At the direction of the Dean and Assistant Dean, determines how to use financial resources to meet objectives and goals, as well as deliver services. Manages, prepares, administers, and directs control of budget / organization resources for the School, shared services units, departments, Centers and Strategic Programs. Manages the activities of the financial / resource analyst staff. Reviews and approves recommendations for financial planning and control. Monitors school and department adherence to approved budget. Provides guidance to subordinates to achieve goals in accordance with established policies. Work is reviewed and measured based on meeting objectives and schedules. Follows processes and operational policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve goals results in additional costs and personnel, and serious delays in overall schedules.
Reporting to the Assistant Dean, the School Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for oversight of a variety of functions, administrative operations and leadership of several shared service units within the School of Biological Sciences, including the Departments of Biological Sciences and the Dean’s Office. The incumbent leads the Accounting & Financial Services Team, Post Award Fund Management Team, Pre-Award Sponsored Project Team, and the Business Analytics & Reporting Team. The position leads the business development and non-research contract analysis functions, working closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Programs on proposals development.
The CFO serves as the primary planning and budget officer for the School and each of its 4 academic departments. Incumbent is responsible for implementation of School financial and resource planning and analysis, including the development of resource management policies and short and long-range planning models. Provides leadership, risk assessment, and strategic planning as part of the senior leadership team to help accomplish the goals and objectives of the School and Departments of Biological Sciences. Manages the accountability and stewardship of human, financial, and physical resources in compliance with school and organizational goals and objectives. Designs, develops and modifies sophisticated financial models to allocate and manage all funds within the School totaling approximately $80M of total annual expenditures, $45M in annual core budget, $35M in sponsored project funds per year, ~$40M in available donor funds, and other strategic programs.
Ensures subordinate supervisors and professionals adhere to defined internal controls and understand and follow UC, UCOP and all sponsor requirements and regulations. Ensures all business processes meet audit and regulatory requirements around financial management and sponsored project fund management. Builds and manages systems and procedures to protect school and department assets, build sustainable operations and position the school of future success and opportunities. Works closely with all School Sr Leaders to develop and implement financial systems and processes that meet the needs of each shared service units. Responsible for all research and self sustaining core rate assessment and accounting processes.
Leads School Business Analytics and Reporting unit that leverages Cognos development to provide a variety of data sets, tools and reports to support the School, Departments, Sr Leaders, shared service units, and faculty portfolios.
The position maintains the confidentiality of privileged information and performs a wide range of duties that require tact, sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility. Manages a large professional staff, comprised of finance, accounting, contracts and grants administration, stewardship and coordination of donor funds, business development, business analytics and report developers for the School and its departments. Partners with other senior leaders to ensure resources and operational success for education mission, student services and engagements, research enterprise, and facilities. Assumes accountability for decisions made by subordinates. Performs long and short-term financial planning for each function, and other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Comprehensive knowledge of finance and budget policies, practices and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; human resource planning; accounting and bookkeeping. Broad knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques; human resources and risk management planning; and / or accounting and payroll. Expertise in financial management and accounting principles to manage unit operational budgets and develop reports. Thorough knowledge of recharge operation policies. Demonstrated expertise in human resources management.
Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to influence / persuade all levels of staff. Maintain confidentiality of privileged information, perform a wide range of duties that require tact, sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility.
Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations. Ability to exercise an advanced level of independent judgment and decision making utilizing strong analytical skills and written and oral communication skills using tact, diplomacy, and strategic negotiation skills
Client services oriented; good listening, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Demonstrated ability to develop reports, graphs and charts to explain financial issues to a broad audience.
Knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources.
Superior skills in budget management and financial analysis including staffing, financial modeling, development of short and long-term plans, management of deficit recovery plans, self-supporting program plans and budgetary plans for new programs and initiatives. Experience projecting revenue and expense in a complex environment.
Experience working in core business and finance functions (typically acquired by eight years experience), with at least half of that time (such as four years) in a leadership and financial management position.
Bachelor's Degree in business, accounting or closely field or comparable education and experience is required. Masters Degree in business, accounting or closely related field or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
Demonstrated management and conflict resolution skills to effectively lead and motivate others. Strong experience in personnel management including supervisory experience. Demonstrated leadership to solve difficulties between people with collaborative skills to build effective teams.
Innovation and initiative to anticipate, develop and implement new procedures, practices and processes adaptable to constantly changing work patterns and business methods to solve unusual and new concerns using means which establish effective and efficient precedents.
Experience in the planning, development and management of complex, high dollar volume financial operations involving fund accounting, staffing, capital budgets, operating budgets, financial analysis, financial reporting, long-range financial planning, and internal financial controls. Ability to adapt programmatic objectives to changes in resources.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the interpretation and implementation of federal, state, and private agency administrative regulations and policies.
Knowledge of rules and regulations governing the acceptance of gifts and consultant agreements.
Demonstrated skills in analyzing complex issues or problems, formulating and implementing creative and appropriate solutions having evaluated all risks and consequences
In depth ability to use multiple spreadsheet and database software tools to gather information for specialized, complex financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports.
Proven experience and skill to audit financial data, format special financial reports and communicate budgetary information using complex data, rules, regulations and resource materials. Thorough understanding of the auditing process (internal and external) and how to effectively lead the School through audits.
Knowledge of databases, general computer applications, programs, terminology, functions and operations as management tools for analyzing financial processes for automation, and for improving, implementing, and enhancing all levels of fiscal activity, and for forecasting and report generation. Willingness and ability to increase and improve technical skills as needed to support the needs of the School.
Experience in leading research and sponsored project administration both within pre-award and post award management. Has experience building and leading teams that support this scope for a complex and multifaceted organization.
Experience support research cores, animal facilities and other recharge or self sustaining facilities with regards to rate analysis, development of financial models, and financial management/business planning.
Expert in internal controls, regulatory requirements, University state and other regulatory agency requirements for funds and financial management.
Demonstrated experience with proposal development and pre-award sponsored project or research administration support.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.
Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.
Job offer is contingent on successful engagement in the UC COVID-19 Vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral).
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The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html
