Senior Director, Accounting & Financial Reporting

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

2d • $120,000 - $250,000

About The Position

The University of Chicago biomedical enterprise houses three entities: the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), and the Pritzker School of Medicine. Collectively called UCM, we are one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions and have been at the forefront of discovery, education, and clinical care since 1927. Located 20 minutes south of downtown Chicago, our Hyde Park main campus provides a single environment for learning, world-renowned basic science and clinical research, and outstanding clinical care. The BSD is the largest academic unit within the University. The BSD is comprised of faculty from ten basic science departments, 13 clinical departments, and several Centers and Institutes. The approximately 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff members working in the BSD collaborate across the organization to achieve our Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV): MISSION: As part of the University of Chicago, we pursue globally impactful solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Through our rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing, we collaborate on life-changing advancements that create meaningful results for our community and the world, including a greater, more equitable future for all. VISION: Together, we elevate the human experience with knowledge and health care. VALUES: • Commit to Excellence: We contribute our exceptional talents to all we do and empower the same spirit of excellence in others. The job manages multiple teams of managers and professional staff responsible for establishing and maintaining accounting policies and controls, fiscal controls, preparing financial reports and safeguarding the assets. Develops strategy for accounting and financial records and reports. The Senior Director, Accounting & Financial Reporting (Sr. Director) will serve as steward of financial integrity and will assess and adapt to a changing environment while identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and value across all accounting and reporting functions. The University recently implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning system which requires a near-term focus of creating new processes and reports but the longer-term focus will be to continue to improve and expand on the delivery of excellent accounting & reporting services. The Sr. Director will lead and oversee accounting and financial operations within the BSD. This role ensures compliance with University financial policies and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) while driving financial reporting and process optimization in a complex academic medical center (AMC) structure. The Sr. Director is responsible for managing institutional control frameworks, including approvals, reconciliations, and journal entries, while driving risk mitigation and standardization across decentralized teams. The Sr. Director will direct general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, fund management, and enterprise-wide monthly and annual close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting. The Sr. Director will develop and deliver finance training programs related to the transaction process and accounting methods. Serve as a key liaison among BSD, UCM, and University finance departments to maintain data integrity and consistent inter-entity reconciliation. The Senior Director advises senior leadership on accounting system modernization, process improvements, and financial initiatives, positioning the accounting function as a strategic partner in advancing the organization’s financial integrity and scalability. The Senior Director leads and manages a team of finance professionals. This role provides strategic direction, supports professional development, and ensures high standards of accuracy, efficiency, and accountability by fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture, sets clear expectations, and aligns team efforts with institutional goals and priorities.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• MBA or CPA.
• 7+ years of work experience in Higher Education, Academic Medical Center, or Health Care.
• Demonstrated experience presenting strategic insights and recommendations to senior academic and administrative leadership, with the ability to influence decision-making at the executive level.
• Proven track record of leading and overseeing complex, cross-functional projects from concept through execution, including managing teams and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Experience interpreting and leveraging clinical, research, and educational data to measure performance, inform strategy, improve operations, and support decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Advanced experience in financial analysis and modeling to support planning, resource allocation, and long-term forecasting; ability to guide team members in conducting and presenting financial assessments.
• Prior leadership experience in system implementations strongly preferred, including stakeholder engagement, change management, and integration of new tools or platforms into business operations.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex financial operations in a large decentralized organization.
• Familiarity with Project Management methodologies.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Familiarity with Oracle cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
• Extensive knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Ability to identify and develop accounting protocol and financial systems from process identification to full implementation.
• Ability to lead a team in a collaborative approach through all points of project development.
• High level of independent analysis.
• Advanced skills in financial and statistical analysis.
• Ability to represent the mission, values, and strategic priorities of the organization and leadership through strategic planning, decision-making, and communications, both personally and through their team.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive materials and situations with discretion and sound judgment; ensures direct reports uphold the same standards.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for a variety of audiences, including senior executives, faculty, staff, and cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive, collaborative relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders across the BSD, University, and UCM.
• Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and shared accountability within the team and across departments.
• Demonstrates reliability, a strong drive for results, and the ability to motivate and guide others to meet individual and team objectives.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with a focus on team development, performance management, and operational efficiency.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities and deadlines while providing structure, guidance, and support to direct reports navigating complex or shifting demands.
• Demonstrated dedication to data integrity and ensuring accurate reporting.

Responsibilities

• Leads the planning and execution of complex, cross-functional projects that support key accounting and financial reporting processes, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and operational goals.
• Leads and manages a team of financial administrators in multiple areas across accounting, accounts receivable/payable, capital accounting, financial variance management, and funds management.
• Interprets and applies advanced accounting standards (e.g., GAAP/FASB) across clinical, academic, and research enterprise; ensures fund classification and accounting treatment align with complex AMC structures.
• Owns the BSD control framework for accounting operations (e.g., approvals, reconciliations, journal entries); establishes risk-mitigating practices across decentralized units.
• Leads general ledger, AP, AR, and funds management; ensures cross-training, standardization, and team accountability.
• Serves as a thought partner to help drive sound financial management, including review of capital spending and operating spending.
• Establishes and enforces the monthly/annual close calendar, ensuring timely, accurate, and policy-compliant deliverables.
• Designs and delivers advanced training materials for finance functions, including inter-entity training resources for BSD and UCM activity.
• Identifies financial risks due to delays in receipts, financial system issues, or market forces impacting current and future performance.
• Oversees enterprise-wide monthly and annual close, including reconciliations and eliminations across the hospital, school of medicine, practice plan, and sponsored research.
• Leads the preparation and review of month-end reviews and consolidated performance reporting.
• Consolidates information on variances and provides recommendations on needed interventions to ensure strong financial performance.
• Serves as the accounting liaison with Faculty Practice Finance, Sponsored Research, and FP&A to ensure data integrity, and consistent financial treatment.
• Coaches managers on complex accounting treatments and ensure teams are prepared for audits, external reporting, and policy interpretation.
• Designs and enforces accounting policies and procedures that enable scalability, compliance, and internal consistency across all missions.
• Engages with and leverages AI tools to optimize financial work flows, analysis, and decision making.
• Advises Assistant Dean for Finance and senior leadership on modernization of accounting systems, process redesign, shared services models, and ERP integrations.
• Reviews and approves accounting and financial records and reports, including general ledger, financial statements, regulatory and management reports.
• Advises on accounting transactions, collecting and analyzing accounting data, analyzing business results, and/or developing management reports.
• Performs other related work as needed

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
• Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees