Assistant Director of Finance - Siebel School of Computing and Data Science
University of Illinois

Job Info

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Assistant Director of Finance

Siebel School of Computing and Data Science

The Grainger College of Engineering

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for an Assistant Director of Finance position. This position is responsible for the primary oversight of a variety of business functions and staff supervision as a lead member of the school's business office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership, Oversight, and Guidance

• Serve as the primary resource person to business office and support staff members in the areas of school policy (including access control and data security), campus policy, and use of university resources.
• Supervise the school's purchasing and finance staff, which includes: Providing daily oversight of activities, conducting performance evaluations, monitoring leave reporting, mentoring. etc.
• Conduct thorough onboarding of new faculty in terms of business operations, etc.
• Serve as backup to the Director of Administration and Operations, including acting as his/her delegate on various university systems, forms, and processes.
• Represent the school on assigned campus committees and other engagements with campus stakeholders.
• Act as the primary contact between the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science and the Office for Business and Financial Services (OBFS).
• Advise school administrators regarding policies, procedures, and appropriate use of funds.
• Make recommendations to school administrators related to hiring, position descriptions, and support needs related to positions in this reporting line.

Financial Administration

• Serve as the first point of contact for all funding-related questions in the school for internal and external constituents. Make autonomous decisions about appropriate use of funds, and address impromptu requests for financial resources, elevating the situation to higher authorities as deemed necessary.
• Develop special management reports and periodic financial statements and reports for school administrators in the areas of finance, facility use, building access control, and school operations.
• Assist with the development of financial projections for various funding sources including state, institutional, self-supporting, grant, and gift funds.
• Prepare start-up funding documents for faculty candidates during the offer phase of the recruiting process.
• Oversee school fiscal year-end procedures and processing, including reviewing the appropriateness of existing expenses for the year, assisting staff with submitting final transactions, and resolving any issues before year-end close.
• Oversee the school's budgeting for the Awards Committee regarding available funding and oversee the processing of paperwork to affect the transfers of gift funds to award recipients.
• Oversee the school's payables/receivables to and from other campus units, including managing the dollar amounts of funded initiatives to other units and overseeing the receipt of campus funds to the school.
• Oversee the review of monthly account statements to assure accuracy and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and University/school policies and procedures.
• Approve school purchases up to $50k.

• Oversee the processing of receipts of gifts, both for research and other purposes. Handle checks, invoices, and bookkeeping needs.
• Oversee corporate fellowships and corporate sponsorship accounts, including records of account balances, corporate memberships, invoicing, and other activity.
• Oversee school endowment and quasi-endowment fund reports and record the market value gain/loss as reported by the University Foundation.
• Oversee and manage cost sharing agreements to ensure all school and non-school commitments are accounted for and keep track of multi-year funding commitments.
• Independently handle audits as needed, which includes performing random internal audits as well as responding to any external audit requests, seeking assistance from other finance staff as deemed necessary.

Departmental processes and procedures

• Evaluate business activities to determine compliance with school and university policies, and in accordance with best business practices. Take corrective action as necessary to resolve problems independently or in conjunction with others to assure compliance with school and university requirements.
• Consistently evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies and how effective they are in supporting school business goals. Develop, implement, and revise school policies in conjunction with administration as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with university regulations and best business practices.
• Oversee and manage school purchasing card and travel card programs, providing guidance to card holders as necessary.
• Act as a liaison between the school and other campus units to facilitate things such as budget transfers, policy sharing, and joint expenditures.

Other

• Assume additional appropriate finance-related duties to further the mission of the school.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, management, or a field related to the position.
• Five (5) years of professional business, financial, and/or managerial work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration degree.
• Seven or more years of relevant experience in business operations. At least three years of experience with University of Illinois business policies and procedures and the finance systems. Previous University of Illinois supervisory experience.
• Certified Public Accountant

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of management principles, practices, methods, and techniques.
• Supervisory and administrative abilities.
• Independent decision-making ability in a large organization.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with staff, administrators, and the public.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a full-time Civil Service Business/Administrative Associate position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range for this position is $80,000 - $100,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University's Workplace Flexibility policy . Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 12, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Stacie Mertes and smertes@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .

Requisition ID: 1027558
Job Category: Professional and Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu

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