Director of Finance - College of Engineering (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Director of Finance provides leadership, organization, analysis, and management for the finance and planning functions of the College of Engineering (COE) and its associated departments and centers, ensuring that these areas function effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as University policies, practices, and procedures. The Director analyzes and addresses issues of financial management, planning and organizational efficiency, including developing sophisticated financial and statistical reports that inform decision-making, leading the college toward established goals or future objectives.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a strategic partner to the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Heads, and Directors, to define, support, and implement comprehensive financial planning and reporting to support strategic plans for research, education, advancement, student success programs, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• In collaboration with the unit directors, manages financial planning and processes, determines budgetary needs, and ensures stated strategic objectives are successfully implemented, managed and maintained in order to promote the college's competitive advantage in education, research, innovation, outreach, external partnerships and philanthropy.
• Works closely with university-level administrators and peers in other colleges to collaborate and strategize on financial and resource-based decision-making, while also representing the Dean with various internal and external constituents.
• Leads efforts to regularly analyze organizational data and crafts recommendations to address issues of organizational inefficiency and to align strategic priorities with available resources.
• Directly supervises Business Office staff member(s) and has functional oversight of all financial staff in the college, including administrative officers in the College's five departments.
• Crafts reports to support and develop strategies that significantly improve outcomes through assessment and continuous process improvement for all academic and operational areas within the College.
• Works with COE leadership on strategic planning processes and manages the implementation of action items through detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the structure, operation, strategies and objectives of the organization.
• Oversees existing and planned college facilities, including offices and research laboratories, serving as the liaison for infrastructure repair and renovation to Facilities and Campus Services and a member of space planning committees.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet College, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards, Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Works creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. In the performance of work, takes initiative, is creative, and operates with self-direction. Works in partnership with colleagues within the COE community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
• Understands and contributes to implementation of College and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
• Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree with five (5) years of relevant financial experience. A Master's Degree or higher in Business, Accounting, or related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills; must have the ability to work effectively as part of a diverse and dynamic team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to think strategically.
• Highly self-motivated and self-managed individual with the ability to manage multiple projects/priorities simultaneously. Ability to organize and work under strict time and production deadlines, while producing quality deliverables.
• Willingness to take on a variety of projects related to the successful operation and administration of the College. Ability to adapt and work effectively as the College or programs grow and change. Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to think through problems, organize and seek out information, identify key factors and underlying causes, and generate solutions or resolve discrepancies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of faculty, staff, students, and external constituents.
• Ability to read, understand, apply and explain rules, regulations, and policies/procedures.
• Commitment to thorough and positive customer service.
• Experience in supervision.
• Strong computer skills including at least intermediate expertise with:
  
  
  
  • Spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
  • Databases such as FileMaker or Microsoft Access.
  • Presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides.
  • Email.
  
  
  
  
• Ability to exercise extreme discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master of Business Administration, MS Finance, or MS Business Analytics.
• CPA/CMA.
• Experience in higher education.
• Experience in assessing, developing, and re-engineering processes.
• Demonstrable and successful management and fiscal oversight experience, planning, budgeting, reporting, and development of financial and operational metrics to align organizational strategy to business operations.
• Working knowledge of technologies/tools surrounding operational management including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting tools and analytical software.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours per week, standard business hours.
• Some night and weekend work may be required.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective
  bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 28.

PSU Hiring Ranges.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.