Vice Provost, Academic Finance - Provost Planning and Administration

Emory University•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Finance and Operations (SVPFO), the Vice Provost for Academic Finance serves as the Chief Business Officer (CBO) for the Office of the Provost and is responsible for the day-to-day organization and management of the Provost's financial portfolio. The role provides strategic leadership, business analysis, financial modeling, and execution across academic finance, resource planning, and operational performance for the schools, academic units, and administrative units reporting to the Provost. The Vice Provost advises on financial matters affecting departments, programs, and initiatives under the Provost's purview, ensuring high-quality financial support that aligns with institutional priorities, complies with Emory policies and procedures, and incorporates appropriate risk mitigation. In collaboration with the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Finance and Operations, the Vice Provost plans, develops, and coordinates strategic planning, integrated financial planning, and budget development processes for the Office of the Provost and its reporting units. This includes oversight of operational and capital budgets, financial and management reporting, statistical and cost analyses, and other decision-support information. The role performs complex and specialized work, leads high-impact initiatives, and coordinates cross-functional projects to support informed decision-making and effective execution. As Chief Business Officer for the Office of the Provost, the Vice Provost manages and advises on the Office of the Provost full financial portfolio, including operating budgets, General University Income, subsidies and reserves, E&E Woodruff resources, the Strategic Plan Fund, Provost Discretionary Funds, and other restricted and discretionary resources.

Requirements

Master's degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field and ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in financial and business operations within a large, complex organization or equivalent combination of education and years of experience.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation, financial analysis, and operational improvement.
Broad knowledge of best practices across finance, accounting, data and analytics, information technology, human resources, facilities, and planning.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information for diverse audiences.
Strong analytical, data management, and technical skills.
Demonstrated leadership ability, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Deep appreciation for and commitment to supporting the primacy of academic leadership and the academic mission.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience in a research university or similarly complex higher education environment strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the financial and business internal shared services within the Office of the Provost and provides leadership, supervision, and professional development for staff responsible for financial management, human resources, data analysis, reporting, and operational support.
Advises Provost senior leadership on budget alignment, resource tradeoffs, and operational performance to ensure consistent alignment between academic priorities and institutional goals and implements strong internal controls and financial governance practices to ensure effective resource use, accurate information, compliance with policies and regulations, and appropriate risk mitigation.
Monitors internal and external factors influencing the academic mission and goals and advises on financial and non-financial resource decisions supporting strategic investments across schools, academic units, and administrative units.
Provides regular reporting on financial performance, evaluates and models alternative approaches, and recommends strategies to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and responsible resource management.
Partnering closely with the Provost, SVPFO, deans, school and unit CBOs, and central finance leadership, the Vice Provost ensures alignment between academic priorities, financial sustainability, and institutional strategy.
Leads complex, cross-functional initiatives that translate academic priorities into executable financial and operational plans and oversees implementation.
By convening and directing teams across academic leadership, finance, financial aid, enrollment management, human resources, facilities, data and analytics, and information technology, delivers rigorous analysis, scenario modeling, and decision support that provides leaders with clear, timely, and actionable insight for high-stakes decisions. Through this work, the role drives institution-wide initiatives that produce measurable progress, strengthen financial sustainability, improve governance and transparency, and advance consistent planning and performance standards across schools and academic units.
In collaboration with the Associate Vice President for Finance, Integrated Financial Planning and Budgeting, the Vice Provost supports financial management, analysis, and reporting for schools, academic units, and administrative units reporting to the Provost, including oversight of annual operating and capital budgeting processes.
Monitors financial performance across units, partners with leadership to address variances and resolve financial challenges, and provides early insight into emerging risks, pressures, and opportunities through ongoing analysis and engagement.
Working closely with deans, CBOs, and academic leaders, the Vice Provost supports the development of financial plans that express academic priorities and optimize available resources and strategic levers.
Partners with schools and academic units to develop business plans for new and ongoing academic programs and strategic investments, assessing financial and operational impacts, establishing KPIs and benchmarks, and monitoring performance over time.
Contributes to and advises on complex methodologies related to inter-school and inter-campus relationships, including cost allocations, assessments, transfers, and broader university funds flow, and participates in committees evaluating institutional risk, policy changes, and major financial decisions.
Leads efforts to develop annual tuition and fee plans across schools in collaboration with Financial Aid, Campus Life, Auxiliaries, and school leadership, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities while balancing affordability, competitiveness, and resource needs.
Represents the Provost and Senior Vice Provosts in internal and external venues, engages directly with schools and departments to resolve complex financial and administrative issues, partners across divisions on strategic initiatives, and presents financial information to senior leadership and university governance bodies, as appropriate.
Performs related responsibilities as required.