Vanderbilt University

Position Summary:

The Senior Associate Business Officer in the College of Connected Computing (CCC) provides leadership and management of Vanderbilt University (VU) and CCC policies and practices for fiscal and operational matters in alignment with the college’s strategic plans to support leadership and decision making at both the college and the Provost/Academic Affairs level. This position reports to and supports the Chief Business Officer (CBO) and is the subsequent financial lead for the college after the CBO.

Responsibilities include short- and long-term financial planning for the college, development of annual operating budgets, implementation of financial controls and internal auditing, preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports including projections, analysis of financial data, and oversight of all financial processes and procedures. This position interfaces with a wide constituency of partners across the college and University, including regular interactions with the Dean, Associate Deans, the Provost’s Office and other senior-level administrators.

About the Work Unit:

The CCC is Vanderbilt’s groundbreaking interdisciplinary college, designed to foster radical collaboration at the intersection of computing and other disciplines. By uniting scholars, students and industry, the CCC is committed to tackling society's most pressing problems through technology and collaboration.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Serves as the senior financial manager and analyst for the college, creating and maintaining a responsive financial organization that provides the resources required to support the college’s tripartite mission - education, research and service.
• Advises the Dean, Associate Deans, CBO and Department Chairs on all financial matters for the college, performs ad hoc analyses as needed for executive leadership to make data informed decisions.
• Develop, present and explain, as needed, financial data for presentation to key college and university offices, including the Office of the Provost.
• Manages the financial operations, including strategic multi-year planning, forecasting, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and variance analysis, financial risk assessment and capital planning.
• Plans, directs, and evaluates a comprehensive college wide financial operations and college-level financial goals, with an emphasis on associated resource requirements, systems and processes needed to support long-range strategies.
• Utilizes and monitors the multiple sources of funding the college receives, to include tuition revenue, indirect cost recovery funds, federal, state and private grants, gift and endowed accounts and industry and other sponsored contracts and agreements.
• Assists in developing, revising and implementing policies and procedures for college activities that have fiscal implications.
• Prepares annual budget and year-end financial report with the CBO, in consultation with the Dean.
• Contributes to functions of the Dean's executive team by participating in college-level discussions, decision making and priority setting, assisting in strategic planning, and performing other duties as assigned by the Dean.
• Develop and manage the college's annual operating budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
• Provide timely financial analysis and recommendations to the Dean, and other college leadership to support decision-making
• Oversee accounting, and procurement functions for the college
• Monitor financial performance, develop quarterly financial projections, and identify opportunities for cost savings or revenue generation
• Collaborate with the central university finance office to ensure compliance with policies and procedures
• Manage the college's endowment and gift funds
• Serve as a financial advisor to faculty and staff on new programs, contracts, and other funding initiatives
• Provide leadership and support to all college finance professionals and foster a culture of continuous process improvement

Short-term and Long-term Financial Planning

• Develop annual and multi-year financial plans to support the college's strategic priorities and address short-term needs as well as long-term sustainability
• Analyze budget trends, identify potential risks and opportunities, and propose strategies to leadership
• Maintain the college’s financial model and update the model as new information is acquired to utilize as an input for decision making
• Collaborate with department heads to align financial plans with their operational and programmatic goals
• Budget and forecast the college’s cash reserves, cash needs and projected balances
• Develop long-term financing plans aligned with the college’s capital construction plans

Financial Analysis

• Analyze and report on current and long-range financial and operational activity
• Use advanced knowledge of spreadsheets, database applications, presentation tools, Vanderbilt systems, and a comprehensive understanding of academic accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, appropriate regulations, and University policies and procedures to prepare routine monthly reports
• Generate monthly and long-range trend reporting, including analysis of progress toward financial and operational goals
• Develop and submit quarterly financial forecasts
• Provide ad hoc reporting, as requested or determined necessary based on strategic initiatives/priorities; trends/variances; or other needs

Annual Budgeting

• Support development of annual all funds operating budgets and monthly financial projections, including institutes and administrative units within the college
• Develop the unit-level non-personnel operating budgets
• Monitor budget performance throughout the year, providing regular variance reports and recommending adjustments as needed
• Assess realistic financial projections compared to the annual budget and actuals
• Reconciliation of detailed actuals to budget and variance reporting on a monthly basis for all units of the college
• Production of operating budget vs actual reports to college units on a monthly basis

Financial Oversight and Controls

• Implement and maintain effective internal control procedures to safeguard assets and ensure financial reporting integrity
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance financial processes and systems
• Function as a technical expert for the college on all budgetary, financial, and accounting issues and systems
• Maintain an extensive understanding of the university’s chart of accounts and departmental use of Project Portfolio Management POET structure
• Maintain extensive understanding of institutional and departmental travel, expense, and procurement card policies
• Serve as point of contact for problem resolution for financial issues
• Review and approve non personnel financial transactions for assigned financial unit(s) in the Oracle Cloud system, including procurement requisitions, travel and entertainment expense reports, and procurement card expense reports
• Main point person for all intra college funding transfers as well as funding transfers crossing university entities
• Work with the college’s facilities staff with respect to the capital inventory
• Main point person for the VU/VUMC agreements and procedures
• Main point person for the financial aspects of graduate and professional programs
• Oversight of the month end close process
• Main point person for the fiscal year closing process
• Maintenance of the internal Oracle Program and Activity database
• Reconciliation of cash

Oversight of Financial Unit Managers (FUM) and Procurement Requesters

• Provide training and professional development opportunities to build departmental and college staff capabilities in areas such as budgeting, accounting, and financial analysis
• Provide guidance, college specific training and assistance to Procurement Requesters
• Serve as primary point of contact for all college staff for financial questions and guidance, including training
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging team members to share best practices and implement process enhancements

Communication and collaboration

• Build and maintain strong working relationships in the college, with centralized Finance team members, and other university constituents.
• Lead recurring meetings and trainings with FUMs, procurement initiators and any other stakeholders to keep up to date on all college and institutional policies/procedures and to disseminate new information to college staff
• Adapt easily to changes in technology and process
• Other tasks as assigned

Supervisory Relationships:

This position will ultimately have supervisory responsibility once CCC is fully staffed; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Chief Business Officer.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance is necessary; MBA is preferred
• Certified Public Accountant a plus

Experience and Skills:

• At least eight to ten years of experience in the financial function is necessary
• Ability to create and manage budgets is necessary
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills is necessary
• Thorough knowledge of financial and legal best practices and requirements with a proven ability to provide sound and financial counsel is necessary
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is necessary
• Meticulous organizational skills and attention to detail is necessary
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills is necessary
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and expert proficiency in excel is necessary
• Ability to maintain confidentiality is a necessity
• Ability to balance routine reporting deadlines as well as ad hoc reporting and special requests
• Ability to work independently while constantly seeking out opportunities for improvement and ways to work more efficiently and effectively

Key Characteristics of a Successful Team Member in this Work Unit:

• Energetic
• Proactive
• Positive
• Service oriented
• Adaptable

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.