Senior Financial Systems Audit and Analytics Architect

About The Department

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) is the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering, integrating science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. UChicago PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are enhanced through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, and the broad excellence of scholarship and education on campus. In the next phase of growth as a School, PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean and COO, the Senior Financial Systems Audit and Analytics Architect leads the design, integration, and optimization of financial information systems and controls. This role develops dashboards, conducts financial audits, and creates predictive models to support PME’s long-term strategy. The position partners across finance, IT, and research administration and plays a key part in UChicago’s Oracle ERP implementation. As a strategic financial advisor, the Architect informs budgeting, forecasting, and investment decisions for all funding streams. The role leads reporting and operational efficiency efforts in collaboration with Finance, Treasury, and Risk. It also promotes best financial practices throughout the university. The Architect ensures compliance, strengthens fiscal health, and drives process transformation. Bridging complex financial analysis, audit oversight, and systems transformation, the Architect optimizes revenue recovery, strengthens compliance, and enhances data-driven decision-making for leadership across the University.

Responsibilities

• Architects, enhances, and maintains advanced financial reporting systems, dashboards, and analytic tools to maximize accuracy, accessibility, and insight for decision-makers.
• Conducts detailed financial audits including unbilled and unpaid receivables, collaborating across departments to resolve discrepancies and strengthen controls.
• Designs, creates, and implements new integrative reports and analyses on an ad hoc basis to support evolving and time-sensitive needs.
• Champions ethical and responsible AI integration in financial management processes and report design.
• Expands audit analytics to proactively identify and mitigate risk, strengthen compliance, and safeguard financial integrity, building scalable solutions for School-wide and campus-wide use.
• Leads process automation and optimization projects, collaborating with PME and University-wide teams to align Oracle and related data architectures.
• Buils and maintains predictive financial models, working closely with leadership to forecast resource needs and guide investment strategies.
• Performs comprehensive audits, including sponsored awards, receivables, unbilled and unpaid; resolves discrepancies, and implements improvements to strengthen financial controls.
• Develops and deliver unit-wide grant activity and portfolio analyses, identifying trends, risks, and strategic opportunities.
• Holistically reviews and organizes COA and POETAF segment naming conventions to ensure common use of secondary segments across entities and support robust, coherent campus-wide financial reporting.
• Leads cross-functional initiatives to automate billing and account receivable processes, partnering with central and school-level teams.
• Analyzes faculty and operational unit funding portfolios, including evaluating past funding success, current grant activity, trends and spend rate, and strategic alignment with PME goals; and recommends areas for improvement.
• Advises stakeholders on compliance, risk management, and scenario-planning related to institutional and sponsored funding.
• Supports annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning cycles, actively informing executive-level strategy.
• Fosters collaboration and communication across programs, finance units, and external partners to optimize collections and compliance efforts.
• Initiates and oversees projects focused on system innovation, compliance, and efficiency.
• Serves as an experienced liaison interacting with financial administrators within operational units on financial, budget or accounting matters to prepare, advise and recommend.
• Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses to monitor and manage for expense optimization by identifying market drivers, enhancing strategies, or improving revenue generation.
• Reviews estimated expenditures. Develops expenditure projections and periodic budget variance reports. Prepares forecasts as well as analyses.
• Acts as a resource for team members, solves complex problems. Explains complex and sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, information systems, or directly related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: 5-7 years of progressive experience in financial systems, audit, reporting, and analytics within higher education or research-intensive environments.
• Technical Skills: Deep Oracle ERP proficiency and financial IT integration expertise. Advanced analytical, modeling, and report development skills (Excel, BI tools, SQL).
• Preferred Competencies: Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage change, and influence at all levels. Detailed knowledge of grant management, receivable tracking, and compliance. Excellent communication, teamwork, and stakeholder management skills. Strong problem-solving ability, strategic thinking, and process optimization aptitude. Familiarity with federal, private, and institutional grant regulations.