Rice University
Director of Finance
Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
Special Instructions to Applicants:
All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.
Position Summary:
This position within the Office of the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences provides expert advisory support to the Dean and Assistant Dean on the development of annual and long-term budget plans and serves in a leadership capacity in the preparation of the school's annual budget. This position will work with the Assistant Dean to develop and manage the annual budget.
This position advises and assists the Dean and Assistant Dean with the management of all school funds, including university, gift, endowment, and research funds. This position is responsible for the school and academic department finances. This includes submitting and monitoring financial transactions for the Dean’s office, reviewing and approving expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers. This position will make sure that transactions for the Dean’s office and the academic departments and programs are posted correctly.
The director manages special projects and analyses which are broad in scope and support both budget planning and strategic planning.
Responsibilities include complex finance functions and activities with programmatic impact on the institution, requiring professional expertise and application of internal policies and systems and external regulations. This position will monitor expenditures for the dean's office and all departments and centers in the school and submit balance transfers, cost transfers, and labor distributions. This position will have a deep understanding of the reason for each financial transaction and help in effectively implementing financial transactions. This position prepares all financial reports and provides forecasting and analyses to assist the Dean & Assistant Dean with strategic planning. It also provides accounting support to the department, maintains and updates the SoNS division accounting system, verifies the school’s internal expense tracking with the iO accounting system to make sure all expenses are posted correctly, and provides the dean and assistant dean with account statements.
Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate must have strong MS Excel skills, rigorous attention to detail, and the ability to present findings effectively. The ideal candidate will possess excellent organizational, communication, and relationship skills, a collaborative mindset – both within the school and across the university – and a proven track record of successful financial management and operational planning. The candidate will be an excellent steward of the school’s resources, embodying high intelligence, integrity, and ethics. They will have respect for differing opinions, a willingness to seek consensus when appropriate and make difficult decisions when necessary, and the capacity to build partnerships and establish respect, trust, and rapport with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
Workplace Requirements
On-campus position:
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at GRB 100E Deans Suite on the Rice University campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range:
$100,000 to $115,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
4+ years of related experience.
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.
Skills:
Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business support resources
Excellent data reporting skills
Excellent presentation, verbal, visual, and written communication skills
Excellent critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Excellent leadership, resources management, and project management skills
Ability to move easily between broad, strategic thinking and the day-to-day management of the school.
Ability to devise, prioritize, execute, and achieve results in a complex institutional environment with multiple demands on time and attention
Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Demonstrated ability to apply financial and analytical skills based on a firm understanding of the mission, strategy and operating principles of the school/unit
Demonstrated ability to work and interact effectively with individuals representing a broad range of skills and experiences and the ability to build coalitions and inter-functional teams to leverage synergistic relationships
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, project management, presentation and oral and written communication skills
Preferences:
Master’s Degree
Advanced knowledge of Excel
Experience with Oracle-based systems
Rice and/or higher education experience
Essential Functions:
Works closely with the Assistant Dean to develop and manage the school budget
Performs analytical, finance, and control functions; multi-dimensional reconciliations and related analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves transactions and higher-level dollar value transactions
Monitors financial transactions for the Dean’s office and the departments.
Creates and submits financial transactions for the Dean’s office and when needed for the departments.
Reviews and approves expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers.
Confirms that transactions for the Dean’s office and the academic departments and programs post correctly.
Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
Runs monthly financial reports for the school and academic departments, identifies errors, and takes action to correct errors.
Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains broader organizational and university perspective in decision-making
Works closely with school departments, centers, and programs
Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing, and analyzes results
Leads and supports unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives
Represents organization to client groups and external partners; serves as subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise
Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes
Serves as approval for expenditures and transactions, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures as well as specific guidelines on restricted funds
Develops and maintains procedures, policies, and systems for the finance administrative area.
Performs other duties as assigned
Additional Functions
Assists with labor distributions for the Dean's office and when needed, departments and centers within the School of Natural Science
Acts as the subject matter expert for the academic departments regarding the interpretation, implementation, and compliance with Rice’s financial operational and operational policies and regulations
Recommends actions and/or resolves complex financial operational issues within the school.
Assists with pre and post award research administration
Provides advice on balances and fund expenditures such as payroll, travel, and purchases, including advice regarding compliance with relevant guidelines
Provides guidance to departments when needed
Works closely with department administrators and finance staff within the School of Natural Sciences
Works closely with the budget office, controller's office, and research and cost accounting
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels. It considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.
Position Summary:
This position within the Office of the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences provides expert advisory support to the Dean and Assistant Dean on the development of annual and long-term budget plans and serves in a leadership capacity in the preparation of the school's annual budget. This position will work with the Assistant Dean to develop and manage the annual budget.
This position advises and assists the Dean and Assistant Dean with the management of all school funds, including university, gift, endowment, and research funds. This position is responsible for the school and academic department finances. This includes submitting and monitoring financial transactions for the Dean’s office, reviewing and approving expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers. This position will make sure that transactions for the Dean’s office and the academic departments and programs are posted correctly.
The director manages special projects and analyses which are broad in scope and support both budget planning and strategic planning.
Responsibilities include complex finance functions and activities with programmatic impact on the institution, requiring professional expertise and application of internal policies and systems and external regulations. This position will monitor expenditures for the dean's office and all departments and centers in the school and submit balance transfers, cost transfers, and labor distributions. This position will have a deep understanding of the reason for each financial transaction and help in effectively implementing financial transactions. This position prepares all financial reports and provides forecasting and analyses to assist the Dean & Assistant Dean with strategic planning. It also provides accounting support to the department, maintains and updates the SoNS division accounting system, verifies the school’s internal expense tracking with the iO accounting system to make sure all expenses are posted correctly, and provides the dean and assistant dean with account statements.
Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate must have strong MS Excel skills, rigorous attention to detail, and the ability to present findings effectively. The ideal candidate will possess excellent organizational, communication, and relationship skills, a collaborative mindset – both within the school and across the university – and a proven track record of successful financial management and operational planning. The candidate will be an excellent steward of the school’s resources, embodying high intelligence, integrity, and ethics. They will have respect for differing opinions, a willingness to seek consensus when appropriate and make difficult decisions when necessary, and the capacity to build partnerships and establish respect, trust, and rapport with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
Workplace Requirements
On-campus position:
This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at GRB 100E Deans Suite on the Rice University campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range:
$100,000 to $115,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
4+ years of related experience.
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.
Skills:
Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business support resources
Excellent data reporting skills
Excellent presentation, verbal, visual, and written communication skills
Excellent critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Excellent leadership, resources management, and project management skills
Ability to move easily between broad, strategic thinking and the day-to-day management of the school.
Ability to devise, prioritize, execute, and achieve results in a complex institutional environment with multiple demands on time and attention
Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Demonstrated ability to apply financial and analytical skills based on a firm understanding of the mission, strategy and operating principles of the school/unit
Demonstrated ability to work and interact effectively with individuals representing a broad range of skills and experiences and the ability to build coalitions and inter-functional teams to leverage synergistic relationships
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, project management, presentation and oral and written communication skills
Preferences:
Master’s Degree
Advanced knowledge of Excel
Experience with Oracle-based systems
Rice and/or higher education experience
Essential Functions:
Works closely with the Assistant Dean to develop and manage the school budget
Performs analytical, finance, and control functions; multi-dimensional reconciliations and related analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves transactions and higher-level dollar value transactions
Monitors financial transactions for the Dean’s office and the departments.
Creates and submits financial transactions for the Dean’s office and when needed for the departments.
Reviews and approves expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers.
Confirms that transactions for the Dean’s office and the academic departments and programs post correctly.
Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
Runs monthly financial reports for the school and academic departments, identifies errors, and takes action to correct errors.
Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains broader organizational and university perspective in decision-making
Works closely with school departments, centers, and programs
Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing, and analyzes results
Leads and supports unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives
Represents organization to client groups and external partners; serves as subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise
Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes
Serves as approval for expenditures and transactions, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures as well as specific guidelines on restricted funds
Develops and maintains procedures, policies, and systems for the finance administrative area.
Performs other duties as assigned
Additional Functions
Assists with labor distributions for the Dean's office and when needed, departments and centers within the School of Natural Science
Acts as the subject matter expert for the academic departments regarding the interpretation, implementation, and compliance with Rice’s financial operational and operational policies and regulations
Recommends actions and/or resolves complex financial operational issues within the school.
Assists with pre and post award research administration
Provides advice on balances and fund expenditures such as payroll, travel, and purchases, including advice regarding compliance with relevant guidelines
Provides guidance to departments when needed
Works closely with department administrators and finance staff within the School of Natural Sciences
Works closely with the budget office, controller's office, and research and cost accounting
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels. It considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr