Director of Finance and Administration

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

About The Position

The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) is a leading land-grant institution that provides teaching, research, and programs through the University of Maryland Extension (UME) to broad clientele in the State of Maryland and beyond. UME provides non-credit research-based educational programs and conducts applied research with a $23 million budget and around 290 employees in over 30 offices around the state. UME seeks a Director of Finance and Administration to oversee and guide departmental financial, administrative, personnel management functions, and IT staff. This position supports UME’s vision, mission, program priorities, and statewide operations while ensuring the implementation of university, college, and departmental policies and procedures. The director reports to the Associate Dean/Associate Director and oversees business manager and coordinators, IT coordinators, and related staff while serving as a resource for UME senior administrators, area/city extension directors, and directors/coordinators in fiscal management, HR management, and other administrative services. The Director of Finance and Administration is a member of UME’s leadership team. The Director will provide strategic financial guidance and leadership, working on crucial tasks such as financial analysis, reporting, budget creation, forecasting, long-term strategic financial planning, expense tracking, compliance, and internal control functions. The director advises the Associate Dean and senior admin team concerning administrative services, personnel, departmental, college, and university policies, fiscal matters, and budgets. This position will manage financial operations with business managers and staff; oversee pre-award and post-award management; manage department IT coordinators and resources; oversee personnel-related functions; and support AED/CEDs in financial allocation, management, and planning at county/city offices. The position works closely with college-level finance, grant management, Human Resources, and Compliance offices, and serves as a liaison between the college and university units on behalf of UME in fiscal, personnel management, and adherence to administrative procedures.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Ten (10) years of professional accounting or finance experience.
Five (5) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.
Knowledge of finance functions including general accounting, statistical, or financial functions.
Knowledge of business acumen to understand key business drivers, organizational communications, and data.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in data analytics and negotiation.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to research information and analyze complex data and information to create reports and presentations.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion.
Ability to develop and administer new policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree is preferred. One of the degrees must be in Business, Finance, or a related field.
Experience and Skills: Seven or more years of budgetary management experience in a progressively responsible position(s) with outstanding leadership, management, and organizational skills
Minimum of three years’ supervisory experience
Demonstrable financial experience with preparing detailed financial analysis, managing complex data and long-term budget projections
Strong working knowledge of university accounting and internal organizations, financial policies and procedures
Demonstrable experience of federal regulations regarding fiscal management of federal funds (Uniform Guidance) and federal acquisition regulations
Excellent computer skills and business application software
The ability to assist with the development of potential solutions or policies to address financial and administrative issues
Ability to train and instruct business, and other staff on fiscal policies, procedures, and compliance.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Confidentiality skills for handling sensitive information and adaptability skills for managing change and unpredictability.
Experience in higher education with fiscal, personnel, and administrative responsibilities is preferred.
Previous work experience with a Land Grant Institution is a plus.
Experience in university policies, procedures, and processes is highly desired.
Workday knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide accountability for the department through the budget management and timely reconciliation of all financial accounts (e.g., federal, state, county, agency accounts, Extension Advisory Councils accounts, foundation, and sponsored programs).
Manage UME's day-to-day business operations and administration, such as fiscal operations, fund management, procurement, inventory, and fiscal operations, in collaboration with business managers, coordinators, and other staff.
Directly supervise business manager and coordinators and provide indirect leadership for business managers, business management specialists, and other related staff within the department.
Assure compliance with fiscal procedures and regulations.
Serve as a liaison between the college and university on behalf of the UME in fiscal and personnel management. Additionally, the Director of Finance is responsible for sharing UME’s funds related to the land grand mission.
Oversee direct management and administration of federal, state, and local funds (23 counties and Baltimore city) for all field-based units, including UME personnel stationed at Research and Education Centers.
Support AEDs, and the Baltimore City Extension Director in budget preparation, proposals, justification, funds management, and long-term financial planning.
Responsible for strategic financial guidance and leadership, working on crucial tasks such as financial analysis, reporting (trend data or other required reporting), budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, expense tracking, exploring new opportunities, compliance, and internal control functions.
Assist in developing policies and procedures for UME and execute effective communications about policies and procedures across the organization.
Manage financial and administrative systems as required.
Establish relationship with the Assistant Dean and coordinate physical presence in county and city government.
Provide departmental management of the contract and grant proposal submission process for the faculty.
Manage the department staff for the submission process with AGNR AgPAS, develop budget and budget models, oversee the post-award management process, and prepare reports.
Oversee the post-award process at the department level and create systems and processes for tracking, projecting, and growing contracts/grants activities for business managers, coordinators, business management specialists, and other field staff.
Manage department IT coordinators and resources; oversee personnel-related functions in collaboration with the Associate Dean, Senior Admin Team, and AED/CEDs.
Coordinate with AED/CEDs on local facilities and maintenance of offices and space.