Executive Director of Financial Shared Services

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director of Financial Shared Services provides strategic and operational leadership for finance and procurement services supporting participating academic schools and units. The role builds and leads a high-performing organization that delivers accurate, timely, consistent, and customer-focused financial services while maintaining strong financial stewardship and responding to the distinct needs of the academic units served. The Executive Director establishes operational priorities, staffing and capacity models, performance expectations, and accountability measures. The role leads a portfolio of financial and procurement activities, including accounting and reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable, purchasing and procurement, financial transactions, billing, financial reporting, budgeting support, and related financial operations. It ensures internal controls, compliance, risk management, and audit readiness, and uses financial and operational data to identify trends, inform resource decisions, resolve complex issues, and improve efficiency. The Executive Director also streamlines processes, strengthens financial controls, and leverages technology and automation to improve operational capacity and financial visibility. The position serves as a senior financial partner to deans, school leadership, business officers, and other academic-unit leaders, providing financial analysis, insight, and decision support for resource allocation and alignment with academic and institutional priorities. It works closely with central Finance and Operations leadership and other functional partners to resolve complex matters, clarify responsibilities, strengthen enterprise practices, and balance consistency with legitimate unit-specific needs. As a senior leader in the Academic Shared Services Center, the Executive Director is responsible for organizational structure, workforce planning, talent development, performance management, and succession planning. The role leads organizational and operational change and fosters accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence. Success requires building trust across diverse academic environments and delivering measurable improvements in financial performance, operational efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder experience. This is an internal posting for permanent, time-limited layoff-priority employees of UNC–Chapel Hill and temporary employees hired directly by UNC–Chapel Hill. The position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. UNC–Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Requirements

A master's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field; prior experience in a position of comparable scope and complexity may be considered.
At least 10 years of progressive management-level experience in a related field.
Demonstrated experience leading a shared services organization, business process reengineering, planning, and analysis.
Management skills that balance strategic, industry, business, and people factors.
Experience leading project management and change management functions.
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Coalition-building, facilitation, and collaboration skills.
Strong planning, analysis, and management skills.
Strong leadership skills, including experience leading knowledgeable subject matter experts and developing staff.
Experience with organizational, structural, and technical/system change management.
Experience leading complex financial systems and organizations, especially in a university setting.
Experience operating as a team member in a cohesive leadership team, with willingness to participate in team interactions, thinking, and decision-making.
Technologically savvy, innovative, customer-focused, and collaborative leadership.

Nice To Haves

Experience performing these functions in a public research university setting is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for finance and procurement services supporting participating academic schools and units.
Build and lead a high-performing organization that delivers accurate, timely, consistent, and customer-focused financial services.
Establish operational priorities, staffing and capacity models, performance expectations, and accountability measures.
Lead accounting and reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable, purchasing and procurement, financial transactions, billing, financial reporting, budgeting support, and related financial operations.
Ensure appropriate internal controls, compliance, risk management, and audit readiness.
Use financial and operational data to identify trends, inform resource decisions, resolve complex issues, and improve efficiency.
Streamline processes, strengthen financial controls, and leverage technology and automation to improve operational capacity and financial visibility.
Serve as a senior financial partner to deans, school leadership, business officers, and other academic-unit leaders, providing analysis, insight, and decision support.
Work with central Finance and Operations leadership and other functional partners to resolve complex matters, clarify responsibilities, and strengthen enterprise practices.
Lead organizational structure, workforce planning, talent development, performance management, and succession planning for the Academic Shared Services Center.
Lead organizational and operational change and establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence.