Senior Director of Finance, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

Harvard University

Senior Director of Finance, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education
Harvard Kennedy School
54075BR

Job Summary

Responsible for the overall direction and oversight of financial operations, which may include payroll, accounting, accounts payable/receivable, procurement, capital projects, endowment funding, research administration, or other function.


Job-Specific Responsibilities
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is the premier resource for Executive Education for public leaders around the world. The Senior Director of Finance serves as the senior financial officer within Executive Education, responsible for guiding financial planning, policy and processes to support a business unit of substantial scale: $36M in revenue, 80 programs, and 4000+ participants each year. During COVID, HKS Executive Education undertook a rapid transformation to online learning. In the coming year, this position will be in rebuilding mode, assuring that our financial operations and skills keep pace with current needs. Supervises a staff of approximately 3-4 people, both direct and indirect. Serves as the principal liaison to financial leadership at the Kennedy School and the University, as well as a network of financial leaders in Professional and Lifelong Learning across Harvard. As a member of the Executive Education senior management team, contributes to overall leadership and strategic direction.
Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Ensures that all financial activities are accurate, transparent and in accordance with HKS accounting principles and procedures. Achieves high levels of customer service by providing professional, timely and accurate financial management.
2. Leads and continually improves the Annual Budget Process, including analysis of costs and program tuition
3. Serves as a member of the senior management team for Exec Ed, contributing to strategic direction, priority setting, and overall accountability to goals
4. Prepares budgets for new programs working with Program Development unit and assures that new programs are set up properly in university systems
5. Ensures that accounting is timely and accurate. Works closely with the School's Financial Office (OFS) to resolve financial and compliance issues. Reviews and monitors grants and contracts.
6. Sets policy on financial operations with guidance from OFS.
7. Participates as a member of the HKS Financial Managers Group; represents HKS in the university-wide Executive Education Finance Affinity Group.
8. Manages the people and processes by which roughly 2500 program tuitions are invoiced and collected each year, optimizing the use of systems to balance efficiency and excellent customer service.
9. Manages the faculty compensation process
10. Designs, implements, and communicates financial reporting metrics and tools to support decision-making
11. Produces the Executive Education Annual Report
12. Participates in Exec Ed performance management processes, including performance evaluation and training, development and promotion of staff
13. Identifies and performs analysis of Executive Education business performance
14. Additional responsibilities from time to time as needed

Typical Core Duties

• Responsible for effective staff management for a group or team of employees, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment
• Manage multiple financial operations, which may include systems development, data analysis, budgeting and reporting while identifying opportunities for operational integration and improvement
• Lead department goal setting, planning, and process development
• Identify potential operational challenges and propose solutions
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures and training for financial staff
• Manage ongoing relationships with external vendors and consultants
• Collaborate with university-wide leadership to continuously approve processes, policies and procedures
• Ensure financial compliance with University policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations

Harvard Kennedy School's Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At Harvard Kennedy School, fostering a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels they belong is a matter of basic fairness consistent with our core values as an institution. It is also essential to our mission of improving public policy and leadership-because recruiting the best people and creating an environment where they can thrive make us better at what we do, because we learn more from people with different perspectives, and because we work in diverse groups and serve diverse societies.

Learn more about Harvard Kennedy School's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Salary Range: $90,200 - $157,200
Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity.

Harvard offers a generous benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3- 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
• Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness Options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
  Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting

Job Function
Finance

Sub Unit
------------

Location
USA - MA - Cambridge

Department
Executive Education

Time Status
Full-time

Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Salary Grade
059

Pre-Employment Screening
Credit, Criminal, Education, Identity

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 years' relevant work experience
• Supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Essential Skills and Experience:
10+ years of financial experience; master's degree strongly preferred. Strong accounting, budgeting, analytic, and management skills needed. Mastery of GAAP accounting principles; must be familiar with SAS112 regulations. Excellent communication skills required, both verbal and written. Demonstrated ability to lead a process, as well as to work in a collaborative environment to achieve agreed-upon objectives. Proven ability to handle sensitive data with discretion, creatively solve financial problems, generate new and improved financial processes and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Expert user of Excel, PowerPoint and enterprise financial systems.

Nonessential Skills and Experience:
Comprehensive understanding of Harvard University financial processes, chart of accounts and supporting tools valuable. Experience with Oracle financial systems, PeopleSoft and Salesforce environments.


Additional Information

We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not porvide visa sponsorship.

Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background checks.
Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment.

Please note: During the current period of Covid-19 related restrictions, this position may start as a remote position, with transition to onsite in Cambridge, Massachusetts when the office reopens.
We continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 and lifting of restrictions. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process. We will be conducting interviews virtually for selected candidates until further notice.

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