General Summary: 

The Director of Financial Administration will report to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Administration and Financial Services (AVC) with providing comprehensive financial and administrative support to the Deans, Vice and Associate Provosts, Directors, Assistant Deans, and other staff within Academic Affairs. Responsibilities include assisting with budget development, financial reporting, and analysis, as well as forecasting. The position also supports the AVC in reconciling the Academic Affairs budget, managing faculty development funds, and tracking course buy-outs and releases.

The role includes supervising the central business service ensuring accurate and timely processing of all financial, budgetary, and human resources transactions. The position will represent Academic Affairs at various meetings and serve as signature authority for specific areas within the division.

Examples of Duties: 

Budget and Financial Management:

• Assist Deans, Vice and Associate Provosts, Directors, Assistant Deans, and other staff with budget development, financial reports, analysis, and forecasting.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) to develop and reconcile the Academic Affairs budget and overseeing special projects assigned by the Provost.
• Create and maintain templates to track course buy-outs and course releases within the colleges.
• Assist the AVC in reviewing and overseeing state and trust fund budgets for Academic Affairs, ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and allocation

Compliance and Policy Oversight:

• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, local, foundation, and university regulations and policies and ensure all transactions comply with relevant policies and procedures (internal and external).

• Develop training for Assist Deans, and Business Managers withing Academic Affair on university, and internal processes, such as purchasing, concur faculty hiring, contract management and provide support to colleges and supporting areas to ensure compliance.
• Assist in the development and implementation of systems for continuous improvement within the Academic Affairs Division.

Personnel and Transaction Management:

• Oversee the preparation, accuracy, and timely processing of personnel actions, purchasing, and travel transactions in areas that are supported by the Central Business Unit.
• Regularly review financial information such as budget transfers, allocation of expenses, for inaccuracies and make corrections as necessary.

Non-Tenure-Track (NTT) Faculty Support:

• Assist the AVC for Personnel with NTT contracts, including new hires, reappointments, overload requests, additional compensation, terminations, and leaves of absence.
• Estimate NTT faculty spending for each semester/fiscal year and maintain a shadow system to track faculty appointment history.
• Assist the AVC with reviewing NTT faculty eligibility for promotions and continuing contracts.

Supervision and Staff Management:

• Supervise the Central Business Service team (CBU), responsible for day-to-day financial, budgetary, and human resources activities.

• Review and approve all CBU bank card uploads, logs, and backup documentation, ensuring accurate reallocation to the correct account.

Procurement and Contract Management:

• Oversee Academic Affairs services contracts and serve as a representative during the competitive procurement process for services contracts that require bidding.
• Provide oversight of procurement processes in units that report through the provost.

Administrative Liaison and Representation:

• Serve as a signature authority for specific areas within Academic Affairs.
• Act as a liaison to university administrative units, including the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP), Human Resources, Controller’s Office, University Advancement, the UMass Foundation, and Unified Procurement Services Team.

Meetings and Representation:

• Represent Academic Affairs at various meetings, committees, and training sessions, including but not limited to Finance Advisory monthly meetings, Academic Administrator’s monthly meetings, and ORSP monthly forums.              

Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s Degre (Master’s Degree preferred) in higher education administration or closely related field preferred, and a minimum of five-seven (5-7) years of experience in higher education administration, budget development/management, policy development, project management and/or human resources is required.   Experience in budget and fiscal management, accounting and personnel management is preferred.  Knowledge of university administrative systems, policies and procedures preferred.  Ability to work occasional evening and/or weekend hours, as programming requires. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other standard administrative software and financial reporting and human resources systems; 
• Ability to analyze data and other information utilizing and maintaining spreadsheets and databases;
• Ability to develop and interpret information through automated accounting systems;
• Ability to develop and bring to completion multiple assignments concurrently;
• Ability to work independently and to respond flexibly to changing events;
• Ability to effectively manage complex administrative situations;
• Ability to handle and uphold the confidentiality of the Dean’s Office and the college; 
• Ability to understand college academics programs, policies and procedures;
• Ability to interact with others in a variety of roles and positions;
• Ability to supervise the work of others;
• Strong quantitative and budget skills;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the capacity to work cooperatively with a wide range of individuals;
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem solving and decision-making skills;
• Strong project planning skills;

 Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three references. 

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

This is a non-union exempt position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.