Senior Director of Finance

Department: BSD PED - Administration

About the Department

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is a dynamic and stimulating place to work. We strive for the highest level of complex care for children from diagnosis and treatment; provide outstanding education and training for students, postgraduate scholars, and physicians; and nurture the research of Department scholars who seek to elucidate the causes of pediatric disease and identify promising new therapies. In addition to our provision of clinical care at UChicago Medicine (UCM) Comer Children’s Hospital and at our regional sites, we are currently expanding our clinical care across Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana. In collaboration with our partners in the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA; Advocate Children’s Hospital, and NorthShore University Health System). CCHA has responsibility for the care of almost 1 million children. The Department has 6 ambulatory sites and 3 inpatient sites of care across the region with the goal of providing care ‘close to home’ whenever feasible. Our mission is to improve the health of every child entrusted to us, in an inclusive environment that is committed to family-centered care, clinical excellence, impactful scholarship, effective disease prevention, and advocacy for the appropriate care of every child. We are especially committed to the children on the South Side of Chicago and to altering the inequities in healthcare.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Finance acts as the top financial advisor to the Executive Administrator (EA) and Chairman within the Department of Pediatrics and collaborates closely with senior leadership within the Department of Pediatrics, as well as the Division's Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance, as needed. In conjunction with the EA, plans, directs and implements all aspects of financial strategy, decisions and activities impacting the Department of Pediatrics toward the achievement of the Department's philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives. Collaborates with Department Chairman, EA, department leadership, and medical center leadership to develop and implement short and long-term strategic, operational, and financial plans for the department, including clinical business and program development, research development, and scholarship. Through the business development and strategic planning functions, provides sound leadership for the department's growth initiatives across the Chicago metropolitan area and multi-state geographies. Our department follows a hybrid work structure that fosters productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being. Working from the office is encouraged for tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Acts as the top financial advisor to the Executive Administrator (EA) and Chairman.
• In conjunction with the EA, plans, directs and implements all aspects of financial strategy, decisions and activities impacting the Department of Pediatrics toward the achievement of the Department's philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives.
• Recommends and oversees effective development and execution of fiscal strategy, leading the budgeting process for operating and capital budgets, revenue and expense management, financial reporting and accounting, oversight and management of incentive plans, and decision support services to ensure alignment with departmental mission, vision and goals.
• Ensures integrity and internal financial controls of annual operating budget and grant portfolio.
• Oversees the preparation of financial statements and reports and critical analyses of performance across all missions, best practices, benchmarks.
• Ensures accurate, timely, and effective reporting and budgeting.
• Monitors all aspects of revenue generation.
• Leads annual operating budget and capital budget to ensure strong programmatic/ financial linkages within Department of Pediatrics.
• Analyzes budget estimates, projections, and proposals for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to streamline financial and administrative operations through best practices.
• Analyzes and interprets financial information and assesses operational plans, forecasts and potential risks; evaluates alternative courses of action.
• Recommends strategies and tactics to improve performance.
• Identifies revenue optimization and expense reduction strategies; effective growth strategies and processes; and opportunities to leverage cross-program strengths to take advantage of new opportunities and/or to address organizational challenges.
• Maximizes available revenues as clinical reimbursement patterns change.
• Accountable for all restricted funding, including assuring compliance with sponsor requirements, accounting, reporting, and grants management.
• Oversees execution of physician compensation programs.
• Achieves optimal outcomes with respect to all financial activities.
• Using all financial and operational data available, provides strategies to support departmental programs, both current and proposed.
• Assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and recommends changes to systems and procedures to ensure conformance with budgetary provisions.
• Directs the activities of the unit's financial and research administration staff.

Strategy

• Collaborates with Department Chairman, EA, department leadership, and medical center leadership to develop and implement short and long-term strategic, operational, and financial plans for the department, including clinical business and program development, research development, and scholarship.
• Through the business development and strategic planning functions, provides sound leadership for the department’s growth initiatives across the Chicago metropolitan area and multi-state geographies.
• Influences the development of system-wide growth, learning and works collaboratively with finance, operations, medical leadership, section and department leadership.
• Identifies innovative ideas and initiatives to help encourage a vibrant spirit of innovation throughout the Department.
• Develops and fosters a keen understanding, builds relationships and business alliances in an assertive manner and exploits the Department's competitive advantages in the marketplace through unique, inter-departmental and inter-organizational relationships.
• Participates in a variety of assignments such as designing projects, providing thought leadership on various engagements and staffing teams.
• Provides programmatic leadership and input for all strategic plan implementation processes.
• Integrates strategies into daily operations and financial planning.
• Creates business plans and serves as chief information source for market assessments to facilitate physician recruitment, works closely with EA to ensure business plans are coordinated relative to mission, capital equipment, space, revenue and expense.
• In conjunction with EA and department leadership, formulates tactical planning for growth and viability of clinical programs.
• Conducts comprehensive feasibility studies for evaluation of programs.
• Develops clinical/operational programs to address programmatic/financial issues to ensure clinical, educational & research missions are being met.
• Participates in negotiating agreements, preparing strategic plans and other activities associated with the Department's affiliate hospitals or clinics.
• Organizes, plans, directs and supervises activities of key personnel to achieve HR/organization development goals, ensuring that all HR activities are carried out consistent with University personnel policies in appropriate/consistent manner.
• Oversees the review, negotiation, and execution of contracts on behalf of the Department in collaboration with UCMC Office of Legal Affairs and UCMC Network Development Office.
• Executes functional business plans and contributes to the development of financial goals, strategies, plans, and policies for the unit.
• Recommends the management of operating and capital budgets, information and accounting systems, revenue billing and collection, and the monitoring of expenditures on active accounts.
• Advises budgets for all areas within scope of responsibility. Directs 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

None specified.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• MBA or advanced degree in finance, health care administration or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative/supervisory experience.
• Experience in financial management, administration, personnel management, and business development.
• A minimum of seven years of healthcare experience.
• Proven track record of leading organizational economic performance.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights and anticipate trends. Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strategic thinking and ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans, considering the financial landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex environments, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in financial principles, practices, methodologies, and applications, including budgeting, planning, and reporting within the organization's financial ecosystem.
• Strong financial modeling skills within financial platforms.
• Excellent analytical and organizational abilities, with a focus on maximizing efficiency within financial systems.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to establish and maintain relationships at all organizational levels.
• Collaborative work style with strong consultative skills, facilitating effective engagement with financial stakeholders.
• Ability to independently develop and analyze alternative solutions and make recommendations.
• Ability to work closely with senior University officials.
• Ability to work effectively under considerable time pressure on high visibility, high-stakes projects.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet aggressive deadlines.
• High level of organization, planning, time management, and problem-solving skills to develop workable solutions to problems of varying complexity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, financial computing, and intellectual versatility and creativity.

Working Conditions

• Flexibility and ability to work effectively and gracefully under considerable time pressure with competing deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Eligible for hybrid work based on business needs and the demands of specific tasks. Working from the office is encouraged for tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Financial Management

Role Impact

People Manager

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.