Executive Director of Operations, Finance

About this role

Department OPS Operations, Strategy, and Finance About the Department Our office plays a vital role in advancing the University of Chicago’s mission and supporting groundbreaking research by overseeing essential parts of campus life, including our buildings, technology, human resources, and safety and security. Our team works together to ensure the University’s daily operations run smoothly and help keep our campus community safe and thriving — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Job Summary With oversight from the Associate Vice President of Operations, Strategy, and Finance, this position has primary responsibility for budget, finance, accounting, and billing process activities for all entities within the VP Operations umbrella. This role will develop VP Operations’ annual and long-range operating budget, monitor its financial performance, ensure compliance with established budget targets, develop and evolve its long range funding model, develop and maintain its chart of accounts, oversee compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), develop and monitor internal control guidelines, ensure compliance with internal billing best practices, serve as an external point of contact to the CFO’s Office, the Budget Office, and Financial Services, comply with requests for financial information, forecasts, and analysis both internally and externally, provide operational, managerial, and strategic recommendations to University decision making bodies, identify areas of financial or operational improvement, identify and standardize best practices across the various entities, and perform other financial analyses. Responsibilities • Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of annual and long-range operating budgets for all VP Operations entities.   • Prepares financial forecasts, analyzes budget-to-actual variances, and ensures compliance with established financial targets.   • Oversees long-range funding models, identifies underperforming entities, and recommends financial and operational improvements.   • Stewards capital budgets for ITS (Information Technology Services) and DSS (Department of Safety and Security), including project lifecycle management.   • Establishes, documents, communicates, and implements financial, accounting, and recharge administration standards, policies, and internal controls.   • Ensures adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including revenue recognition, accruals, and capital asset accounting.   • Oversees year-end financial close processes, reviews and approves accounting transactions, and responds to audit inquiries.   • Develops and maintains the organizational chart of accounts, including modifications and segment management.   • Oversees compliance with internal billing, chargeback best practices, and sponsored award recharge guidelines.   • Performs rate analysis, develops new service rates/pricing, and evaluates recharge-related assets.   • Conducts financial analysis and reporting, such as historical analysis, spend reports, incremental cost analysis, and personnel metrics. • Supports the evaluation of new service offerings, initiates improvements, and standardizes best practices across all entities.   • Acts as a key liaison to the CFO’s Office, Budget Office, Financial Services, and internal/external customers; provides requested financial data and analysis. • Oversees departmental administration and strategic planning, leads staff development and recruitment, and manages role-based system access.   • Solicits and implements feedback from customers to enhance financial services and operational efficiency.   • Identifies , standardizes and implements process and workflow improvements across the VP Operations portfolio.   • Completes other financial analyses and other duties as assigned by senior leadership.   • Manages financial staff, usually other managers.   • Establishes performance goals, allocates resources and assesses policies for the related departments managed.   • Oversees functional business plans and contributes to the development of financial goals, strategies, plans, and policies for the unit.   • Ensures the management of operating and capital budgets, information and accounting systems, revenue billing and collection, and the monitoring of expenditures on active accounts.   • Establishes budgets for all areas within scope of responsibility. May direct quarterly and year-end reporting for the operating budget.   • Performs other related work as needed.  

Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications  

Education:   • Master’s degree or higher.  

Experience:    • 15+ years work experience in a finance and accounting capacity.   • 10+ years direct management experience.   • Background in higher education in one or more of the following: human resources, information technology, law enforcement, or facilities management.   • Understanding of recharge administration and sponsored award compliance practices.  

Certifications:    • One or more professional certifications, active and in good standing, including but not limited to, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).  

Preferred Competencies • Financial Analysis and Forecasting - develop budgets, conduct complex financial analysis, and interpret variances.   • Capital and Asset Management - understanding of capital budgeting, asset tracking, and depreciation.   • Recharge Administration - proficient in recharge rate analysis, sponsored award compliance, and internal billing best practices.   • Strategic Planning - align financial strategies with organization-wide goals and support decision-making.   • Staff De

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