Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer serves as the Director of Finance and Facilities and is a key member of the leadership team for the College of Biological Sciences (CBS), providing strategic direction for financial and facilities matters and ensuring that the academic vision is supported by financial and facilities resources. The Director leads the development, implementation, and assessment of the college's short- and long-term financial strategies including fiscal administration, budget planning, facilities, and institutional research. The Director of Finance and Facilities serves a critical role in maintaining current operational strengths and identifying strategic opportunities to support the Collegeâ™s growth.

The Director is the Resource Responsibility Center (RRC) Manager for the college and represents the college to central administration and other University units on budgetary and fiscal matters. This position may represent the college on standing and ad hoc University-wide committees and maintains productive relationships with central leaders in the functional areas listed above. 

The successful candidate will possess outstanding financial, analytical, and strategic-budgeting skills; executive-level communication skills and excellent interpersonal abilities; demonstrated high productivity; familiarity with a complex and fast-paced academic administrative environment; a consistent drive towards excellence; and a high level of integrity. 

About the College

CBS includes five academic departments, one research institute, two field stations, and a plant conservatory with approximately 150 faculty, 210 staff, and 60 postdoctoral researchers. Two academic departments are shared with the Medical School. CBS serves approximately 2,300 undergraduates and 280 graduate students. In FY 24, CBSâ™ annual operating budget totaled $112.8M and included $35.5M from the 203 active grants, including 102 exceeding $100,000 in expenditures. CBS provides essential financial support to shared infrastructure, initiatives, and multi-collegiate events that foster research collaborations. 

This is a primarily in person role with some flexibility for remote work. This position is located on the Saint Paul campus.

Anticipated starting salary: $155,000 to $170,000
Anticipated start date: early - late November 2024
Priority application deadline: September 29, 2024

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategy

-Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of CBSâ™ short- and long-term financial strategies; analyze, interpret, and communicate information pertaining to the financial performance of the college; make recommendations concerning the strategic allocation of resources, business processes, and policies; develop strategies to improve financial performance and efficiency; identify trends and changes in resources and expenditures that may require action.

-Collaborate with the CBS dean and senior leadership team to implement and oversee a comprehensive model for the creation, reporting, and use of administrative data for planning, decision making, and daily operations in the college.

-Collaborate with the Medical School Dean's Office on finance and facilities matters and other shared interests; ensure values of the partnership are reflected in our processes, procedures, and the success of our shared departments.

-Foster a workplace environment where unit leadership and employees are committed to principles and practices of respect, diversity, inclusivity, continuous improvement, excellent customer service, integrity, and teamwork.

Financial Administration

-Serve in the formal University roles of Chief Financial Manager (CFM) and RRC Contact for CBS. Maintain open and frequent contact with many central administration offices, including the Office of Budget and Finance, the Controllerâ™s Office, Sponsored Projects Administration, and Human Resources to ensure compliance with University policies and procedures.

-Work with the dean and other collegiate leaders on the collegiate budget and planning process, including preparation of the annual budget, the allocation of resources to CBS units, and the development of CBS strategy and options in the annual campus Compact process. Align resource allocation with the financial strategy, the values and priorities of the College and University, and operating objectives and processes. 

-Within the framework of University guidelines, determine overall objectives, priorities and processes to ensure effective financial systems and practices that can be consistently deployed throughout CBS. Interpret, document, and systematize communication of financial policy and processes for CBS leadership, faculty and staff; follow-through as necessary and appropriate.

-Oversee the full range of university financial issues, including, but not limited to, the following within CBS: sponsored and non-sponsored projects financial administration, capital asset inventory, tuition and fee policies, internal service organizations, external sales, royalties, effort certification, endowments, scholarships, payroll, financial transaction, and reporting systems.

-Oversee the college financial services made up of the CBS Financial Services Team and BioGEN Financial (in cooperation with the Medical School), both of which are made up of a team of P&A, civil service, AFSCME, and student staff handling grants and contracts, external sales, financial reporting, financial management and accounting, scholarship management, gift processing, and budgeting. Directly supervise the CBS Finance Manager and have dotted-line supervision of the Finance Supervisor of BioGEN.

-Serve as collegiate point of contact for the Department of Internal Audits. Coordinate internal financial audits, which includes coordinating submission of documentation requested by Internal Audits, drafting response to any findings, and ensuring that auditor findings are resolved.     

Facilities, space, and capital planning 

-Oversee facilities, space, and capital planning for CBS including research, teaching, field station, and administrative needs by determining funding availability for facility-related projects as identified and prioritized by the CBS Facilities Manager in consultation with college leadership 

-Supervise and oversee work plan for CBS Facilities Manager, who serves as the collegeâ™s RRC Facilities Lead and head of the CBS Safety Committee. 

-Oversee generation of CBSâ™ submissions for the Six-Year Capital Plan, Annual Capital Budget, and other capital planning documents.

Required Qualifications

-Bachelorâ™s degree

-At least 12 years of related experience of progressively responsible fiscal and management experience, including leading an organization in the development and implementation of its financial strategies and overseeing an organization's fiscal administration and budget

Preferred Qualifications

-Masterâ™s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or related area

-Related experience at the University of Minnesota, another institution of higher education, or another large, complex, mission-driven organization

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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