Senior Associate VP Finance Operations

Senior Associate VP Finance Operations

The Senior Associate Vice President for Finance Operations serves as the University's senior operational finance executive and principal advisor to the Chief Financial Officer for financial operations, controllership, procurement, and enterprise financial administration. The position provides executive leadership for the University's accounting operations, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, student accounting, procurement, operational treasury activities, and oversight of grant and endowment accounting activities.

The position is responsible for ensuring the University's financial operations are executed with integrity, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and strong internal controls. The Senior Associate Vice President establishes operational standards, promotes continuous improvement, strengthens the University's financial control environment, and ensures consistent application of accounting principles, procurement requirements, financial policies, and business processes across the institution. The position serves as the executive responsible for the operational execution of the University's financial management framework and collaborates closely with executive leadership to improve service delivery, mitigate financial risk, and enhance organizational accountability.

Essential Duties Summary
- Financial Operations Leadership:
Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the University's accounting operations, procurement, student accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and related financial administration functions. Establishes operational priorities, service expectations, performance standards, and financial management practices that promote efficiency, accountability, and customer service through the Finance Division. Lead continuous evaluation and improvement of financial operations to strengthen internal controls, reduce risk, improve operational performance, and enhance stakeholder satisfaction.

Controllership and Financial Reporting:
Provide executive oversight of the University's controllership functions, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, compliance with applicable accounting standards, and timely completion of the financial close process. Oversee reconciliation processes, accounting policy implementation, financial statement preparation, grant accounting, endowment accounting, and other financial reporting activities while promoting consistency and accuracy throughout the organization. Partner with the Controller to strengthen accounting operations, improve financial reporting processes, and maintain a sustainable financial control environment.

Procurement and Financial Administration:
Provide executive oversight of the University's procurement function to promote compliant, efficient, and transparent purchasing practices consistent with University policies and applicable procurement regulations. Ensure procurement operations support strategic sourcing, contract utilization, supplier performance, and responsible stewardship of institutional resources. Collaborate with Strategic Initiatives & Transformation to monitor procurement performance, address control deficiencies, and implement operational improvements.

Internal Controls and Operational

Risk Management:

Establish and maintain a comprehensive operational control environment designed to ensure accurate financial reporting, protection of University assets, regulatory compliance, and effective stewardship of public resources. Implement operational monitoring processes that promote timely reconciliations, segregation of duties, financial certifications, quality assurance reviews, and continuous improvement across Finance Operations. Lead management's responses to operational audit findings and implement sustainable corrective actions that strengthen financial operations and reduce institutional risk.

Organizational Leadership and Operational Excellence:
Develop strong finance teams through effective leadership, succession planning, employee development, performance management, and organizational improvement…