Director of Finance

University of Maine System•Farmington, ME

10d•$68,000 - $72,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) is seeking a Director of Finance to provide institution-wide financial leadership and help advance the University’s strategic priorities. Reporting to the Chief Business Officer, the Director of Finance serves as a trusted advisor and collaborative partner to campus leadership. This position provides leadership across financial planning and analysis, accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and fiscal oversight of sponsored programs in partnership with the Grants Manager. The Director plays an important role in strengthening financial practices, improving processes, and supporting informed decision-making across the University. This is an opportunity to contribute well beyond traditional accounting operations. The Director of Finance will help shape financial strategy, strengthen institutional practices, develop people and processes, and provide the financial insight needed to support UMF’s future.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a closely related field.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, grants administration, or a related financial field.
Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience overseeing accounting, finance, budgeting, or related business operations.
Advanced knowledge of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, internal controls, and financial reporting within a complex organization.
Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets and financial reporting tools, including complex formulas, queries, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliations, and financial modeling.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
CPA, CMA, CRA, or another relevant professional credential.
Experience in higher education, governmental accounting, or public-sector financial management.
Experience with PeopleSoft Financials, Concur, grants management systems, or comparable enterprise financial systems.
Experience leading financial process improvement, technology implementation, or organizational change initiatives.
Experience administering grants or contracts, including post-award financial management and compliance with sponsor requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide Strategic Financial Leadership: Serve as a principal financial advisor to the Chief Business Officer and senior leadership, supporting short- and long-range financial planning, operating budgets, forecasts, scenario modeling, and multi-year projections.
Turn Data into Decision Support: Analyze enrollment, revenue, expenditures, compensation, grants, and other financial trends; identify risks and opportunities; and develop actionable recommendations. Create dashboards, business intelligence reporting, and financial analytics that strengthen institutional decision-making.
Lead Accounting Operations & Internal Controls: Provide oversight of complex accounting activities, reconciliations, financial reporting, year-end closing, audit preparation, cash controls, and internal control practices.
Provide Fiscal Oversight of Sponsored Programs: Partner with the Grants and Contracts Manager to provide fiscal oversight of the University’s sponsored programs portfolio and ensure alignment with institutional financial policies, internal controls, reporting standards, and applicable compliance requirements.
Strengthen Financial Operations: Oversee areas including receivables, third-party billing, cash controls, travel and expense activity, and student organization financial activity while promoting responsive, consistent, and customer-focused financial services.
Lead People, Processes & Innovation: Supervise and develop assigned staff, evaluate financial systems and business processes, and lead improvements involving technology, workflow automation, internal controls, data quality, and service delivery.
Serve as a Campus Financial Leader: Represent UMF on campus and University System committees and initiatives and serve as a delegate for the Chief Business Officer, providing continuity of financial leadership as needed.