Manager, Finance Service Delivery Unit Basic Science Department

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

8d•$90,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Chicago's biomedical enterprise, comprising the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), and the Pritzker School of Medicine, is a leading academic medical institution dedicated to discovery, education, and clinical care since 1927. The BSD, the largest academic unit within the University, includes ten basic science departments, 13 clinical departments, and several Centers and Institutes, with approximately 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff. The BSD is guided by its Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV) to pursue globally impactful solutions, elevate the human experience with knowledge and healthcare, and foster a culture of excellence, curiosity, equity, collaboration, making a difference, and ownership. This role is part of the BSD AFA - Budget Staff 2, within the Basic Science Department.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Proficiency in financial principles, practices, methodologies, and applications, including budgeting, planning, and reporting within the organization's financial ecosystem.
Strong financial modeling skills within financial platforms.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, financial computing, and intellectual versatility and creativity.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in accounting, financial planning, budgeting, analysis, forecasting, modeling, auditing, financial control systems, and regulatory compliance.
Extensive experience in financial management, including the ability to analyze data for budgeting, operations, auditing and accounts receivable and reserve analysis, and pro forma preparation.
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or academic medical center, with a proven track record of success in the financial environment.
Aptitude for translating complex issues and ideas to general audience.
Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights and anticipate trends.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex environments, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
Excellent analytical and organizational abilities, with a focus on maximizing efficiency within financial systems.
Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to establish and maintain relationships at all organizational levels.
Collaborative work style with strong consultative skills, facilitating effective engagement with financial stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects and competing priorities with minimal supervision, while navigating financial systems.
Strategic thinking and ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans that consider the financial landscape.
Flexibility and ability to work effectively under pressure, adapting to changes within financial systems.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
Ability to develop and analyze alternative solutions and assist in making recommendations.
Flexibility and ability to work effectively and gracefully under considerable time pressure with competing deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Manages operating and capital budgets for divisions and/or University-wide administrative units.
Helps develop long and short-term financial goals, business strategies/plans, and financial forecasts/models for major service programs and initiatives.
Manages quarterly and year-end reporting for the operating budget.
Serves as a resource for operational units on financial, budget, academic strategy, faculty research productivity, and Faculty Compensation Plan issues.
Collaborates with Executive Administrator, Director, Finance Service Delivery and departmental leadership team to develop and implement strategic initiatives for the Department.
Prepares and advises others on operating budget for department.
Provides project management and analytical support for special projects.
Assists department leaders in analyzing proposals and developing proforma business plans.
Regularly monitors all funds budget reports and accounting records to determine if revenue and expenses materialize according to plan.
Responsible for monitoring and approving expense reimbursements.
Reports on variances between the approved budget and actual performance and recommends remediation measures.
Ensures accuracy and compliance with financial results by identifying and processing journal entries and payroll transfers, when necessary.
Assists with assessment of efficiency and effectiveness of programs and procedures to ensure conformance with budgetary provisions.
Develops systems/procedures to ensure integrity and internal financial controls of annual operating budget and annual gift/endowment use.
Reviews financial and research information; prepares daily, monthly, and ad-hoc reports including dashboards; provides analysis of financial statements, identifies variances from previous periods/budget; ensures policies/procedures to govern financial decision-making are followed to ensure achievement of objectives.
Responsible for financial management of IADFs, and the associated report out and monitoring of faculty IADF award spending and award fund balance. The finance manager uses this information to identify financial contingencies as it relates to long range financial planning.
Reconciles IADF fund deposit and transfer data between GL and IADF award in PPM to ensure IADF fund balance accuracy.
Collaborates with the BSD central office commitment database update and monitoring.
Monitors aspects of recharge operations revenue generation including Internal and external billing and regulatory compliance.
Assists with tasks related to Monthly Close, including but not limited to Journal Entry and accrual preparation and completing variance analyses.
Integrates long/short-range strategies into daily operational and financial planning/reporting to ensure resources for strategic programs are available.
Performs analysis and interpretation of financial data.
Creates new PI recruit proforma business plans and serves as chief information source for external benchmarking and market assessments to facilitate PI recruitment, works closely with Director of Finance to ensure business plans are coordinated relative to mission, PI deployment, capital equipment, space, expense and fund support.
In collaboration with the Director and department, leads the annual budgeting process.
Serves as a liaison with departmental stakeholders to collect grant proposals and awards, recharge volume assumptions to build revenue budgets, including but not limited to Gifts, Grants and Endowments.
Utilizes various systems and inputs to build accurate expense budgets including salary and non-wage expense.
Provides support in developing budget roll up and narrative, as well as identifying financial risks throughout budget process to Director and department leadership.
Designs and manages faculty compensation programs and tracks financial, research, academic and teaching targets for Section Leadership, existing faculty and new faculty recruits.
Reports on productivity measures and monitors progress, identifies opportunities to streamline financial operations through best practices; monitors productivity, charge capture, revenue and expenses vs benchmarks to identify opportunities for expense reduction or productivity improvement.
Performs financial and research data analysis using internal data (Oracle, and other sources) and published benchmarking (MGMA, AAMC, etc.) to develop strategies and reporting to improve PI and departmental performance.
Analyzes and interprets financial information and assesses operational plans, forecasts and potential risks; evaluates alternative courses of action.
May manage/supervise staff; provides training, coaching, and mentoring in order to enable individual and team success.
Works independently to maintain and support the planning and execution of financial strategy.
Acts as a resource for team members, solves complex problems. Explains complex and sensitive information.
Performs other related work as needed.