Director of SCL Finance & Administration

Cornell University • Ithaca, MI

1d • $150,167 - $183,537 • Hybrid

About The Position

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Within the Division of Student and Campus Life (SCL), the SCL-OVP financial and operational support team ensures the effective deployment of Information Technology, Facilities, Accounting, Data-Driven-Decision Capabilities, Risk Management, Management/Financial Reporting, Data and Business Analytics, and Financial Planning support services to departments within the division. Working collaboratively as integrated cross-functional partners, leaders from the SCL-OVP support team strive to enhance day-to-day operational effectiveness, deliver timely business reporting and information to stakeholders, manage key divisional processes, and steward financial and capital resources on behalf of the SCL-VP.

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Divisional Finance and Administrative Business Operations, the Director of Finance and Administration is a key member of the leadership team and serves as the chief business partner and financial administrator for all allocated and administrative units in the division — including the Dean of Students, Campus & Community Engagement, the Einhorn Center, Cornell Careers, Athletics & Physical Education, Cornell Health, and the SCL Vice President's Office. This position provides direct oversight of financial and operational resources for complex units within the division with an operating budget of approximately $130 million, including all reporting and business analytics activity, general accounting, internal controls and financial planning. This role provides strategic guidance to the unit leaders and business managers, regularly partnering with divisional and department leaders to ensure effective management within each department, and also partners with the Sr. Director and/or the Associate Vice President of SCL, Operations and Enterprises on the development of key metrics, trend analyses, and financial projections in aid of resolution-making. The Director also serves as a strategic conduit between assigned unit leaders and SCL's administrative service teams — including Human Resources, Facilities, Accounting, and IT — and regularly serves as an ad-hoc member of the leadership team for each unit supported. The Director is directly involved in the capital planning process for supported units, working to ensure long-range financial plans provide the resources needed to support those capital project needs. The Director also serves as a backup/delegate for the Sr. Director as needed, and regularly interfaces with the SCL executive team, Associate Vice President, and Vice President. In addition, the Director oversees administrative services such as purchasing, payment processing, and travel processing managed through the MOU with the university Shared Services Center (SSC).

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in business administration, financial management, operations management, personnel management or related field; at least 5 years of professional experience or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education required.
• Experience in strategic financial planning and/or sales analysis in a fast-paced and high-volume enterprise, business, or university setting
• Prior experience in navigating, implementing, and leveraging complex financial databases to review and report on company/unit performance
• Customer service skills and demonstrated ability to communicate (both written and verbal) with a broad range of clients, constituents, and customers.
• A high level of organizational skills, time management skills, and attention to details.
• Strong analytical, creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Must possess a strong teamwork philosophy and knowledge of how to motivate staff in a fast- paced work environment, with a devotion to fostering a culture of inclusion.
• Ability to work quickly, effectively under pressure, and use sound ethical judgment in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a highly sensitive or confidential nature; balance conflicting priorities, and make decisions from a range of choices.
• Experience implementing new systems, policies, procedures, and best practices, and ability to collaborate with others to assist in change management tactics
• Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

Nice To Haves

• MBA, CPA, or additional educational certification or experience relevant to the field
• Prior experience in the field of higher education or in a campus setting
• Strong working knowledge of university budgeting and accounting policies and practices, personnel policies and procedures, and conflict management and contract negotiating practices
• Experience with developing complex analytical models
• Experience working with internal and external auditors

Responsibilities

• Analyze business trends, behaviors, data, processes, and policies and connect this information to financial impacts and business/service opportunities
• Apply solid leadership and communication know-how in a complex, high-volume, ever-changing environment, this role can operate both proactively and collaboratively to plan, delegate and prioritize appropriately in order to help ensure confidence and stability when meeting competing established time frames from a variety of constituents
• Partner with department directors and business managers to create and evaluate forward-thinking business strategies that align with and support the unit and divisional mission
• Develop strong working relationships with key SCL divisional service providers (HR, IT, Business Services, Facilities, Alumni Affairs, Communications, etc.) to ensure allocated and administrative units are effectively supported and that divisional and university processes, initiatives, and strategies are communicated and implemented at the departmental level.
• Ensure that departmental staffing strategies, business plans, facilities projects, and forward-thinking initiatives are well-communicated, fiscally responsible, and in alignment with unit and divisional objectives and guidelines
• Advocate for continued synergies between university and divisional systems, processes, and goals and departmental needs, opportunities, and operational expectations
• Foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Benefits

• The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria: Prior relevant work or industry experience, Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position, Unique applicable skills, Academic Discipline

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director