Sr. Associate Business Officer, CCC

Position Summary:
The Senior Associate Business Officer in the College of Connected Computing (CCC) provides leadership and management of Vanderbilt University (VU) and CCC policies and practices for fiscal and operational matters in alignment with the colleges strategic plans to support leadership and decision making at both the college and the Provost/Academic Affairs level. This position reports to and supports the Chief Business Officer (CBO) and is the subsequent financial lead for the college after the CBO.

Responsibilities include short- and long-term financial planning for the college development of annual operating budgets implementation of financial controls and internal auditing preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports including projections analysis of financial data and oversight of all financial processes and procedures. This position interfaces with a wide constituency of partners across the college and University including regular interactions with the Dean Associate Deans the Provosts Office and other senior-level administrators.

About the Work Unit:
The CCC is Vanderbilts groundbreaking interdisciplinary college designed to foster radical collaboration at the intersection of computing and other disciplines. By uniting scholars students and industry the CCC is committed to tackling societys most pressing problems through technology and collaboration.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Serves as the senior financial manager and analyst for the college creating and maintaining a responsive financial organization that provides the resources required to support the colleges tripartite mission - education research and service.
Advises the Dean Associate Deans CBO and Department Chairs on all financial matters for the college performs ad hoc analyses as needed for executive leadership to make data informed decisions.
Develop present and explain as needed financial data for presentation to key college and university offices including the Office of the Provost.
Manages the financial operations including strategic multi-year planning forecasting budgeting accounting financial reporting and variance analysis financial risk assessment and capital planning.
Plans directs and evaluates a comprehensive college wide financial operations and college-level financial goals with an emphasis on associated resource requirements systems and processes needed to support long-range strategies.
Utilizes and monitors the multiple sources of funding the college receives to include tuition revenue indirect cost recovery funds federal state and private grants gift and endowed accounts and industry and other sponsored contracts and agreements.
Assists in developing revising and implementing policies and procedures for college activities that have fiscal implications.
Prepares annual budget and year-end financial report with the CBO in consultation with the Dean.
Contributes to functions of the Deans executive team by participating in college-level discussions decision making and priority setting assisting in strategic planning and performing other duties as assigned by the Dean.
Develop and manage the colleges annual operating budget ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
Provide timely financial analysis and recommendations to the Dean and other college leadership to support decision-making
Oversee accounting and procurement functions for the college
Monitor financial performance develop quarterly financial projections and identify opportunities for cost savings or revenue generation
Collaborate with the central university finance office to ensure compliance with policies and procedures
Manage the colleges endowment and gift funds
Serve as a financial advisor to faculty and staff on new programs contracts and other funding initiatives
Provide leadership and support to all college finance professionals and foster a culture of continuous process improvement

Short-term and Long-term Financial Planning
Develop annual and multi-year financial plans to support the colleges strategic priorities and address short-term needs as well as long-term sustainability
Analyze budget trends identify potential risks and opportunities and propose strategies to leadership
Maintain the colleges financial model and update the model as new information is acquired to utilize as an input for decision making
Collaborate with department heads to align financial plans with their operational and programmatic goals
Budget and forecast the colleges cash reserves cash needs and projected balances
Develop long-term financing plans aligned with the colleges capital construction plans

Financial Analysis
Analyze and report on current and long-range financial and operational activity
Use advanced knowledge of spreadsheets database applications presentation tools Vanderbilt systems and a comprehensive understanding of academic accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles appropriate regulations and University policies and procedures to prepare routine monthly reports
Generate monthly and long-range trend reporting including analysis of progress toward financial and operational goals
Develop and submit quarterly financial forecasts
Provide ad hoc reporting as requested or determined necessary based on strategic initiatives/priorities; trends/variances; or other needs

Annual Budgeting
Support development of annual all funds operating budgets and monthly financial projections including institutes and administrative units within the college
Develop the unit-level non-personnel operating budgets
Monitor budget performance throughout the year providing regular variance reports and recommending adjustments as needed
Assess realistic financial projections compared to the annual budget and actuals
Reconciliation of detailed actuals to budget and variance reporting on a monthly basis for all units of the college
Production of operating budget vs actual reports to college units on a monthly basis

Financial Oversight and Controls
Implement and maintain effective internal control procedures to safeguard assets and ensure financial reporting integrity
Proactively identify opportunities to enhance financial processes and systems
Function as a technical expert for the college on all budgetary financial and accounting issues and systems
Maintain an extensive understanding of the universitys chart of accounts and departmental use of Project Portfolio Management POET structure
Maintain extensive understanding of institutional and departmental travel expense and procurement card policies
Serve as point of contact for problem resolution for financial issues
Review and approve non personnel financial transactions for assigned financial unit(s) in the Oracle Cloud system including procurement requisitions travel and entertainment expense reports and procurement card expense reports
Main point person for all intra college funding transfers as well as funding transfers crossing university entities
Work with the colleges facilities staff with respect to the capital inventory
Main point person for the VU/VUMC agreements and procedures
Main point person for the financial aspects of graduate and professional programs
Oversight of the month end close process
Main point person for the fiscal year closing process
Maintenance of the internal Oracle Program and Activity database
Reconciliation of cash

Oversight of Financial Unit Managers (FUM) and Procurement Requesters
Provide training and professional development opportunities to build departmental and college staff capabilities in areas such as budgeting accounting and financial analysis
Provide guidance college specific training and assistance to Procurement Requesters
Serve as primary point of contact for all college staff for financial questions and guidance including training
Foster a culture of continuous improvement encouraging team members to share best practices and implement process enhancements

Communication and collaboration
Build and maintain strong working relationships in the college with centralized Finance team members and other university constituents.
Lead recurring meetings and trainings with FUMs procurement initiators and any other stakeholders to keep up to date on all college and institutional policies/procedures and to disseminate new information to college staff
Adapt easily to changes in technology and process
Other tasks as assigned

Supervisory Relationships:
This position will ultimately have supervisory responsibility once CCC is fully staffed; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Chief Business Officer.

Education and Certifications:
Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance is necessary; MBA is preferred
Certified Public Accountant a plus

Experience and Skills:
At least eight to ten years of experience in the financial function is necessary
Ability to create and manage budgets is necessary
Excellent verbal and written communication skills is necessary
Thorough knowledge of financial and legal best practices and requirements with a proven ability to provide sound and financial counsel is necessary
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is necessary
Meticulous organizational skills and attention to detail is necessary
Strong supervisory and leadership skills is necessary
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and expert proficiency in excel is necessary
Ability to maintain confidentiality is a necessity
Ability to balance routine reporting deadlines as well as ad hoc reporting and special requests
Ability to work independently while constantly seeking out opportunities for improvement and ways to work more efficiently and effectively

Key Characteristics of a Successful Team Member in this Work Unit:
Energetic
Proactive
Positive
Service oriented
Adaptable