Executive Director of Finance & Planning

Title: Executive Director of Finance & Planning

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Admin Support Units

Department: Office of Global Affairs

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Finance & Planning in the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) provides strategic leadership and oversight for all financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, procurement, and payroll. Ensures compliance with University, state, and federal regulations while implementing controls and developing budgets, financial forecasts, and reports. The Executive Director serves as a strategic partner to the Senior Vice Provost, analyzing the goals of all constituent units and activity centers and advising the Senior Vice Provost on the best path for financial and operational success.

Essential Functions

• Directs and oversees all financial activities including budget creation, forecasting, analysis, financial planning, and reporting in accordance with applicable University and governmental regulations and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and in consultation with the Vice Provost. Develops, implements, and evaluates financial functions, policies, goals, and operational procedures for OGA units and activity centers. Has signature authority on all state funds, trust funds, grant accounts, personnel actions, budget documents and transfers, travel and business expenses, purchase orders, contracts, invoices, and honoraria.
• Serves as a strategic partner to OGA leadership to sustain fiscal health and maintain a successful revenue operation. Creates, develops, and implements internal controls to safeguard OGA assets and ensure timely and accurate reporting. Develops operational, financial, and statistical reports using advanced data mining and analysis techniques to create and implement short- and long-term funding options to advance strategic plans and support on‑going operations.
• Reviews and approves invoices, purchasing, reimbursements, budget transfers, and journal entries and ensures the timely and accurate processing of all financial transactions. Maintains full responsibility for contract initiation and management in BuyWays, working with UMass Unified Procurement Services Team (UPST) and Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to protect the interests of OGA and the University. Maintains revolving funds and monitors and balances all advances for faculty‑taught programs overseas.
• Leads discussions related to staff planning and resource allocation with departmental directors and administers departmental budgets for all units. Exercises a high degree of judgment, initiative, and leadership; anticipates organizational and administrative challenges and recommends alternative actions and/or solutions to support operational needs and ensure compliance with University policy.
• Serves as the primary liaison to the Office of Human Resources on staffing, classification, and workforce planning, ensuring alignment with operational needs. Triages employee‑related requests and connects employees with the appropriate HR resources.
• Serves as a member of the OGA Leadership Team, contributing to policy development, organizational planning, and resource allocation. Advises the Senior Vice Provost on confidential matters as appropriate.
• Manages student‑related financial activity of both the Global Education (GE) and International Students & Scholars (ISS) units including, but not limited to: developing pricing and fee structures and policies, overseeing budget and funding of the OGA Scholarship committee, rectifying errors and receivables operations with University Bursar's office and affiliate partner offices, and tracking and reconciling budgets and forecasts for revenue streams.
• Provides direct supervision of administrative staff; sets expectations, assigns and reviews work, provides ongoing coaching and feedback, conducts annual performance evaluations, and provides opportunities for professional development.
• Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public University‑related information only in the performance or the responsibilities of position; maintains strict confidentiality, exercising care to prevent unnecessary disclosure.
• Serves as acting Director of OGA in the absence of the Senior Vice Provost for Global Affairs.
• Represents the Senior Vice Provost on campus and externally as directed and appropriate.

Other Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and over five (5) years of experience in a complex financial environment with progressive budget and fiscal responsibility, or Master's degree with over 3 years in a complex financial environment.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including the ability to manage and train professional staff and to work with diverse populations to achieve goals through collaboration and teamwork.
• Advanced knowledge of financial analysis, management, planning practices, policies, and procedures.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and other database management systems.
• Advanced experience in transforming business data into useful information and using data to develop and implement business decisions.
• Advanced written and oral communications skills with the ability to organize and present financial and statistical data effectively to a non-financial audience.
• Advanced organizational skills and attention to detail and the ability to set and adjust priorities based on changing operational needs and initiatives.
• Advanced ability to assess departmental needs with respect to budget management and other financial activities and the skills to problem‑solve, find solutions and implement both short- and long-term strategies to meet operational needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse population of stakeholders.
• Strong independent initiative and the ability to work effectively and efficiently with a minimal amount of supervision.
• Proven discretion in sensitive matters and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with PeopleSoft HR and Finance systems.
• Knowledge of academic, administrative, and fiscal policies and procedures of a large higher‑education institution.
• Hands on experience with Advanced MS Excel, including functionality like: VLookups, Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, Power Query, Power Pivot, Data Analysis Expression (DAX) functions, What‑If Analysis, Solver, and Macros.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 29

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified.