Finance Manager

Rice University•Houston, TX

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Facilities and Capital Planning department is seeking a Finance Manager to coordinate the department’s financial operations, with a primary focus on capital projects, project accounting, and revenue-supported activities. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely entry, review, reconciliation, and reporting of financial transactions related to capital planning and facilities operations. Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance and Administration, the Finance Manager will provide financial oversight and analysis of capital projects. This includes monitoring budgets, developing forecasts, conducting expense reviews and reconciliations, and ensuring alignment with university policies, funding requirements, and institutional priorities. This role collaborates closely with project managers, capital planning staff, central finance offices, and other campus partners to ensure complete, accurate, and timely financial information. In addition, the position may serve as a critical primary or backup for key departmental functions, including payroll, cost center management, and billing activities. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, service-focused finance professional with experience in project accounting, capital project finance, and accounting reconciliations, preferably within a higher education or large institutional environment. They bring a proactive and analytical approach to financial management and are comfortable working across functional areas to resolve complex financial issues. The successful candidate balances hands-on transactional and analytical work with a broader oversight perspective, demonstrating the ability to interpret financial data, identify risks or discrepancies, and recommend practical solutions within established policies. They communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, support collaborative decision-making, and are committed to continuous improvement in financial processes and internal controls.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
4 years or more of related experience in fiannacial management project accounting, capital project finance, and accounting reconciliations or related
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted.
Proficiency in financial reporting, forecasting, and data analysis
Strong analytical mindset with proven ability in critical thinking, decision-making, and problem‑solving
Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply university financial policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
In-depth understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Advanced professional communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and management
Proven ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, and to build effective cross-functional teams through collaboration

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or another business-related field
Experience working in an academic or similarly mission-driven setting, specifically higher education and/or an institutional environment
Experience with project accounting

Responsibilities

Works closely with the Senior Director of Finance and Administration and the Project Management team to develop and manage budgets, with a primary focus on capital projects
Provides and/or coordinates advice on budget management, financial controls, and policies/procedures; provides formal and informal training for departmental staff working with financial information
Performs analytical, financial, and control functions; develops financial reconciliations; prepares, reviews, and approves journal entries and transactions
Reviews construction cost models and uploads approved models into the department’s financial system
Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long‑range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
Engages in continuous analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations and implements solutions to achieve efficiencies and improve internal controls
Establishes and maintains a regular meeting cadence and convenes ad hoc meetings with key departmental stakeholders to review project status, financial performance, funding, and closeout activities
Collaborates effectively with on-campus business partners and external stakeholders, demonstrating a positive and service‑oriented mindset
Supports billing activities for Capital Planning and other decentralized departmental functions
Serves as a critical lead on payroll processes for non‑exempt hourly employees, working with team members in the department and university central payroll to provide guidance, implement processes, and build controls that ensure financial integrity and compliance with labor regulations
May lead, train, evaluate, and provide guidance to less experienced staff
Performs other related duties as assigned