Associate Vice President Financial Operations and Controller

Position: Associate Vice President for Financial Operations and Controller
Posting Number S06758P Position Title Associate Vice President for Financial Operations and Controller Department CFO & Vice President Operations Location Arlington Position Status Full-time Work Schedule

Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm

* Hybrid work structure.

* Position may require extended hours during peak financial cycles.

* Occasional travel may be required.

Salary Salary is commensurate based on qualifications and relevant experience. Pay Basis Monthly

Job Summary

The Associate Vice President for Financial Operations & Controller provides executive leadership for the university's core financial, transactional, and compliance functions, with a strong mandate to modernize operations, lead enterprise change, and leverage technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.

Reporting directly to the Vice President/CFO, this role oversees student financial services, accounting, financial reporting, payroll, grant accounting, and supply chain management. The AVP serves as the university's chief steward of financial integrity while acting as a change leader responsible for transforming financial operations into a streamlined, data‑enabled, customer‑centric organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Change Management

* Serve as a senior leader on the CFO's executive team, driving large‑scale operational change across financial services.

* Lead organizational transformation initiatives focused on process simplification, standardization, and service excellence.

* Actively manage change impacts across teams, ensuring clear communication, staff engagement, and leadership alignment.

* Build a culture that values continuous improvement, accountability, innovation, and professional development.

Operational Excellence & Efficiency

* Oversee end‑to‑end financial operations to ensure efficient, accurate, timely, and compliant execution.

* Identify and eliminate redundant, manual, or high‑risk processes; redesign workflows to improve cycle time and quality.

* Establish and monitor performance metrics and service‑level expectations for financial operations.

* Partner with academic and administrative units to improve customer experience while maintaining strong controls.

Technology, Automation & Innovation

* Lead the adoption of financial systems optimization, automation, and digital workflows, including:

* Transactional automation

* Workflow and approval redesign

* Self‑service tools

* Data quality and system integration improvements

* Collaborate closely with IT leadership (CIO, CAO, CISO) to align financial operations with enterprise technology strategy.

* Champion innovative uses of technology to reduce risk, improve transparency, and increase scalability.

Financial Integrity, Compliance & Risk Management

* Ensure compliance with GAAP, GASB, UT System policies, and state and federal regulations.

* Oversee preparation and accuracy of the university's annual financial report and other required regulatory filings.

* Serve as executive liaison to external auditors and regulatory bodies.

* Maintain a strong internal control environment and proactively manage financial risk.

Leadership & Talent Development

* Lead, mentor, and evaluate executive directors, directors, and managers across financial operations portfolio.

* Develop succession plans, modern skill sets, and leadership capacity within the financial operations organization.

* Promote cross‑training, collaboration, and shared accountability across functional departments.

* Create an engaging culture in a remote working environment.

Policy, Governance & Institutional Collaboration

* Lead development and modernization of financial policies and procedures.

* Advise the CFO and senior leadership on operational risks, compliance issues, and strategic improvements.

* Represent UTA in UT System, state, and national financial and business‑operations forums as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

* Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in financial operations, accounting, or a related discipline.

* Demonstrated experience leading…