Assistant Director of Finance

Assistant Director of Finance

The Assistant Director of Finance serves as the senior financial leader in the Department of Public Health Sciences, providing oversight for departmental budget development, financial reporting, contracts & grants, gifts/endowments, funds flow, reserve management, financial agreements, accounts payable, and contract administration. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this position delegates work to the Contracts and Grants Supervisor 2 and manages a team of Finance and Research finance analysts to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations for the department. This position requires expertise in financial analysis and planning, including expertise in managing complex grants and contracts with state and federal agencies. This position also provides strategic financial guidance to the Department Chair, Division Chiefs, and Center Directors playing a critical role in fiscal planning for the department's $60M+ operating budget.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, accounting, or financial management, including experience in budgeting, reporting, and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff, including providing guidance, performance management, and professional development.
• Experience working with fiscal policies, procedures, and regulations applicable to university, healthcare or research administration environments.
• Experience managing contracts, grants, and sponsored projects, including pre- and post-award financial administration.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills to independently coordinate and complete complex projects in a matrix organizational structure.
• Ability to work with minimal direction and take initiative on project follow-up.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and manage changing priorities and demanding workloads.
• Ability to assess situations, needs, and issues, and identify and develop effective solutions and strategies.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Skills supervising employees and managing performance.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to team members.
• Skills in budget preparation, analysis, reconciliation, and forecasting.
• Ability to control complex budgets and anticipate potential problems.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet and database applications for financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reporting.
• Ability to analyze financial data and reports to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and accounting policies and procedures.
• Proficiency with Aggie Enterprise (Oracle) preferred, and Microsoft Office Suite, or ability to learn new finance, accounting, and research-related applications.
• Knowledge of organizational policies and procedures related to procurement, travel, and expense management.
• Knowledge of federal financial guidelines as stated in Uniform Guidance.
• Knowledge of state and foundation grant/contract budgeting, financial reporting, and fund use policies.
• Understanding of research administration guidelines for federal and non-federal sponsors in a publicly funded university.
• Knowledge of compliance requirements for research administration, including financial conflict of interest.
• Client services oriented; good listening, communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.
• Proven ability to deal with changing priorities and direct the work of others accordingly.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience in a university or academic medical center setting, particularly in research finance or departmental administration.
• Familiarity with extramural funding requirements (NIH, NSF, other federal/state agencies) accounts.
• Experience with budget forecasting, FTE planning, and long-range financial planning.
• Experience with Aggie Enterprise (Oracle Financials).
• Experience supervising multiple functional areas (e.g., research administration, purchasing, contracts and grants revenue, accounts payable, accounts receivable).
• Knowledge of University financial and data systems such as Aggie Enterprise, Aggie Expense, Cognos, UC Path, Tableau, business practices, policies and procedures.
• Expert ability to effectively communicate complex findings and recommendations verbally and in writing.
• Expert interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations.
• Expertise in internal control practices.
• Skills implementing controls that strengthen the control environment throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• 35% - Strategic Financial Leadership
• 35% - Budget Development and Oversight
• 20% - Supervision and Team Management
• 10% - Contract, Agreement Management, and Compliance

Department Overview:

This is a 100% career position located within the Department of Public Health Sciences. The Department of Public Health Sciences is a large complex teaching, research and clinical department. The department has 5 divisions and 5 centers and programs, with over 50 faculty, 250 staff, 300 student employees, and over 30 Volunteer Clinical Faculty. The department has grown by nearly 10% in total FTEs since 2022 and by 21% in Faculty FTEs over the same period. NIH funding has doubled in three years from $14 million to $28 million annually and total extramural awards are over $75 million annually. This position provides department-level financial oversight and leadership across all fund types, with direct responsibility for budgeting, reserve strategy, accounts payable operations, funds flow, and financial agreements with internal and external partners. The role guides high-level decision-making and fiscal stewardship for the entire Department of Public Health Sciences.

Position Information:

• Salary or Pay Range: $8,775.00 - $ 17,375.00
• Salary Frequency: Monthly
• Annual Salary: $105,300.00 - $ 208,500.00 ; budgeted up to $165,000/annually
• Salary Grade: Grade 25
• UC Job Title: FINANCIAL ANL MGR 1
• UC Job Code: 000212
• Number of Positions: 1
• Appointment Type: Staff: Career
• Percentage of Time: 100 %
• Shift (Work Schedule): 8 am -5 pm
• Location: Medical Sciences I C (UCD251) – Davis, CA
• Union Representation: 99 - Non-Represented (PPSM)
• Benefits Eligible: Yes