Strategic Finance Director, Clinical Research

Description Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina. Summary: The Director of Finance is a professional, managerial, and leadership role responsible for overseeing the daily financial operations of Clinical Research Partners. Core responsibilities include system development and integration, financial management, financial analysis, budgeting, and accounting processes that support the organization’s clinical research activities. The Director reports directly to the AVP/CFO of Finance for CRP and plays a critical role in ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and operational excellence across the research network. Responsibilities: 1. Financial Stewardship

• Develops and submits annual and project level budget requests by established deadlines.
• Monitors and analyzes financial, operational, and study specific budget trends.
• Implements financial strategies that optimize revenue, control expenses, and strengthen financial sustainability.
• Ensures cost effective management of personnel, supplies, study related expenditures, and capital resources.
• Identifies and executes opportunities for increased productivity, cost savings, and revenue growth across clinical research programs.
• Provides leadership and guidance in fiscal matters, ensuring compliance with evolving Federal and State guidelines, GAAP, sponsor requirements, and internal audit standards.
• Interprets complex financial regulations, policies, and sponsor contract terms, often applying judgment in areas without established precedent.
• Oversees production of financial statements for Clinical Research Partners, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for external auditors, regulatory agencies, and financial oversight bodies.
• Provides oversight for all accounting functions, including sponsor payments, revenue recognition, accounts payable/receivable, participant stipend processing, and study level financial reconciliation.
• Maintains expertise in fund types and restrictions, clinical research financial workflows, and accounting systems relevant to research operations.
• Regularly communicates financial exposures, outstanding accounting issues, and potential risks to the AVP of Finance.

2. Human Resource Stewardship & Management

• Leads staff in alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and goals.
• Fosters an inclusive, collaborative work environment that supports employee development, teamwork, and professional growth.
• Ensures that sensitive and confidential financial and personnel information is appropriately handled.
• Coaches staff to improve performance, clarifies expectations, and ensures accountability for high quality results.
• Encourages workforce engagement and commitment to organizational excellence.
• Collaborates across units to create solutions that support departmental and organizational objectives.

3. Leadership

• Aligns financial operations and team goals with the strategic direction of the organization and clinical research priorities.
• Participates in setting departmental strategy and contributes to organizational planning efforts.
• Demonstrates strong organizational citizenship through participation in initiatives beyond assigned areas of responsibility.
• Actively supports organization wide initiatives involving financial, administrative, and clinical integration.
• Utilizes appropriate administrative, clinical, and financial systems to support decision making.
• Acquires and maintains quantitative and analytic skills necessary for robust data driven evaluation.
• Leads change initiatives, process improvements, and quality enhancement efforts within financial operations.

4. Results Driven • Demonstrates consistent achievement of departmental and organizational goals. • Makes sound decisions using financial expertise, data analysis, and appropriate risk evaluation. • Delivers accurate, timely, high quality financial services and fosters continuous improvement. • Understands the financial performance of the organization and applies financial concepts to develop and manage realistic budgets. • Uses financial data to monitor the overall financial status of clinical research operations and provide strategic recommendations. Other Information Other information: Education Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field (or substantial equivalent with concentration in finance). Licensure/Certification Requirements: • CPA, CMA, or CRA preferred (optional addition if desired). Professional Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in healthcare or clinical research budgeting/finance.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi site or multi project financial operations.
• Proven ability to lead financial teams and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

• Deep knowledge of financial principles, budgeting, accounting regulations, and clinical research financial processes.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements, sponsor guidelines, and organizational policies.
• Proficiency with financial systems and advanced experience with Excel or comparable tools.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills

Job Details Legal Employer: NCHEALTH Entity: UNC Medical Center Organization Unit: Office of Clinical Research Operations Work Type: Full Time Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00 Salary Range:$47.90 - $68.86 per hour (Hiring Range) Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity Work Assignment Type: Hybrid Work Schedule: Day Job Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation. UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email View email address on click.appcast.io if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity. #J-18808-Ljbffr UNC REX Healthcare