Associate Director of Finance

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $60,906 and $77,047, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Operating with a high degree of independence, the associate director serves as the primary operational actor for the Case School of Engineering's fiscal planning and financial activities. This role requires a unique "hands-on" leader who seamlessly toggles between high-level fiscal objectives and the detailed daily management of dean's office accounts. The incumbent is responsible for the full lifecycle of financial management from the execution of manual journal entries and monthly reconciliations to the development of multi-year strategic forecasts. The associate director will partner with the executive director to manage the school's budgeting and forecasting process, internal controls, and data analytics. Acting as a key deputy and first-tier reviewer, the associate director manages the school's financial processes, ensuring the executive director is proactively and timely informed of material financial changes and risks and their underlying drivers. In supporting these processes, the incumbent maintains regular, collaborative communication with department directors, acting as an accessible technical advisor to guide the completion of core financial deliverables, including quarterly forecasts and annual budgets, while clarifying standard school-level financial procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead and execute school-level fiscal planning and daily dean's office operations by managing critical processes, including the annual budget, year-end close, 3- to 5-year forecasts, and quarterly operating updates. Prepare and distribute templates, including for fiscal year budgeting and faculty startup commitment tracking. Prepare and distribute endowed chair allocations annually and other discretionary allocations. Directly perform the day-to-day administration of dean's office accounts, including preparing and entering manual journal transfers, salary adjustments, and expense reallocations in PeopleSoft. Document all financial assumptions used in planning, forecasting and budgeting and continuously improve processes for accuracy and transparency. Proactively identify and brief the executive director on material budget and forecast variances, pending fiscal risks, or significant changes in financial assumptions as they arise, providing preliminary impact analysis and proposed solutions as issues are noted. (30%)
• Lead financial reporting and close. Manage the university's financial close process for the engineering school, serving as the liaison between departments and the central university budget and controller's offices, escalating high-level policy or budget issues to the Executive Director. Lead the development of advanced financial dashboards and management reports covering operating results, return on investment, and sponsored projects. Analyze financial results against historical performance, budget, forecasts, and key performance indicators; advise the associate dean on trends and variances. Oversee general ledger activity to ensure timely, accurate, and policy-compliant transactions. Prepare dean's office analyses, requests and journals for year-end close. Review and enhance close-related policies, procedures, and reporting tools. Identify opportunities for cost reduction and revenue enhancement across school operations. Assess and strengthen internal control systems across the college. (30%)
• Support strategic modeling and decisions. Develop long-range financial planning models tailored to varying program assumptions for executive decision-making. Lead the development of business decision tools, such as program contribution margin analysis and education pricing models. Draft executive summaries and key data points for major financial deliverables to the dean, assistant dean and executive director. (15%)
• Provide external surveys and rankings stewardship. Oversee and execute external survey and rankings stewardship by collecting validating and submitting assigned data for key surveys, including American Society for Engineering Education and U.S. News & World Report. Coordinate with Institutional Research and university offices to ensure the engineering school's financial and research metrics are accurately and consistently reported. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Guide internal stakeholders and coordinate with university central offices to ensure compliance, maintain strong financial controls, and resolve technical process-related issues. Serve as an operational coordinator for the university central offices to resolve technical process-related issues. Approve purchase requisitions, payment requests, and procurement card activities as assigned. Strengthen internal control systems across the college and identify opportunities for revenue enhancement or cost reduction. Manage regular updates and other finance-related initiatives on school Finance SharePoint site. (5%)
• Serve as a liaison for endowment and gift fund stewardship. Manage school endowed chairs endowment funding, departmental allocations, and discretionary funding in accordance with university and school policies and procedures. Manage reporting on gift funds and endowments, ensuring strict alignment with donor intentions and board resolutions. Serve as the point of contact for the Case Alumni Association regarding gift fund management. Communicate projected available income to departments during the budget process. (5%)
• Respond to ad hoc data requests from various stakeholders, working with the executive director and/or associate dean as needed. (2.5%)
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. (2.5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with the dean's office staff (human resources, grants, facilities, and associate deans) and business managers/administrators to exchange information. Occasional contact with departmental administrative staff to resolve problems, provide guidance and exchange information. University: Weekly contact with the Controller's Office and Research Administration to support collaborative efforts. Monthly to quarterly contact with the Budget and Planning Office and University Technology to support collaborative efforts.

External: Regular contact with Case Alumni Association and other higher education professionals to support collaborative efforts

Students: Intermittent contact with students to provide technical or informational support.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no direct supervision of staff employees but may supervise student employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 7 to 10 years of progressive financial management experience required. Experience in an academic and/or medical center environment preferred.

Education: Bachelor's degree required; preferably in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration. Master's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Advanced-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced modeling, data visualization, and manipulation of large datasets; Expert-level proficiency in Excel preferred. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and SharePoint.
• Demonstrated expertise in ERP financial software (PeopleSoft or similar) and data warehousing systems.
• Strong financial acumen, including high-level analysis, budgeting, and accounting skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively independently or on a team.
• Ability to work with a high degree of independence and manage multiple priorities simultaneously, from transactional work to high-level strategic projects. Requires the ability to maintain high productivity while toggling between manual data entry and complex financial strategy and modeling.
• Ability to plan, sequence and integrate individual tasks with those of others.
• Excellent organizational skills, detail orientation, diplomacy, tact and sound professional judgment in working with a variety of diverse individuals at all levels within CSE, across CWRU, and externally.
• Absolute integrity and discretion in handling sensitive personnel and financial data.
• Ability to navigate the internet and utilize email systems effectively.
• Familiarity with university policies and procedures.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers in person and virtually.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Willingness to learn and work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.
• Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General office environment. Work requires repetitive motion using a computer mouse and keyboard. Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed during peak fiscal cycles.

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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