Associate Director, Finance and Budget

Associate Director, Finance and Budget

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2022-15745
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Financial Services and Procurement

Princeton University

Overview

The Associate Director for Finance and Budget is a hands-on leader responsible to lead the financial and business management of the Facilities Business Office (FBO) within the Facilities Finance and Administrative Services department (FFAS) of Princeton University. Acting as a financial representative, the Associate Director, Facilities Business Office is responsible for the accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, monthly reconciliations, year-end closings, and daily oversight of day-to-day operations. The position ensures that effective financial and accounting system controls and standards are in place.

The Associate Director, Facilities Business Office will play a critical role in partnering with the leadership team of FBO in strategic decision making as FFAS enhances its support to the various departments within the Facilities organization. Through analysis and research, the Associate Director will be tasked with recommending changes and improvements to information flow and financial data management as well as helping implement these changes. This position is an essential partner and works closely with the Director, Facilities Business Office to support the fiduciary and organizational compliance responsibilities of the Facilities organization.

In addition to strategic initiatives, the Associate Director, Facilities Business Office will also take the lead on various special projects, including some involving cross-departmental teamwork. In order to meet the group’s day-to-day tactical initiatives, this position will be called upon to provide administrative direction and guidance to the office to make sure the team is at peak efficiency.

With a $136M annual operating budget, the Associate Director, Facilities Business Office will take a lead role in partnering with all Facilities departments to provide focused support, including monthly financial reports, trend analyses, process improvements and ad hoc reporting to advise key stakeholders on financial matters. The role will have a broad set of customers and interactions with many different departments on campus including those that are both internal and external to Facilities.

Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Manage the preparation and oversight of $136M Facilities operating budget and ensure the integrity of financial information. Includes oversight of verification and posting of transactions to journals, ledgers and other records, and preparation of supporting account reconciliations.
• Lead and oversee the fiscal year-end close for Facilities. This includes the preparation and oversight of the year-end close calendar, oversight of the completion of year-end duties across Facilities and presentation of year end results to Facilities leadership and external stakeholders. Serve as the liaison between Facilities and the Office of Finance & Treasury.
• This role plays a critical role in ensuring Facilities compliance to all University financial policies and University financial system access.
• Ensure accurate preparation and analysis of all monthly and annual financial statements and related reports. Complete monthly presentations to the Director, Facilities Business Office and department heads of all departments within Facilities. In addition, provide departments with ongoing revenue and spend variance analysis and forecasting.
• Lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Director, Facilities Business Office. In addition, coordinate and lead the preparation and submission of budget requests to support new buildings across campus.
• Manage organizational balance sheet accounts and generate monthly account reconciliations.
• Document and implement all necessary business policies and accounting practices to improve the department’s efficiency and financial controls.
• Provide financial information to meet the needs of management including producing customized financial reports, costing templates, trend analysis on an as needed, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Serve on and/or lead internal and external committees and task force groups to support initiative within Facilities and across the University. Develop best practices amongst peer groups across the University.

Strategic Planning

• As part of the FBO management team, advise Director, Facilities Business Office on FBO strategic issues.
• Maintain relationships with strategic areas: Finance & Treasury, Audit & Compliance, municipal tax assessors/collectors and utility partners.
• Regularly meet with partners throughout Facilities to discuss their business needs.
• In conjunction with the Director, Facilities Business Office, lead projects to implement more efficient reporting and analytic improvements, utilizing technology to maximum extent possible.
• In conjunction with the Director, Facilities Business Office work with various groups across the University to provide access to data managed by FBO (i.e., electric consumption, water usage, tax payments, etc.).

Staff Management/Development

• Responsible for managing a staff of 5-6 including an Assistant Manager. This includes all aspects of staff management such as establishing goals and objectives, providing annual performance appraisals and salary increase recommendations and hiring open positions when applicable.
• Develop staff by providing enrichment opportunities both on and off campus.
• Clearly communicate expectations, and helps employees reach or exceed these expectations by teaching, coaching and advising in both formal and informal settings.
• Ensure there is adequate cross-training amongst team members for effective backup when circumstances warrant.
• Communicate and enforce University policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in financial administration with a strong accounting background.
• Prior experience supervising, coaching and mentoring a team.
• High attention to detail.
• Prior responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and year-end coordination. Ability to be both detail-oriented as well as broadly strategic.
• A successful track record in setting priorities and a multi-tasker able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.
• Ability to translate financial concepts and effectively collaborate with colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds.
• Technology savvy; knowledge of accounting and reporting software, (Preferably PeopleSoft). Must have strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent communication (both verbally and written) and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders in a multi-cultural environment. Ability to make formal presentations to a wide range of groups.
• Strong customer-service orientation - as part of a shared-service operation, must be highly focused on partner needs.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, professionalism, a commitment to lead by example, and dedication to the mission of the Facilities organization and Princeton University.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA and/or CPA.
• Prior experience in a Higher Education setting.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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