Careers

Job Description:

• Serves as a source of staff support for the programs and sub-units, performs complex evaluations, and resolves difficult problems in these areas.
• Provides financial input based on the development of data collection, metrics, reports, and other analytical applications.
• Understands available data sources and uses that information for creating clear and concise presentations to leadership.
• Leads initiatives to optimize resource utilization to achieve unit strategic objectives and manage all aspects of the unitâ™s financial operations, including accounting, financial analysis and reporting, budgeting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, procurement, and financial controls.
• Creates financial management models for establishing financial analytics and forecasts. Responsible for regular, internal financial reporting to unit and University leadership.
• Develops financial projections, including long-range planning models and corresponding methods for tracking critical operating metrics.
• Organizes and oversees budgeting systems and procedures for researching, compiling, monitoring, and analyzing the unitâ™s monthly budget-to-actual status.
• In collaboration with unit leadership, sets budgetary priorities.
• Oversees the development of fiscal policies, financial plans, procedures, and controls for the unit.
• Reviews, evaluates, and advises the unit on multi-year program financial plans, program objectives, level of program activities, resource requirements, and program effectiveness.
• Develops strategies proactively to address issues or problems with financial results and ensure balanced operations; provide financial reports with supporting data and analyses of specific issues.
• Identifies and explains variances and suggests revenue enhancements and cost containment measures. Employs methodology for ongoing reporting, analysis, and updates of budget variances.
• Provides financial input based on the development of data collection, metrics, reports, and other analytical applications.
• Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses to monitor and manage for expense optimization by identifying market drivers, enhancing strategies, or improving revenue generation.
• Oversee the analysis of new revenue sources and provide recommendations to unit leadership.
• Manages and interprets reports and data to recommend revenue, budget, or similar unit financial strategies.
• Develops long- and short-term plans to achieve financial goals, business strategies/objectives, and financial forecasts/models for the unit and all degree and non-degree programs and unit initiatives.
• Analyzes and models academic program financial data, including historical vs. current enrollment data, program costs, and other academic program variables, to determine program break-even benchmarks and profitability goals.
• Oversees and leads annual budgeting and planning process; administers and reviews all financial plans and budgets; monitors progress and changes; and keeps unit leadership team abreast of financial performance and position.
• Serves as subject matter expert in interpreting and applying University budgeting policies and procedures in the unitâ™s budgetary formulation, analysis, review, and control processes; and in identifying current and future resource-planning and allocation issues.
• Based on a comprehensive understanding of the unitâ™s current and forecasted position, reviews and partners with leadership to finalize proposed budgets, ensuring compliance with established budget parameters.
• Reviews, analyzes, recommends, and implements processes and procedures to improve the annual budget process.
• Ensures the development and administration of the annual budget and financial performance from systems and procedural/process standpoints.
• Oversees monitoring of all procurement activities, including vendor contracts and approval of purchasing and expenditure activities.
• Ensures the successful management of contract administration, resolution of post-award issues, execution of amendments, monitoring of supplier performance, and receipt or deployment of contract deliverables.
• Oversees the management of the employee credit card program, out-of-pocket expense reimbursements, electronic check payments, purchase requisitions, and invoicing.
• Supervises Finance staff, establishes performance goals and allocates necessary resources.
• Ensures the onboarding of all new staff, including training on financial policies and procedures.
• Facilitates and maintains a close working relationship with central accounting, budget, and procurement departments to ensure up-to-date communications and updates on University financial processes, procedures, and services, and to determine the most effective means of providing these services to UCPE.
• Creates and maintains a Financial Operations manual for staff with relevant University policies and procedures; communicates relevant updates or changes; and delivers unit or department-wide training on pertinent fiscal materials as necessary.
• In collaboration with human resources staff, guides unit leadership and departmental directors in interpreting and implementing human resources policies, procedures, and programs.
• Spearheads training to divisional academic and administrative employees on the Universityâ™s implementation of a new accounting system.
• 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, enhance strategies, or improve revenue generation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• MBA or advanced degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public policy, not-for-profit administration, or a related field.

Experience:

• 7+ years of progressively responsible work experience in financial management, financial services, accounting, academic budgetary roles, or related disciplines.
• Mid- to senior-level skills in financial and data analysis, modeling, forecasting, and formulating long-term strategic plans.
• Experience directly supervising staff.
• Background in a university setting or other not-for-profit enterprise.

Certifications:

• CPA certification is a plus.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Financial computing and database software applications.
• Knowledge of various financial principles, practices, and applications, including budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of GAAP accounting principles and restricted fund accounting.
• Familiarity with the University of Chicago's financial systems and structure is a plus.
• Skilled at analysis, spreadsheet modeling, and forecasting.
• Design, implement, and sustain a workable budget model.
• Experience with accounting and budget systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Competencies

• Work closely with senior University officials and discrete and trustworthy with financial records and conversations.
• Excellent leadership, influence, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment with non-negotiable deadlines and comfortable operating independently and within a certain level of ambiguity.
• Manage interpersonal relationships, develop positive working relationships, and communicate clearly and tactfully.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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