Director Academic Finance Tufts Medical Center (Boston)

About Tufts Medical Center

Tufts Medical Center is a world-renowned academic medical center that has been providing exceptional care across New England for over two centuries. Our clinicians are dedicated to delivering innovative, patient-centered care every day, from our primary care to our Level I Trauma Center to our leading heart transplant program and over 100 specialties and services. We are also the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine and a leading research institution that conducts game-changing medical and health policy research.

Onsite at Tufts Medical Center Boston, MA.

Job Overview

This position serves as a strategic partner in advancing the academic and research missions across Tufts Medicine (TM), Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM), and Tufts Medical Center (TMC). Responsible to align and oversee funds flow across the academic enterprises, implement efficiencies in current processes, and establish standardized sponsored fund accounting structures across the health system. Collaborate with academic, research, and clinical leaders to ensure fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability of academic and research priorities.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressive financial management experience, including leadership in a complex academic healthcare environment, research and education, budget development, funds flow, and sponsored program financial management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field.
• CPA, CMA, or CFA credential.
• Experience in an Academic Medical Center, medical school, or integrated health system.
• Experience with research finance, philanthropy finance, and academic budgeting (UME, GME, endowed positions, faculty appointments).
• Experience with federal funding structures, e.g., CTSI funding, NIH funding mitigation strategies, and federal indirect cost/F&A structures.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

• Oversee and integrate the research and education (academic) budgets across TM and TMC.
• Support budget development and ongoing management of Dean/CAO office budgets, incorporating research, Undergraduate Medical Education (UME), Graduate Medical Education (GME), and faculty development.
• Support execution of Tufts Medicine–Tufts University research priorities, including CTSI, research/education initiatives, and cluster hire funding.
• Provide strategic oversight for research funds flow, including clinical trials (central vs. departmental models).
• Direct funds flow between TM/TMC and TUSM, to support the research and education mission, including support for research infrastructure, shared services, educational roles including site directors, joint appointments, per-student fees, and named positions (e.g., coaches, clerkship directors).
• Oversee faculty funding streams including endowed professorships, directorships, and joint appointments.
• Lead development, review, and updates to research and special fund financial policies in alignment with system priorities and federal guidelines.
• Develop financial models for NIH/F&A funding decreases and lead F&A Joint Allocation Group (JAG) processes.
• Drive Medicare cost report optimization to maximize education-related reimbursements.
• Support educational agreements between Tufts Medicine, TUSM, and partner institutions (including Children’s Hospital).
• Manage resident funding, and expansion planning at Lowell, Melrose, and future sites.
• Develop and implement funds flow models that balance academic incentives with strategic investment in system-wide research and education.
• Establish infrastructure for research and philanthropic fund accounting across the system, including F&A assessment and allocation.
• Oversee sundry fund management and philanthropic fund compliance, ensuring optimal utilization and alignment with institutional goals.
• Partner with TU and internal stakeholders to establish policies and processes for research and education philanthropy.
• Ensure compliance, maximize resource utilization, and align philanthropic funding with academic and research priorities.

Physical Requirements

• This is largely a sedentary role, which involves sitting most of the time, but may involve movements such as walking, standing, reaching, ascending/descending stairs, and operating office equipment.
• Frequently required to speak, hear, communicate, and exchange information.
• Ability to see and read computer displays, read fine print, and/or normal type size print and distinguish letters, numbers and symbols.
• Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate computer keyboard.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and team management skills and the ability to direct senior-level staff.
• Deep knowledge of academic and research finance within a healthcare system.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of federal research and academic funding regulations and funding mechanisms (e.g., NIH, Medicare cost reporting).
• Strategic thinker with ability to design sustainable funds flow and financial models.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to improve processes.
• Ability to navigate a complex, matrixed organization with competing priorities.

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on performing a variety of financial activities, including accounting, financial analysis, audit, tax, and collections, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. It also includes Finance Leadership duties such as policy and strategy implementation, long-term planning, and resource allocation within a matrixed organization. The position supervises employees and focuses on tactical, operational activities within a defined area, often overseeing a team toward policy and procedural goals.

At Tufts Medicine, we value every individual and offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports health, financial security, and career growth. The base pay ranges reflect minimum qualifications for the role, with offers determined by experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity. Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package to support you at work and beyond.

Pay Range: $179,071.98 - $228,305.17