Associate Director, Fringe Benefits Operations and Forecasting-Hybrid Schedule

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range:

Position Summary

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Benefits and Pension Accounting and Reporting, the Associate Director Fringe Benefits Operations and Forecasting oversees all financial and operational activities for the Fringe Benefits budgeting and forecasting operation.  The Associate Director is a critical member of the team, working closely with the Fringe Benefits Accounting team and the Fringe Benefits Pension teams, the Human Resources Benefits team, the Controller's Office, Office of Management and Budget, and Treasury Operations, to ensure the timely and accurate completion of deliverables.  The Associate Director assists the Executive Director in developing and managing the overall fringe benefit annual operating budget and the complex 5-year forecast model, maintains and updates the budget tool , conducts necessary budget analyses and reconciliations to ensure effective budget control and the integrity of various financial reports related to the budget, and compiles and analyzes financial reports and materials for quarterly and annual budget submissions, as well as period end-closings. 

Responsibilities

• Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

  • assists in preparing the annual fringe pool budget and developing the 5-year fringe pool  forecasts; collects information from various departments to prepare the 5-year forecast
  • maintains the budget module and the 5-year forecast model to ensure completeness and accuracy of data;
  • reviews budget and forecasts monthly, quarterly and annually and updates the budget and 5-year forecast within the budget module;
  • reviews the process of fringe pool recoveries to ensure compliance with all recovery policies and procedures;
  • accounts for all recoveries within the fringe pool to ensure complete and accurate financial close;
  • performs monthly and quarterly reconciliations including complex fringe pool and clinician pool reconciliations and analytics of all fringe pool recoveries accounts, to ensure accurate recoveries projections and budget control;
  • annual reconciliation of interdepartmental fringe pool charges and funding;
  • prepares variance analysis of fringe pool recoveries including - budget to actual, year-over-year, as well as quarter-over quarter variances; performs other analysis and projections as required;
  • monitors fringe pool activities to ensure actual results track to projections;
  • reconciles health and welfare plan expense activities in the financial system;
  • builds strategic relationships with other departments, actuaries, etc.;
  • dotted line supervisory responsibility for a Manager, Benefits Accounting
  • performs other related duties and special projects, as assigned including supporting Fringe Benefits Accounting and Fringe Pension Reporting teams;

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance related field plus a minimum of 5-7 years related experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• An MBA, CPA and/or other professional qualification is strongly preferred. 
• Experience in a higher education or healthcare environment strongly preferred, or any other non-profit accounting environment. 
• PeopleSoft financial experience a plus. 
• Knowledge of benefits (retirement and health and welfare programs) and budgeting/forecasting experience strongly preferred.

Other Requirements

• Supervisory experience required.
•  
• Exceptional skills are required in establishing/monitoring a controlled environment, preparing detailed reconciliation and analysis, and expertise in managing a detailed and complex monthly forecast process.

• Strong data management and reporting, analytical and mathematical skills and proficiency with financial systems including Excel and other office suite applications is required.

• Must be a hands-on, detailed oriented individual possessing an ability to manage multiple activities with competing deadlines.

• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills required. 

• Ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior University administrators essential.

• Must be able to negotiate issues and resolve problems.

• In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, and be flexible in nature.

• In addition, the successful candidate must be a strategic thinker, with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation, and a strong role model, and coach, with the ability to provide a positive working and learning environment for staff. 

• Must have a demonstrated passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.