Strategic Projects Manager, University Finance Office
Position Purpose
The Manager of Strategic Projects is a visionary, high-level individual contributor responsible for leading complex operational transformations within the University Finance Office. Reporting directly to the AVP for Finance, this role's primary and most urgent mandate is to re-engineer and modernize the University’s endowment and investment reconciliation processes. Secondary initiatives include optimizing the gift revenue accounting cycle and transitioning student account reconciliations to the Bursar’s Office.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Endowment & Investment Reconciliation Redesign (Priority Project - 50%): Objective: Completely modernize and automate the reconciliation workflows between the Investment Custodians (e.g., TNT, Northern Trust), the General Ledger (Workday), and the Endowment Management System (Fundriver).
Process Re-engineering: Conduct a deep-dive audit of current month-end investment accounting tasks. Work alongside the Investment & Financial Reporting Manager to transition away from manual spreadsheet-based "statement balancing" toward automated unitization and market value validations.
Alternative Investments Workflow: Redesign the tracking, recording, and reconciliation mechanisms for Alternative Investments, capital calls, distributions, and K-1s. Establish a more streamlined solution for capturing fair market value adjustments (ASC 820) for illiquid assets.
Audit & Control Implementation: Establish a new, rigorous monthly and quarterly review cadence. Create comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensuring that investment activity is accurately unitized in Fundriver and securely posted to the General Ledger well ahead of fiscal year-end audit deadlines.
Gift Revenue Cycle Optimization (20%): Objective: Resolve historical reconciliation issues between the Development Office’s donor database (CLARA) and the Finance General Ledger.
Workflow Integration: Analyze the "holding/clearing fund" process. Redesign the workflow to minimize the volume of gifts sitting in suspense accounts during month-end and quarter-end close.
Student Account Reconciliation Transfer (30%): Objective: Lead the strategic "lift and shift" of student account reconciliations from the Controller’s Office to the Bursar’s Office.
Process Mapping: Audit current workflows performed by the Accounting Manager/Senior Accountant related to student financials and optimize.
Interim Execution & Handoff: Serve as the transitional process owner to stabilize student account and agency fund reconciliations (e.g., Cal Grants, Title IV). Once the vacant University Bursar position is filled, systematically train the new Bursar and their staff to take over these reconciliations.
Qualifications
Strategic Process Design: Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of financial process re-engineering, specifically within the context of university business offices.
Complex Investment Accounting: Deep technical understanding of GAAP, ASC 820 fair market value adjustments, and the accounting lifecycle of Alternative Investments including capital calls and K-1s.
Experience in the use of technology to illustrate complex financial reports, comparisons, impact studies.
Commitment to understand and support Santa Clara University’s distinctive Jesuit educational vision and further the mission, values and goals of the University.
Skills
Technical Process Architect: Demonstrated mastery in auditing manual, spreadsheet based "statement balancing" workflows and rebuilding them into automated, unitized validation models.
Change Management Leadership: Proven ability to act as a catalyst for change, driving the adoption of modernized workflows across disparate departments (e.g., Development, Controller, and Bursar) without direct supervisory authority.
Advanced Financial Analytics: Expert-level ability to use technology to illustrate complex financial reports, perform impact studies, and execute creative solutions to historical reconciliation issues.
Strategic Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, necessary for leading high-stakes project "handoffs" and training senior staff on new institutional processes.
A commitment to inclusion and diversity and a demonstrated ability to work with an increasingly diverse campus community.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA or Master's degree highly preferred.
Years of Experience
10-12 years of progressive accounting experience, with demonstrated success leading complex operational transformations in complex organizations.