Finance Associate Director
About The Position
The Finance Associate Director collaborates with a peer Associate Director and the Senior Director of Financial Administration and Strategy to manage the financial resources of the Development division and align them with organizational goals. Each Finance Associate Director supports designated AVPs across Development while managing focal areas and priority projects. The role requires strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, as well as a commitment to process improvement. The position oversees financial analysis and planning, contributes to annual budget and forecasting cycles, advises leadership on resource allocation, and develops performance metrics and reporting tools. It also supports divisional operations through coordination with central administrative offices, external auditors, campus committees, and department administrators. The role conducts strategic financial analyses and operational improvement projects and manages position-related processes for a portfolio of more than 300 active positions and vacancies. It partners with Talent Acquisition and leadership to oversee position lifecycles and evaluate staffing needs. The position is located in South Bend, Indiana.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data modeling, complex formulas, and pivot tables.
- Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and financial reporting software.
- Ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights, forecast trends, and streamline operations.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across diverse teams and leadership levels.
- Resume and cover letter are required for consideration.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree, such as an MBA or M.S. in Finance, or relevant professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or Certified Financial Manager.
- Five or more years of progressive professional experience in financial management, budgeting, financial analysis, and operations.
- Experience in higher education, nonprofit financial management, or advancement/development operations.
- Experience managing large-scale headcount budgets of 300 or more positions and partnering with HR and Talent Acquisition teams.
- Experience leading process re-engineering, documentation, and change management initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Monitor labor and non-labor expenditures and collaborate with Development budget managers to resolve operational and financial issues.
- Co-manage annual financial cycles, including pay adjustments, budget balancing, and labor and non-labor forecasting.
- Use historical information and financial analysis to advise leadership on future budget allocations and strategic use of add-on funds.
- Assist leadership in developing and tracking performance metrics for individual units and the division.
- Guide department administrators on budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and position management best practices.
- Coordinate with central administrative offices and external auditors, and attend relevant campus meetings and committees.
- Document financial processes, timelines, risks, and strategic takeaways for internal reference and stakeholder alignment.
- Conduct complex financial analyses and strategic initiatives, including cost-of-fundraising calculations and survey data analysis.
- Create and refine reporting tools for finance staff and divisional budget managers.
- Identify and implement operational efficiencies, including improvements to event budget tracking and underwriting reconciliation.
- Prepare materials and data for the Budget Working Group to identify, prioritize, and support divisional funding requests.
- Standardize and maintain documentation for financial procedures.
- Review and approve job descriptions before submission to HR for assigned operational areas.
- Track, monitor, and report on a portfolio of more than 300 active positions and vacancies.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition to monitor positions from creation and recruiting through hiring and separation.
- Consult with leadership on the strategic need for new positions and effective use of existing or vacant positions.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
