.
• Knowledge of state and foundation grant/contract budgeting, financial reporting, and fund use policies.
• Understanding of research administration guidelines for federal and non-federal sponsors in a publicly funded university.
• Knowledge of compliance requirements for research administration, including financial conflict of interest.
• Client services orientation with strong listening, communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and deal with changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience in a university or academic medical center setting, particularly in research finance or departmental administration.
• Familiarity with extramural funding requirements (NIH, NSF, other federal/state agencies).
• Experience with budget forecasting, FTE planning, and long-range financial planning.
• Experience with Aggie Enterprise (Oracle Financials).
• Experience supervising multiple functional areas (e.g., research administration, purchasing, contracts and grants revenue, accounts payable, accounts receivable).
• Knowledge of University financial and data systems such as Aggie Enterprise, Aggie Expense, Cognos, UC Path, Tableau, and related business practices, policies, and procedures.
• Expert ability to effectively communicate complex findings and recommendations verbally and in writing.
• Expert interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations.
• Expertise in internal control practices and skills implementing controls that strengthen the control environment.

Skills

• Supervising employees and managing performance.
• Budget preparation, analysis, reconciliation, and forecasting.
• Controlling complex budgets and anticipating potential problems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new finance, accounting, and research-related applications.

Pay

Monthly salary range: $8,775.00 - $17,375.00. Annual salary range: $105,300.00 - $208,500.00; budgeted up to $165,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-time (100%), hybrid (mix of on-site and remote work), Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Benefits

• High-quality, low-cost medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family.
• Retirement plans, including pension and other retirement savings plans.
• Supplemental insurance: additional life, short/long-term disability, pet insurance, legal coverage, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity.
• Paid leave: pregnancy and parental leave, family & medical leave, adoption assistance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Lactation Support Program and family care discounts and resources.
• Employee Well-being resources and programming.
• On-site Employee Assistance Program with free mental health services.
• Continuing Education allowance and Staff Education Reimbursement Program for eligible employees.
• Access to free professional development courses and learning opportunities.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer and Student Loan Debt Counseling Program.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Standing: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Walking: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Sitting: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Lifting/Carrying: Occasional, 0-25 lbs, up to 3 hours.
• Pushing/Pulling: Occasional, 0-25 lbs, up to 3 hours.
• Bending/Stooping: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Squatting/Kneeling: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Twisting: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Reaching overhead: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Sustained attention and concentration: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Complex problem solving/reasoning: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Ability to organize & prioritize: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Communication skills: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Numerical skills: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Constant interaction: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Customer/Patient contact: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Multiple concurrent tasks: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.