Assistant Dean of Finance; Financial Admin Leader), Jacobs School of Music

Overview

FINANCE ADMINISTRATION & BUDGE (BL-BAP-IUBLA). The Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) Office of Finance, Administration, and Budget uses ethical, innovative, and sustainable business practices to ensure financial integrity, policy compliance, consistent accounting, and managerial consulting. The Jacobs School of Music is a leading public conservatory with a mission to educate students and generate forward-looking musical performance and scholarly activity. The Jacobs School of Music seeks a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking Assistant Dean of Finance (ADF) to provide executive leadership across the School's financial functions.

The ADF reports to the IUB Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration with a secondary reporting relationship to the David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean of the Jacobs School of Music. The ADF is a key member of the School's leadership team, ensuring fiscal integrity, administrative excellence, strategic planning, and resource stewardship in support of the School's mission.

• Operate effectively in a large, multifaceted artistic and academic environment; foster transparency and accountability; communicate clearly to varied audiences; guide the School through evolving financial, operational, and budgetary challenges.
• Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of short- and long-term financial and budgetary strategies to ensure stewardship, transparency, and alignment with academic priorities.
• Provide regular, data-driven analysis and decision support to the Dean, associate deans, chairs, and directors.
• Establish and maintain internal controls, compliance systems, and financial reporting processes.
• Identify revenue opportunities, emerging economic trends, and financial risks; develop proactive strategies to strengthen the School's financial position.
• Collaborate with Indiana University Foundation (IUF) colleagues to ensure effective use of IUF funds, departmental reserves, and diversified revenue streams including tuition, gifts, grants, and artistic revenues.
• Oversee the School's operating budget, resource allocation processes, financial forecasting, and cash-flow optimization.
• Ensure financial systems, policies, and practices are efficient, modernized, and aligned with university standards and best practices.
• Explore opportunities for centralization of administrative and financial functions while remaining sensitive to departmental needs.
• Partner with HR leadership on workforce planning and financial implications of staffing models, including compensation and resource distribution.
• Provide financial projections to support capital project prioritization and serve as financial liaison for the School with campus and facilities planning groups.
• Maintain effective accounting practices, grant administration, and compliance with fiscal policies across departments.
• Lead the Finance Office, guiding staff in financial policies and resource management; supervise, mentor, and champion the team.
• Serve as a trusted adviser to the Dean and Jacobs leadership team, integrating academic and administrative planning.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with academic units, other schools on campus, university financial and administrative offices, and external peers.
• Work with Associate Deans, chairs, program directors, and staff to optimize financial operations for efficiency while maintaining clear communications across the School.
• Communicate complex financial and operational information clearly to diverse audiences, fostering transparency and shared understanding.
• Champion a positive, inclusive, and accountable culture; mentor, develop, and support financial and administrative professionals.
• Represent the School on campus and university committees, budget forums, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Participate in campus-level planning and strategic discussions in partnership with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration when relevant.
• Advance analytics, reporting, and data-informed decision-making for the School and campus.
• Promote financial literacy and skill-building among department chairs, directors, and administrative staff.
• Provide learning opportunities related to campus-wide and all-funds finances; build onboarding pathways for staff in finance-related roles.
• Implement modern financial systems and tools, including automation, AI-enabled processes, or shared-service models to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Oversee regular evaluation and improvement of financial, operational, and budgetary performance aligned with institutional goals and standards.

• Direct the daily and long-term financial and/or administrative operations of multiple units within the School or equivalent.
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of the Financial Administration function.
• Control expenditures and statements of accounts to ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal integrity.
• Manage complex revenues from internal and external…