Strategic Projects Manager, University Finance Office

Strategic Projects Manager, University Finance Office

The Manager of Strategic Projects is a visionary, high-level individual contributor responsible for leading complex operational transformations within the University Finance Office. Reporting directly to the AVP for Finance, this role's primary and most urgent mandate is to re-engineer and modernize the University's endowment and investment reconciliation processes.

Secondary initiatives include optimizing the gift revenue accounting cycle and transitioning student account reconciliations to the Bursar's Office. This position acts as a technical process architect, requiring deep expertise in GAAP, university endowment accounting, complex investment structures (Alternative Investments), and financial systems integrations.

Endowment & Investment Reconciliation Redesign (Priority Project - 50%)

• Objective: Completely modernize and automate the reconciliation workflows between the Investment Custodians (e.g., TNT, Northern Trust), the General Ledger (Workday), and the Endowment Management System (Fundriver).
• Process Re-engineering: Conduct a deep-dive audit of current month-end investment accounting tasks. Work alongside the Investment & Financial Reporting Manager to transition away from manual spreadsheet-based "statement balancing" toward automated unitization and market value validations.
• Alternative Investments Workflow: Redesign the tracking, recording, and reconciliation mechanisms for Alternative Investments, capital calls, distributions, and K-1s. Establish a more streamlined solution for capturing fair market value adjustments (ASC 820) for illiquid assets.
• Audit & Control Implementation: Establish a new, rigorous monthly and quarterly review cadence. Create comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensuring that investment activity is accurately unitized in Fundriver and securely posted to the General Ledger well ahead of fiscal year-end audit deadlines.

Gift Revenue Cycle Optimization (20%)

• Objective: Resolve historical reconciliation issues between the Development Office's donor database (CLARA) and the Finance General Ledger.
• Workflow Integration: Analyze the "holding/clearing fund" process. Redesign the workflow to minimize the volume of gifts sitting in suspense accounts during month-end and quarter-end close.

Student Account Reconciliation Transfer (30%)

• Objective: Lead the strategic "lift and shift" of student account reconciliations from the Controller's Office to the Bursar's Office.
• Process Mapping: Audit current workflows performed by the Accounting Manager/Senior Accountant related to student financials and optimize.
• Interim Execution & Handoff: Serve as the transitional process owner to stabilize student account and agency fund reconciliations (e.g., Cal Grants, Title IV). Once the vacant University Bursar position is filled, systematically train the new Bursar and their staff to take over these reconciliations.

General Guidelines

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.
• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.
• Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services.
• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.
• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals.
• Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions. Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.

This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to promote and contribute to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Knowledge:

• Strategic Process Design: Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of financial process re-engineering, specifically within the context of university business offices.
• Complex Investment Accounting: Deep technical understanding of GAAP, ASC 820 fair market value adjustments, and the accounting lifecycle of Alternative Investments including capital calls and K-1s).
• Experience in the use of technology to illustrate complex financial reports, comparisons, impact studies
• Commitment to understand and support Santa Clara University's distinctive Jesuit educational vision and further the mission, values and goals of the University

Skills:

• Technical Process Architect: Demonstrated mastery in auditing manual, spreadsheet based "statement balancing" workflows and rebuilding them into automated, unitized validation models.
• Change Management Leadership: Proven ability to act as a catalyst for change, driving the adoption of modernized workflows across disparate departments (e.g., Development, Controller, and Bursar) without direct supervisory authority.
• Advanced Financial Analytics: Expert-level ability to use technology to illustrate complex financial reports, perform impact studies, and execute creative solutions to historical reconciliation issues.
• Strategic Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, necessary for leading high-stakes project "handoffs" and training senior staff on new institutional processes.
• A commitment to inclusion and diversity and a demonstrated ability to work with an increasingly diverse campus community

Abilities:

• High-Level Individual Contribution: Ability to operate independently as a strategic lead, managing complex, multi-phase operational transformations from audit to implementation.
• Strategic Prioritization: Ability to manage multiple projects with high-pressure mandates-- set priorities, meet deadlines and maintain a high level of performance in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions
• Inclusive Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with school administrators, faculty, students and staff as well as university administrators at various levels within a diverse multicultural environment
• Operational Integrity: Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and ensure the absolute accuracy and timeliness of critical university financial functions under tight deadlines.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA or Master's degree highly preferred.

Years of Experience:

10-12 years of progressive accounting experience, with demonstrated success leading complex operational transformations in complex organizations.

Physical Demands:

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.

Work Environment:

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at

Clery Notice of Availability

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Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at View email address on click.appcast.io or by phone at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note