Director of Finance

Details

Posted: 15-Mar-24

Location: USA - MA - Cambridge

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Categories:

Administrative/Support
Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 65013BR

Job Summary

The Director of Finance is part of the senior team within the College Dean's Office. This position serves as the senior advisor to the Dean of Administration & Finance on all matters related to the finance and budget development for Harvard College. The position has daily managerial oversight of all funds and fund sources of approximately $70M budget for the College and is responsible for all financial transactions and budget processes. The Director works closely with department administrators throughout the College to ensure policy and procedural alignment; partners with Unit heads and colleagues at FAS-Human Resource and in FAS-Faculty Affairs on workforce planning; and helps to develop policies to enable the administration of the College.

Position Description

Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Budget Management and Financial Reporting

• Applies financial expertise and sophistication in navigating complex financial challenges and overseeing budgets across 42 College departments, with over 800 funds and multiple income sources
• Oversees development of $70M College-wide budget including preparation of College-wide annual budget guidelines and notifications
• Sets College-wide expenditure priorities and evaluates unit budget submissions
• Monitors spending and accounting throughout the year across all funding sources and department allocations
• Is responsible for the year-end closings and reconciliations
• Prepares detailed budget and financial analyses, modeling and forecasting for College leadership
• Oversees the preparation of College-wide financial reports
• Conducts quarterly and annual budget meeting with College units
• Directs College units on all finance matters, including stewardship of restricted funds, philanthropic funding proposals and other revenue generating initiatives

Financial Operations and Compliance

• Oversees general accounting and ensures the College's compliance with GAAP, institutional and FAS regulations
• Stewards rollout of new financial systems in the College including security authorizations
• Reviews and communicates new financial policy and policy changes
• Works with OGC and Strategic Procurement on contracts
• Is responsible for College asset management utilizing the University asset management system including addition of new assets, tagging equipment, conducting equipment inventory review and retiring of assets
• Organizes financial workshops for College department administrators and program staff including developing workshop content and materials, inviting speakers, and facilitating
• Collaborates closely with affiliated offices to stay aligned with new financial management practices and emerging policies

Department Administration

• Consults with and assists College units in hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluating department and financial administrators; provides ongoing support and mentorship to more junior DA's
• Collaborates with DAs and financial administrators on unit level operational projects
• Serves as an ongoing resource for Unit heads on financial stewardship and operational efficiency

Planning, Policy Development, Process Redesign, and Project Management

• Sets precedent and engages creative approaches to systemizing, operationalizing, and making processes duplicatable

• Serves on the College Policy Advisory Committee and leads policy development to support College financial administration. Provides policy input to FAS and Central administration as needed to ensure that the College's unique needs are represented in the final policy determinations
• Works closely with administrative partners within and beyond the College to review, revise, and implement administrative process improvements in finance, human resources, space allocation, and information technology
• As a senior member of the College administration, leads projects and project teams to improve financial and operational management of the College and to ensure alignment across multiple departments

Supervision and Office Management

• Recruits, hires, trains, oversees, evaluates, and develops two professional staff (assistant directors) and one support staff
• Sets team goals and direction
• Ensures alignment with overall departmental and College goals
• Provides resources and support for the team

Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 10 years' relevant work experience with 8 years' experience as a financial budget/finance officer
• 3 years' supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelors degree in finance, accounting, or related field; MBA or Masters degree in relevant field preferred
• Strong knowledge of accounting (CPA, for instance) and knowledge of advanced financial administration principles
• High-level analytical skills
• Ability to provide financial forecasts and models
• Excellent communication skills
• Deft use of financial reporting software and competence with technology tools for business (project management, collaboration applications, etc.)
• Experience and demonstrable administrative skills, managing people, resources, and projects (technology, space, and/or staff)
• Strong collaboration skills
• Interest in higher education mission and administration
• Competence with Microsoft Office Suite, with particular skill with advanced Excel

Physical Requirements

Occasional carrying, lifting, or moving for events or meetings

Working Conditions

Additional Information

Harvard College is a close-knit undergraduate community within Harvard University. With world-class faculty, groundbreaking research opportunities, and a commitment to a diverse environment of bright, talented students, Harvard is more than just a place to get an education—it's where students come to be transformed.
The College enrolls over 7000 students and oversees their academic, residential, and co-curricular experiences. The College is comprised of six major administrative units including the Office of the Dean, the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Student Services, the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship, and the Office for the Arts.

Benefits

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