Director of Finance & Management

Salary/Position Classification

• $105000 annual Exempt
• 40 hours per week

Purpose of Position

The Director of Finance & Management is a senior director-level leader responsible for strengthening business and financial planning in alignment with the strategic goals and growth priorities of the NPUASTS. The Director of Finance leads the organizations financial management and business administration functions including budgeting forecasting financial reporting internal controls compliance and strategic financial analysis that informs executive decision-making.

Reporting to the Executive Director the Director of Finance & Management serves as the organizations principal advisor on financial strategy sustainability and business risk. This role translates strategic objectives into disciplined financial plans evaluates short- and long-term funding scenarios and provides clear decision-ready financial insight to leadership program teams and funding partners. The Director ensures the integrity of financial operations through strong governance reliable reporting and continuous improvement of financial processes.

The Director of Finance & Management works collaboratively across NPUASTS and with University of North Dakota financial and administrative partners to ensure institutional alignment sound fiscal stewardship and scalable practices that support mission execution. The position also provides oversight of grants contracts and procurement administration through direct supervision of the Grants Contracts & Procurement Manager ensuring lifecycle compliance audit readiness and business practices that enable effective delivery of programs and services.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Planning and Oversight of External Funding

• Establishes directs and maintains finance and accounting processes and procedures that support accurate transparent and compliant financial operations
• Ensures financial processes are clearly documented communicated and consistently applied across the organization to promote accountability and alignment with NPUASTS mission and values.
• Ensures compliance with appropriate financial and accounting standards and any State of North Dakota requirements as required for the scope and work of the organization. Regulatory compliance includes but is not limited to 2 CFR 200.
• Oversees preparation review and approval of financial reports in a timely manner and delivered in clear and concise analysis and summaries.
• Provides executive-level guidance and decision support related to resource allocation capital planning and financial sustainability across all divisions and programs.
• Leads financial forecasting scenario modeling and data-driven analysis to evaluate strategic alternatives assess risk and inform executive decision-making.
• Plan direct or coordinate accounting and other relevant financial activities of the organization.
• Responsible for overseeing and leading daily transactions and recording.
• Responsible for overseeing and leading management of all budgets.
• Responsible for resolving transaction discrepancies.
• Analyses and reports on financial variances and trends.
• Liaison and work collaboratively with related UND departments.

Strategic Planning and Stewardship of Internal Funding

• Serves as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team directors program managers and project managers on financial matters that impact budgets funding strategy and organizational risk.
• Develop goals and strategies related to the financial management of the organization in alignment with strategic goals.
• Leverage accounting and financial systems to identify trends and report information to help understand economic and societal impacts.
• Designs and approves new financial reporting artifacts as needed/requested to support strategic initiatives and special projects.
• Provides financial leadership and analysis in support of special initiatives and executive-directed projects.
• Leverages other human resources for creating efficiencies and automation for managing and reporting financial information.
• Monitors and provides recommendations of local funds or other financial assets under control of the organization.
• Participate in strategic planning discussions.

Leadership and Personnel Management

• Directly supervises and develops staff reporting to the position including responsibility for team structure workflow management performance evaluation and professional development.
• Provide strong leadership that conveys NPUASTS commitment to highest levels of operation for administration management employees and users of the NPUASTS.
• Provide mentoring and direct supervision of NPUASTS personnel.
• Evaluate the structure and organizational plan for continual improvement in effectiveness and efficiency of financial systems and teams.
• Represents NPUASTS in meetings conferences and professional development activities relevant to financial leadership and organizational growth.

Financial Efficiency and Continuous Improvement

• Leads identification and implementation of process improvements efficiencies and best practices related to financial management.
• Drives development and adoption of improved financial strategies controls and systems in coordination with internal and external partners.
• As it relates to finance/budget review staffing departmental performance and efficiencies to make improvement recommendations for financial processes.
• In coordination with UND HR/Compensation Analyst and the Executive Director participate in salary review processes based on data received from UND HR Partners.
• As a UND employee it is expected to treat one another and the public in a cordial civil and respectful manner and at all times practice the principles of honesty respect integrity and trust in order to respect the diversity of all peoples; communicate in a professional positive and respectful manner; and exhibit ethical behavior.

Required Competencies

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Demonstrated ability to translate organizational strategy into sustainable financial plans forecasts and funding models.
• Financial Governance and Compliance: Expert knowledge of financial controls regulatory compliance (including 2 CFR 200) and institutional fiscal policies.
• Executive Decision Support: Ability to provide clear data-driven financial analysis and recommendations to executive leadership and governing stakeholders.
• Budgeting and Resource Allocation: Proven capability to oversee complex multi-source budgets and make informed resource allocation decisions across programs and divisions.
• Risk Assessment and Scenario Modeling: Skilled in identifying financial risk evaluating tradeoffs and modeling strategic alternatives to inform long-term planning.
• Organizational Stewardship: Strong commitment to fiscal responsibility transparency and ethical financial management.
• Leadership and Talent Development: Ability to lead mentor and develop professional staff while building effective financial teams and systems.
• Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency: Demonstrated success driving efficiencies automation and continuous improvement in financial operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Effectively partners with program operations policy and university stakeholders to align financial strategy with mission execution.
• Communication and Influence: Communicates complex financial information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences including executives funders and institutional partners.
• Ability to implement strategy align resources and people to achieve goals and build and lead a multidisciplinary team

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance Business Administration or relevant field
• 5 years of progressive experience as Chief Financial Officer Financial Officer or relevant role; or MBA and 2 years of progressive experience as CFO financial officer or relevant role
• Proficient in the use of financial management software and accounting computer applications systems
• 2 years of experience in budget preparation
• Experience with accounting and transaction recording
• Experience with financial management
• Experience with interpretation and application of Federal and State regulations including Uniform Guidance (federal guidance for grants and agreements)
• Valid Drivers License
• Export Control Compliance:
  This position requires compliance with U.S. government export control laws and regulations. Applicants are required to be eligible for employment under U.S. export control laws and must meet the requirement of being a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C.1324b (a)(3)). UND will not sponsor applicants for employment authorization for this position. Information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. export control laws and will be used in compliance with all laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors.
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law all persons hired will be required to verify identityand eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Accounting Finance Business Administration or relevant field
• Experience with NDUS financial systems including PeopleSoft (HRMS Finance) and Jaggaer
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) designation Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM)
• Experience with corporate financial law and risk management practices
• Supervisory experience
• Experience at non-profit university and/or government institutions