Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration

Job description

Description
University of Colorado | CU Denver 
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office
Working Title: Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration
Position #350925 – Requisition #20183

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The University of Colorado Denver seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment. We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office has an opening for a full time University Staff (unclassified) Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration position.

As Colorado’s public urban research university, the University of Colorado Denver educates a diverse student body through quality academics, ambitious research, creative work, and civic engagement in the city we call home. CU Denver graduates gain the powerful combination of immersive classroom and real-world experience that are in demand today. The city benefits from well-educated, top talent and a new generation of knowledge that fuels the future of Denver and our region. We are CU in the City. 

CU Denver offers more than 100 degree programs, from the bachelor’s to the doctoral level, in the heart of downtown.  Here, more than 15,000 students pursue academic programs that range from global energy management to music industry studies to criminal justice. As part of the state’s largest public university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with nearly 2,500 employees and annual economic impact of $800 million. 

Background:

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) includes over 20 departments and programs and is the largest College within the University of Colorado Denver.  The College generates close to half of the overall student credit hours generated at the University.  The College has an expenditure budget of over $50 million composed of a diversity of funding sources including state allocations, student tuition and fees, contracts and grants, current gifts and endowments, and auxiliary fee for service programs. The College also has large extension programs that serve local high schools, as well as, global higher education partners.   

Position Emphasis:

The Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration is responsible for the strategic and practical organization and development of the comprehensive administrative structure of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  The Assistant Dean acts as the senior advisor to the Dean on all financial and administrative matters, and represents the Dean on such matters to the campus and University.  The Assistant Dean is responsible for the effective conduct of the business affairs of the College and effectually plans and allocates resources to achieve the education and research objectives and improve organizational effectiveness.  This position plans, directs and assesses the business operations of the College including resource formulation and management, human resources, finance and procurement, and contract and grant administration.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and serving as a member of the College leadership team, the Assistant Dean provides overall leadership and support of financial and administrative operations across the College; directly assists and supports the dean, associate deans, department chairs, program directors, and other College leadership; and represents the College to major University administrative functions as well as to counterparts in other schools and colleges. The Assistant Dean works to provide the Dean with strategic guidance and counsel on initiatives, resources, opportunities, and challenges, while also, through a high-performing staff of dedicated professionals, ensuring that daily operations directly advance the mission of the College and that resources broadly defined are deployed wisely and efficiently. The Assistant Dean supervises a team of College Finance and Accounting Staff, as well as, the College’s Human Resources Director.  The Assistant Dean is responsible for overseeing the College’s finance function including financial operations, developing monthly financial projections, and preparing annual and long-range operating budgets at both the College and department level. In addition, the Assistant Dean will oversee College human-resources activities for administrative personnel to ensure that hiring, training, and developing College staff are priorities and that the College is known to be an engaging, rewarding, and inclusive work environment. In the context of the long-range planning of the College’s resources and investments, the Assistant Dean will ensure to the extent possible within sound budget practices that the College’s resources are optimized for education, research, student engagement, and administrative operations. In order to carry out these wide-ranging activities, the Assistant Dean directly manages relationships with a wide spectrum of partners, including regular interactions with other College administrators, central administrative leadership (e.g., leadership teams under the CFO/Budget Office, Provost’s Office, Facilities, Information Technology, Human Resources, Controller, Chancellor, etc.) and campus shared governance groups such as the campus Budget Priorities Committee.   

Examples of Work Performed:
Financial and Budget Management

• Developing the College’s financial activities including financial strategy, planning, projections, and budgets which focus on sustaining long-term financial equilibrium. 
• Developing models that respond to new financial or operational circumstances and scenarios, and that provide insightful analysis of financial results and forecasts which allow for informed decision-making and resource maximization. 
• Within a multi-year strategic framework, coordinating the preparation of the annual budget for the College comprised of appropriated funds, tuition and fees, and gift and endowment funds. 
• Interpret information provided by others and advising on how the information or request aligns with or differs from the College’s strategies and financial plans. 
• Establish and implement equitable policies and transparent procedures for the distribution of instructional resources to departments, bearing in mind College priorities and University expectations. 
• Advocate for good management practices and implement and maintain effective internal controls for fiscal activities throughout the College. 
• Foster a culture in which faculty and staff throughout the College understand their individual fiduciary roles and responsibilities. 
• Exercise delegated authority with prudent assessment of individual transactions, considering the impact financially and operationally and bearing in mind internal controls while also setting the cultural tone desired by the Dean; reviewing and approving further delegated authority and responsibility throughout the College. 
• Prepare all analyses needed for College Budget Priorities Committee monthly meetings.

Personnel Management

• Determine appropriate department staffing levels and develops and implements metrics to support staffing recommendations, balancing expectations of support with budget and efficiency considerations.
• Design and sustains programs for administrative staff that support professional growth and development whether in department or dean’s office roles. 
• Model a service orientation among administrative personnel characterized by high standards of professionalism; regularly solicits feedback from all stakeholders on the performance of the business affairs function.
• Collaborate with University central administration in any ongoing or new implementations impacting College business operations and processes to ensure that the College needs are understood and that College faculty and staff understand the project and its impact on College business processes.
• Support the work of the Dean on employment matters involving faculty and contributes to the design of startup packages, research support, and other negotiated terms of employment.

Strategic Planning

• Actively partner and closely collaborate with key constituents in the College and throughout the University to leverage opportunities and goals. 
• Propose timelines and frameworks for new initiatives identified by the Dean; support these initiatives from planning phases through implementation; work closely with the Dean’s senior staff to ensure consistent and timely messaging and promote steady progress toward strategic goals.
• Oversee the identification and evaluation of program opportunities within or beyond the College. 

Administrative Leadership

• Design, establish, and maintain an administrative organizational structure to effectively and efficiently accomplish the College’s and the University’s goals and objectives while appropriately segregating duties and mitigating risk. 
• Act as a change agent, assisting the University with the successful implementation of new financial and administrative procedures and systems; serving as a major point of contact for problem resolution. 
• Serve as an ambassador for the College on various University committees, providing insightful and diplomatic feedback to University functions and communicating updates to the College as appropriate. 
• Meet and in some cases exceed all University, governmental, and regulatory standards.
• Facilitate and successfully implement changes when needed through coaching and effective role modeling. 
• Seamlessly integrate innovative programs and projects that contribute to stakeholder satisfaction and budgetary prudence including conducting accurate, on-going assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs.

Salary and Benefits:
The hiring range for this position has been established at $95,000 to $138,870.  

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
  
Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Diversity and Equity:
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected] 

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees. 

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, data sciences/quantitative field or other closely related area.    
• Minimum of five (5) years of high-level budget, financial and administration experience. 
• Three (3) years of prior supervisory experience of one or more professional level positions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Senior level administrative and financial experience overseeing a large complex organization.  
• Experience with responsibility centered management (RCM) budgeting. 
• Experience working with complex data warehouse information for ad hoc queries/reporting
• Experience working in a higher education environment.
• Experience providing high level oversight and transactional level support as needed.
• Experience training and developing strong-performing teams (e.g., cross-training, professional development, transition planning, skill development). 
• Experience applying state and federal guidelines that inform public university operations and compliance.
• Experience with shared governance structures.
• Demonstrated effort in building a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment.
• Experience applying accounting and finance principles (e.g., GAAP, internal controls, etc.) at a high level.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to develop, analyze and implement effective and innovative budget, financial and administrative strategies.
• Ability to synthesize, communicate, and effectively respond to large amounts of data in a day to-day operational context to guide and support decision-making processes.
• Evidence of being innovative and creative, particularly related to solving complex business and financial problems that lead to cost-savings, revenue generation, or other types of innovation.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with other executives and leaders to achieve organizational goals.
• Proven track record of engaging and contributing to larger organization issues beyond the confines of finance and administration.
• Proven ability to function independently and at a high level under complex situations.
• Proven ability to conceptualize complex administrative and fiscal problems, and to develop and implement effective action plans.
• Proven ability to set a tone of leadership that is collaborative and transparent, and which effectively utilizes data-driven decision making.
• Proven ability to effectively supervise, lead, mentor and direct a variety of professional personnel.
• Outstanding communication skills are required.  Ability to effectively develop, organize and present written and oral reports to internal and external constituents, including faculty and departmental administrators, staff, affiliates, campus and university administration, and regional and national professional organizations.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, analytical capability and professional judgment are required.
• Proven ability to manage large amounts of complex data, and to coordinate a variety of information systems.
• Proven ability to lead or facilitate highly effective and productive work teams and committees with successful outcomes
• Proven ability to develop and maintain an inclusive and equitable work culture that equally values and considers a diversity of perspectives which informs all areas the position touches.  

Job Category: Executive
Primary Location: Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Feb 12, 2021
Unposting Date: Ongoing

Share this job with your network: