Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the country’s leading schools of health and rehabilitation sciences. Home to more than 1,000 undergraduate and 550 graduate students, Sargent College combines outstanding faculty and cutting-edge research to provide superb education and clinical experiences. The college has more than 25 on-campus research facilities, clinical centers, and labs. It offers top-ranked degree programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language, and hearing sciences, health science, human physiology, behavior and health, and nutrition.
The Director of Finance & Administration is a senior member of the administrative team in Sargent College and serves as a key strategic partner and advisor to the Dean. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, the Director will direct effective financial management and lead financial operations for Sargent College, its research enterprise, and entrepreneurial programs with strategic oversight of annual expenditures of over $40 million.
The Director of Finance & Administration will be responsible for budget development, accounting, financial reporting, financial controls, business systems and analytics, procurement, contracts, and payroll. The Director works with the leadership team of Sargent College and as a key liaison to central BU administrative offices to help oversee a complex portfolio of capital projects, endowment and gift funding, research administration, and other administrative functions and will strive towards continuous improvement of college-level financial systems to deliver high-quality services to faculty and staff.
The Director of Finance & Administrator will supervise two direct full-time employees, the Assistant Director, F&A, and Payroll Administrator, responsible for guiding and evaluating performance and supporting their professional development.
The Director will support the overall mission of the college through vibrant collaboration with faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and administrators across the university. They will help sustain and support a culture of integrity and operational excellence which celebrates diversity of individuals and ideas which values accountability, equity, belonging, and inclusion, adaptability, and innovation. The finance director will strive towards continuous improvement of college-level financial systems to deliver high-quality services to faculty and staff.
Essential Functions:
Financial Oversight and Direction- 40%
- Directs financial operations for a $40 million budget that includes: unrestricted accounts, designated accounts, gift accounts, spendable endowment accounts, research funding, and entrepreneurial units (including the BU Center for Neurorehabilitation, the BU Physical Therapy Clinic, and the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center). Monitors operational expenses and revenues. Conducts analyses to ensure appropriate and effective use of resources.
- Oversees payroll operations for the college, in close collaboration with our sponsored research team to ensure all new hires and continuing faculty and staff have appropriate cost distributions allocated. Plans and approves summer salary and overbase requests for Sargent faculty.
- Assures compliance with best practices and University policies. Manages the quarterly confirmation process and administers Sargent’s year-end financial close proceedings. Reviews all faculty search and appointment paperwork to verify they conform to budget limits. Serves in a consultative role to Sargent’s entrepreneurial programs, centers, and clinics including the Boston University Physical Therapy Center, Center for Neurorehabilitation, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and Sargent Choice Nutrition Center.
Strategic Financial Planning – 30%
- Collaborates with the Dean, Associate Dean and the college’s senior leadership to advance the college’s overarching strategic direction. Works to assure alignment of financial, human, technological, and physical resources with college strategy, goals, and objectives.
- Collaborates with colleagues to ensure sound budgeting and long-range planning for programs in line with strategic objectives. Develops key planning documents and reports, including the Stage I & II budget submissions, tuition & fees request, and annual budget allocations for each unit. Provide counsel and model financial scenarios to guide data-informed decision-making.
- Analyzes resource allocation decisions. Engages in contingency planning to understand impacts on Sargent’s budget, resources, structures, and facilities; develops dashboards and reports to support informed decision-making.
Enhance Organizational Effectiveness - 10%
- Assures financial integrity through compliance with university policies and procedures and their uniform application to Sargent College. Reviews and approves financial transactions. Makes recommendations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of local controls. Identifies process improvements to narrow risk exposures and enhance a culture of continuous improvement and administrative excellence.
- Leads continuous improvement efforts to ensure the effective and efficient deployment of resources and optimal processes and structures and to instill a culture of operational excellence. Analyzes unique scenarios and proposals within the college and strategizes to determine efficient and appropriate solutions.
Supervision – 15%
- The Director of Finance & Administration will supervise the 1.0 FTE Assistant Director, F&A and the 1.0 FTE Payroll Administrator with full responsibility for performance feedback and evaluation, task assignment and prioritization, and professional development.
- Additionally, five department managers will work with the Director around financial and administrative processes. These 5.0 FTE report directly to their respective department chairs - who are considered their primary supervisors - and indirectly to the Director of Finance & Administration.
Departmental Security Administration (5%):
- Serve as primary DSA for Sargent College for financial systems and reporting, managing UIS & SAP personnel profiles, while troubleshooting and requesting appropriate permits and permissions
Required Skills
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
- A minimum of 8 years relevant work experience
- Significant experience and responsibility developing and directing financial activities within a complex organizational structure.
- Demonstrated knowledge of standard accounting principles. Facility with data analysis. Comfort using quality data to help guide decision-making.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community; proven communication skills with the ability to convey financial concepts to non-financial professionals.
- Experience working with MS Power BI to create financial dashboards and reporting tools a plus.
- Previous supervisory experience of administrative staff
- Ability to analyze and interpret policy and make recommendations to senior management in a coherent manner with supporting arguments.
- A collaborative work approach with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations with discretion.
- Commitment to integrity and accountability
- A willingness to explore, understand and appreciate diverse perspectives.
- An orientation that strives for continuous improvement, creativity, flexibility, and a growth mindset.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Required Experience