The Assistant or Associate Director of Finance is responsible for the financial compliance and operations of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), Virginia Tech’s largest research institute with $40 million in annual sponsored funding and expenditures. Management level of either assistant or associate director will be determined based on the credentials of the successful candidate.
At the Assistant Director level, this position plays a key supporting role to VTTI’s leadership team. At the Associate Director level, this position serves as an essential member of VTTI's leadership team and primary point of contact with university officials for finance. *
This position has responsibility for business development, administrative leadership, research administration, and resource planning, including leadership and coordination of institute financial planning, debt financing, operations budget management and sponsored research budget management. The Assistant or Associate Director of Finance will ensure institute accounting procedures are in compliance with university, federal, state and contractual regulations. The incumbent will be accountable for the accounting operations of the institute, to include design and implementation of periodic financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls designed to mitigate risk and enhance the stability of the Institutes fiscal infrastructure.
* At both the Assistant and Associate levels, this role offers strong potential for advancement within VTTI's leadership structure for high performing individuals who demonstrate strategic insight, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership.
Responsibilities:
• Leadership and Team Management: Supervise and lead the finance team, ensuring effective collaboration and productivity.
• Fiscal Compliance: Ensure all financial activities comply with university, state, and federal regulations.
• Financial Oversight: Oversee the financial operations of VTTI’s research portfolio, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Policy Development: Develop and maintain financial policies and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate financial risks associated with research projects.
• Audit Coordination: Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring timely and accurate responses to audit inquiries.
• Resource Allocation: Manage the allocation of financial resources to optimize the impact of research funding.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate financial information and insights to senior leadership, researchers, and other stakeholders.
• Strategic Planning: At the Associate Level, this position will contribute to strategic financial planning and decision-making to support the research goals of the organization.
Directions given and received:
• The Assistant or Associate Director of Finance will report directly to VTTI’s Chief Finance / Operating Officer.
• The successful candidate will lead VTTI’s fiscal team, consisting of multiple fiscal technicians and post-award managers.
• Interface regularly with VTTI’s pre-award team, project management office, and research team members.
• Collaborate with the Virginia Tech (VT) Controller's Office, the VT Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), VT Procurement, VT Contracts, VTTI Pre-award, VT Legal, and VT Risk Management to ensure compliance with state, federal, and university guidelines and procedures.
