Shire Jobs

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director, Endowment Compliance, the Associate Director for Financial Operations Compliance is responsible for partnering with the Senior Director to support two key areas of the University's internal control structure, the delegation of authority for access to the University's financial systems, and compliance related to the University's gift and endowment funds.

Reporting within the Office of the Controller, the incumbent will serve as a representative for the department's business needs and interests, providing in-depth support and guidance. The Associate Director is responsible for identifying problems or opportunities in existing processes, making recommendations for solutions, and implementing business process and/or system enhancement changes to optimize operations, customer satisfaction, and compliance.

Responsibilities

SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS

The Associate Director is responsible for overseeing security administration and operations for the University's financial systems (ARC, FinSys, and the related Procurement systems), serving as the functional subject matter expert (SME) with a strong knowledge of the relationship between business transactions and the system security roles that are required to support those transactions.

The Associate Director will work closely with the Senior Director to guide transaction authority and access, document, and maintain DAF (Departmental Authorization Function) business rules and criteria for assigning roles and authority and monitoring compliance. Associated responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and providing approval of Security Applications for the Finance Division, along with certain other restricted access, and administering access and privileges in the Security Administration module;
• Coordinating the annual security recertification process and security audit requests;
• Identify problems or opportunities in existing processes; make recommendations for solutions, and then apply them to optimize business improvement and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborating with Departments, the School/Unit DAF Administrators, Finance Training Administration, CUIT, and the Service Now application team on security enhancements by recommending, designing, and implementing enhancements, reports, or fixes that increase efficiency and improve internal controls;
• Managing customer inquiries and requests and troubleshooting security issues;
• Building and maintaining relationships with the DAF Administrators, serving as an advisor to the group on policy and process, training new administrators, and communicating with the group on security changes and enhancements;
• Developing and updating security-related policies, job aids, website content, and queries, and documenting internal operational processes.

UNIVERSITY GIFT & ENDOWMENT FUNDS COMPLIANCE

The Associate Director will work closely with the Senior Director on endowment and gift fund administration, accounting, and compliance. The Associate Director will communicate with and guide Schools/Units and the Office of Alumni and Development to ensure the appropriate administration, spending, and compliance of gifts and endowments, and collaborate with the Financial Reporting and Operations team on data management and accounting reviews. Associated responsibilities include:

• Preparing and reviewing schedules, analyses, reports, and reconciliations for audits, management reporting, donor reporting, and external reporting, including quarterly pledge schedules and other accounting and monitoring reviews for the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes;
• Assisting with operations and accounting related to gifts and endowments, including journal entries, calculations, endowment term sheets, and the creation of endowment funds, ensuring all requests are complete and accurate and in compliance with the terms, University financial reporting policy, and GAAP Accounting.

Performs other related duties and special projects, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (in finance, accounting, or related) plus a minimum of five years of accounting experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA a plus.
• Experience with internal/external auditing, complex academic or research environments.
• Experience in endowment and/or investment accounting or not-for-profit accounting.
• Project management qualification (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or equivalent experience in project management.
• Experience with PeopleSoft, NVision Reporting, or Business Intelligence (BI)/WEBI is a plus.

Other Requirements

• Experience in strategic planning, risk management, and/or change management including experience using process improvement or project management methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) required, with intermediate to advanced function Excel skills.
• Experience with PeopleSoft or an integrated ERP environment.
• Have a demonstrated strength for process and operational improvement, leading and managing projects and change.
• Must be detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills, and have the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and ensure daily operations are running smoothly.
• Must be able to demonstrate excellent research, analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Have a demonstrated ability to prepare reports utilizing available system reporting resources, prepare summaries and analyses, and present findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to stakeholders.
• Must be able to manage ambiguity, negotiate issues, and resolve problems.
• As an advisor to our business partners, must be able to understand nuance, interpret agreements, contracts, and policies, and provide instructions and sound guidance.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including active listening skills, with the ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of University administrators at all levels, characterized by strong consensus-building and relationship-building skills, flexibility, diplomacy, and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation.
• Must be self-motivated to optimize operations provide excellent customer service and demonstrate a commitment to delivering exceptional work quality in a dynamic environment.
• Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.