About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

 

Job Summary

The Director of Finance for the College of Engineering supports the daily financial management and related data analysis activities for the College. This position reports directly to the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance (A&F) of Engineering and participates in resource management and strategic planning.  The Director is responsible for the financial management of the College, including the annual operating budget, fiscal policies and procedures, efficiency and effectiveness of systems, long term forecasting, and fiscal compliance and control. The position also gathers, analyzes and interprets financial data necessary for the assessment and continuous process improvement for operational areas within the College. The Director of Finance provides advice, guidance and solutions on policies and situational problems and acts as an advisor on matters related to long-range financial planning for the College.

 

Essential Functions

Financial Management and Reporting

• Responsible for the overall financial planning, performance and reporting for the College.
• Develops and maintains internal accounting control procedures to ensure compliance with university and sponsor guidelines and regulations pertaining to financial functions; provides central checks and balances.
• Assumes fiscal responsibility for the College’s activity including fee-based revenue activity; state and general operating funds; continuing education incentive funds; research trust funds; scholarship and fellowships; and endowments.
• Prepares budget forecasts and analyses of budget trends. Responsible for researching, compiling, and ensuring accuracy and timely submission of all financial reports at the College/major budgetary unit level. Reports activity, makes projections and recommendations for department budgets. Collects, analyzes and manipulates data to support the mission of the College and its needs.
• Serves as purchasing agent. Responsible for adherence to UMass purchasing regulations, negotiating terms and conditions of procurement; supervises preparation of purchase orders. Reviews and approves purchases and expenditures.
• In support of the Associate Dean for Research, reports and analyzes grant awards, proposals and expenditures at the College, department and principal investigator level, including forecasting and monthly reports of encumbrances and expenditures. 
• Collaborates with department administrative support staff to ensure work duties related to finance matters are accurate and completed in accordance with University policies. 
• Provides post-award research support for Sponsored Research projects.  Works with department staff to ensure Engineering initiatives are implemented and managed successfully.
• Provides daily supervision to direct reporting staff; assigns primary duties as well as backup duties when staff complement is less than 100%; assesses performance; completes annual evaluations, provides ongoing training and support as needed to all staff performing financial activities.
• Ensures College and department staff are trained appropriately on financial processes and new systems, including providing on-going training and support to College and department support staff as needed.
• In partnership with the Assistant Dean of A&F, develops and implements new processes to increase efficiency and reliability. Incorporates the use of technologies to create reports or improve business processes.
• In the performance of work, takes initiative, is creative, and operates with self-direction. Works in partnership with colleagues within the Engineering community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.

Human Resources

• Under the direction of the Assistant Dean of A&F, partners with the Senior Human Resources Business Partner to develop standards around payroll, compensation, and overall College-level personnel management.

Administration

• Contributes to various external reports with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET), and other accreditation bodies. 

Facilities

• Space Management and Facilities: Liaises with Physical Plant and Facilities & Campus Planning to facilitate space planning and allocations, renovations, and related space issues. Completes the annual space survey on the condition and occupancy of facilities.

Strategy and Planning

• Crafts and shapes reports to support strategies that significantly improve Engineering needs/outcomes.
• Participates in College initiatives such as strategic planning, initiating the administrative makeup and support for new programs or departments, marketing, etc. Prepares budgetary planning documents for the College’s reports to the Provost and annual budget planning submission. 

 

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, College, and University goals and objectives.
• Works closely with, and provides backup to the College’s Human Resources Business Partner.
• Works creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.

 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 5 years of experience in increasingly responsible financial positions.
• Strong communication skills as evidenced by preparation of oral and written materials including presentations, proposals, reports, memoranda and correspondence of both a technical and confidential nature.
• Experience with database systems, word-processing, spreadsheets, computer-based management tools.  Ability to direct development of technical solutions to administrative and managerial problems.  Hands-on ability to use sophisticated computer-based tools and to achieve the same for staff through training and development.
• Demonstrated understanding of fiscal management principles-budgetary/accounting procedures; personnel management; and computer spreadsheet and related software.
• Accurate judgment of personnel capabilities and interactions, and resource issues, coupled with strong decision-making ability.
• Excellent organizational skills to oversee numerous projects spanning many areas of expertise at the same time.
• Ability to use sound judgment in normal and emergency situations.
• Ability to promote a positive working environment, include collaborative, transparent, and engaging working relationships and a climate of diversity across staff, faculty and students; both in the College and across the University.

 

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's Degree in Management, Business, or a related field.
• Experience working in a university community as well as representing a department and university in internal and external communications.  

 

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

 

Additional Details

• Exercises considerable initiative, leadership, judgment, responsibility and decision-making. 

 

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours/week.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

 

Salary Information

Level 27

PSU Hiring Ranges

 

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

 

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.