- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Bargaining Unit:
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- End Date if Temporary:
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Standard Work Schedule:
- Building:
- Salary Range: $140,000-$150,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Education Administration, the Senior Director of Finance and Budget provides financial leadership and direct oversight of the financial operations for education programs in the school. The incumbent will be responsible for business services and accounting operations, financial reporting, controls, and compliance, financial and productivity metrics and analysis, data collection, business planning, and for providing direction to the finance staff (2 professionals). The Senior Director serves as key liaison with Medical Center and Vagelos senior finance staff, and is a key member of Education’s administrative team, working closely with the Senior Associate Dean and senior Education leadership to develop an efficient, high-functioning financial, accounting, and reporting infrastructure to support the School’s faculty, students, and education mission.
Outstanding financial analysis skills are required, including the ability to design and prepare detailed financial reports that include qualitative discussions of financial drivers, budgets, and variances, and forward-looking implications. Necessary experience includes budget and/or other financial analysis, such as interpretation of financial statements. Expert-level computer proficiency (Microsoft Excel and Word) required, including an in-depth knowledge of spreadsheet packages. Demonstrated staff supervisory experience is required.
The successful candidate will be a self-starter with sophisticated knowledge of quantitative analysis who is capable of working with limited oversight to solve problems or to meet a need. Accuracy, attention to detail, creativity, plus the ability to work closely and collaboratively with a diverse group of administrators and faculty is essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills are a requisite, as is the ability to analyze and explain complex financial information to varied audiences.
Responsibilities
Business Services & Accounting Operations:
- Oversees Senior Finance Analyst(s) and Coordinator(s), who manage daily financial operations and transactions.
- Implement, communicate and manage financial policies, accounting systems, and financial controls; oversee processing of regular transfers, expense corrections, and cost allocations.
- Prepare and process labor accounting transactions.
- Monitor and manage outside billing and charging.
- Review and approve procurement, p-card, petty cash, and accounts payable activity.
- Supervise and coordinate the Department's financial closing processes including monthly closings, quarterly closings, and fiscal year closings.
- Oversee the Department's financial/accounting operations and payroll operations and provide operations management of various University budget / finance systems such as ARC, PAC, Finsys, & the Budget Tool.
- Provide fiscal oversight to a moderate grants and contracts portfolio.
Budget & Financial Reporting:
- Advises, educates, and serves as an internal consultant for school Education management on budget and financial issues.
- Provides budget and financial analysis support to the Senior Associate Dean for Administration and the other Education Vice and Associate Deans and Directors and their respective units.
- Manages and leads the budget and strategic/business planning processes for the School.
- Implements and maintains concurrent budget planning and monitoring processes in concert with the financial goals and objectives of the School.
- Provides regular reporting to Education leadership on the financial health of offices and programs, monitors actual results, identifies potential for shortfalls and recommends and suggests steps to prevent and correct variances.
- Prepares and distributes financial reconciliation reports.
- Identifies, recommends, and implements changes to processes and procedures to improve workflow.
- Analyzes, reviews and administers internal cost allocation methodologies, tuition funds flow analysis and similar; recommends changes as appropriate.
Finance Staff:
- Directs, manages, and develops Finance support staff of 2 professionals plus casuals.
- Conducts performance actions.
- Manages schedules to ensure adequate staffing of financial functions.
- Fosters growth and development of staff through effective coaching and by coordinating opportunities for continuing education, skill development, and career growth.
- Indirectly oversees training and evaluation of other Education staff who access and use financial systems and process transactions within CUMC Administration and across Education.
- Support a diverse and varied workforce.
- Be an active, involved member of the Education Administration team, supporting colleagues involved in all administrative functions including Human Resources, space, and technology management.
Financial Analysis and Special Projects:
- Develops quantitative analyses on the financial and operating performance of existing and new Education programs including Continuing Medical Education, Simulation Center, and other specialized support centers and programs.
- Makes recommendations for strategic and business action based on the outcome of analyses and impact of changes to financial and productivity models.
- Performs trends analysis and forecasting of major areas of revenue and expense.
- Creates and develops business plans.
- Develops cost-benefit analyses of proposed changes and initiatives including suggested workflow and operational changes.
- Oversees financial operations and analysis and provides support to develop models, business plans, and other tools to allow for more efficient financial analysis and decision making.
- Researches all key related business issues and incorporates findings into financial projections and recommendations.
Financial Controls and Compliance:
- Enforces University and School financial policies, rules, and regulations.
- Conducts internal audits, recommends corrective action; uses results to inform policies and systems.
- Primary point of contact for financial matters involving Education and CUMC, NYP, P&S, affiliates and external agencies.
- Meets fiduciary responsibility for financial controls and comply with all audit requirements.
- Ensures that school adheres to terms for endowment and other restricted funds.
- Attends routine meetings with Medical Center and School leadership and staff, gaining insight and knowledge regarding financial operating activity.
- Recommend and implement financial policies and procedures as appropriate.
Other Responsibilities:
- Cross covers other related administrative and finance positions as needed and performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus eight years of related experience.
- Master's Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration is required.
- Significant staff supervisory experience
- Demonstrated ability to manage and work effectively with complex financial systems, models and methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to and create and manage comprehensive reports, to plan, implement, and evaluate programs and services, and develop and maintain effective relationships with faculty, staff and administrators at all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and coalesce data from multiple systems and present it in a straightforward format (both financial and narrative as well as oral presentations).
- Demonstrated ability to identify solutions to complex problems, cutting edge skills with financial systems including spreadsheet preparation and presentation.
- Must possess excellent written and oral communication, as well as demonstrated strong interpersonal and organizational skills needed.
- Expert-level computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite, data warehouse and reporting tools, queries and reports.
Preferred Qualifications
- Related financial experience in an academic or medical center setting strongly preferred.
- Experience working in a college, university, or nonprofit organization preferred.
- Familiarity with Columbia University financial systems a strong plus.
- Experience with financial management of grants and contracts a plus.
Other Requirements
- A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.