Assistant Director of Finance & Business Operations

University of Colorado•Hybrid, CO

2d•$89,208 - $128,638•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Finance & Business Operations is the senior operational finance leader for the University of Colorado School of Medicine Dean’s Office. Reporting to the Business Affairs Director, the role leads daily finance operations, financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, resource planning, commitments, and operational business services. The position translates strategic priorities into operational execution, ensures consistent delivery of financial priorities, leads teams, strengthens accountability, and improves operational effectiveness and customer service. The incumbent leads Finance, FP&A, and Commitments operations; develops a high-performing finance leadership team; promotes operational excellence; and strengthens financial stewardship through scalable processes and internal controls. The Assistant Director serves as the operational counterpart to the Business Affairs Director and acts as the Business Affairs leader in the Director’s absence. The role requires a credible finance professional and experienced people leader who can lead managers, mentor emerging leaders, make complex operational decisions, and ensure outstanding service delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; a combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
Seven years of progressively responsible finance leadership and supervision experience.
Three years of experience leading budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and organizational finance.
Three years of experience leading organizational change and operational improvement initiatives; experience may be obtained simultaneously.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship; sponsorship or employment authorization will not be provided now or in the future.
Knowledge of financial management principles and practices, including budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and analysis, financial modeling, labor planning, resource allocation, variance analysis, financial reporting, and internal controls.
Ability to translate strategic priorities into operational plans, assign responsibility, set timelines, monitor progress, and ensure execution.
Ability to provide senior operational leadership for complex finance functions and ensure accurate, timely, and consistent financial services and work products.
Ability to prepare and present financial analyses, forecasts, reports, recommendations, and executive-level presentations.
Ability to analyze complex financial and operational information, identify risks and trends, evaluate alternatives, and develop data-informed recommendations.
Ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to organizational needs, and meet deadlines and commitments.
Ability to communicate complex financial and operational information.
Ability to supervise and develop managers, supervisors, and professional staff through coaching, mentoring, feedback, performance management, and succession planning.
Ability to lead hiring, onboarding, training, and professional development to strengthen technical capability, leadership effectiveness, and team performance.
Ability to foster a collaborative, service-oriented, results-focused culture that promotes ownership, continuous improvement, professional development, and trust.

Nice To Haves

MBA, MPA, CPA, CMA, or similar graduate degree or certification.
Academic medicine or higher education experience.
Experience managing large, complex operating budgets.
Experience leading multi-level management teams.
Experience developing emerging leaders.

Responsibilities

Direct daily financial operations, including annual budgeting and forecasting, labor planning and position budgeting, and monthly and annual financial reporting.
Review complex financial analyses; monitor financial performance and emerging risks; ensure compliance with University and School financial policies; establish service standards; resolve complex issues; and ensure timely operational deliverables.
Directly supervise finance leadership staff; coach managers and supervisors; build leadership capability; establish accountability measures; conduct performance management; develop succession plans; and lead hiring and onboarding.
Improve employee engagement and foster ownership and accountability; develop training and mentoring programs; and ensure managers delegate effectively and develop staff.
Lead long-range financial planning, develop forecasting models, conduct scenario planning, evaluate performance trends, recommend resource allocation strategies, and improve forecasting accuracy.
Guide executive decision-making with financial analysis and lead financial performance reviews with leadership.
Standardize financial processes, improve internal controls, eliminate inefficiencies, reduce turnaround times, improve customer experience, develop operational metrics, and lead process-improvement initiatives.
Improve communication among Finance, Procurement, HR, and other Dean’s Office functions.
Translate strategic initiatives into implementation plans, lead implementation of executive priorities, represent Business Affairs on committees, present financial recommendations to executive leadership, and coordinate cross-functional initiatives.
Serve as acting leader during the Business Affairs Director’s absence and escalate strategic issues requiring executive attention while independently resolving operational matters.