About the Opportunity
Northeastern University's Roux Institute is designed as an engine of innovation, talent-building, and economic growth for Portland, Maine, and northern New England. Partnerships set our model of graduate education and research apart. With leading companies and nonprofit organizations at the table from day one, we are creating programs that are preparing the workforce to stay agile and thrive in a competitive landscape powered by artificial intelligence. We are nurturing an environment for high-impact research and innovation in computer and data science, digital engineering, the advanced life sciences and medicine, and other tech fields. And we are helping entrepreneurs launch businesses focused on and powered by technology. Together, we envision an innovation corridor that in the coming years will stretch from Boston to Portland and beyond.
The Director of Finance is a key member of The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, responsible for managing critical day-to-day financial operations in support of the institute’s mission. The Director’s primary responsibility is the sound fiscal/budget management of the institute, including all planning, forecasting, and management of financials. The financial portfolio includes operating, designated, gift, and research funds.
The Director will take direction from, report to, and work closely with both the Chief Administrative Officer of the institute and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance in the Office of the Chancellor. They will also work closely and frequently with members of the institute’s senior leadership team on all fiscal matters, develop and maintain effective institute-wide financial operating procedures, and ensure compliance with university policies. The Director will work closely with financial officers in multiple areas across campus on university wide initiatives and funding commitments and partner and collaborate with the Roux Institute’s HR Business Partner and the HR team within the Chancellor’s Office on personnel planning as it relates to the budget. The Director will oversee a Business Operations Associate who is responsible for the timely and accurate processing of all financial transactions. The Director will also work closely with the central Research Administration team who provides pre- and post-award support to Roux faculty.
Key responsibilities include:
- Institute-wide financial planning, forecasting, management, and monthly expense monitoring
- Prepare standard and ad hoc financial reports as required for the Roux Institute annual reports and university budget reporting
- Ensure proper usage of funds and monitor open salary lines, revenue sources, and movement between budget categories
- Maintain policies and controls for financial functions and ensure university policies are being followed
- Evaluate, recommend, and implement cost saving measures
- Manage all division contracts and route through the Gatekeeper process
- Work with the Chief Administrative Officer on all financial planning and contracting related to space needs and capital projects
- Oversee the processing all financial transactions for the institute including but not limited to journal vouchers, purchase orders, invoices, payroll distribution changes, and Concur transactions
The successful candidate will be able to work at both the detailed transactional level and the high summary strategic level simultaneously. They must be able to summarize detailed and complex financial information into a concise view for senior leadership. The Director will be responsible for evaluating existing financial operating procedures to determine opportunities for improvements, and will establish new programs, controls, and protocols to enhance how the division functions, and to benefit Institute staff.
This is a tremendous opportunity for an enthusiastic and creative finance and administrative professional who is motivated to develop and grow within the position. The ideal candidate should be able to start new projects with ease, have a heightened sense of responsibility and ownership, understand when to elevate/escalate a priority, as well as a desire and passion to go far beyond the boundaries of the job.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree preferred, preferably in Business, Accounting, or Finance.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of financial/accounting experience, preferably in higher education.
- Experience with Microsoft Excel required; Workday, Banner and Cognos financial systems preferred.
- Strong communication skills and experience providing summary reports of complex financial information
- Willingness and interest to explore and learn new technologies for efficient and effective data management.
- Ability to work well under pressure, maintain confidentiality and work with diplomacy and tact required.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to sort out complex information are essential.
- Ability to work in a results-oriented, fast-paced environment as part of an effective team
- Ability to demonstrate a strong commitment to exceeding client/customer expectations
The Roux Institute is strongly committed to fostering excellence through diversity and recognizes the strength that diversity in all its forms brings to the research endeavor. We invite applications from all qualified candidates and enthusiastically welcome applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Additional Information
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.