Senior Financial Officer

Job Requisition:

JR101906 Senior Financial Officer (Open)

Senior Financial Officer

CC00460 VIMS1 | DEAN | Office of Finance

Staff
- Fiscal Administration

Regular (benefited)

Andrews Hall (VIMS)

Posting Location - VIMS Gloucester

The mission of William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality.

The Office of Finance provides strategic financial leadership and stewardship for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences by managing, forecasting, analyzing, and reporting on more than $200 million in operational and capital resources, including approximately $60 million in annual operating activity. The office establishes and communicates sound financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources while delivering expert, collaborative, and customer-focused financial services with accuracy, integrity, professionalism, and timeliness.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Research Finance and Budgeting, the Senior Financial Officer serves as the primary financial advisor for assigned academic and research sections and centers. The position provides strategic financial planning, budget development, forecasting, financial analysis, grants management, and operational support while supervising financial staff and serving as a trusted business partner to faculty, principal investigators (PIs), department leadership, and institutional administrators.

The Senior Financial Officer oversees complex financial operations involving multiple funding sources, including Educational & General (E&G) funds, sponsored research, private and philanthropic funding, indirect cost recoveries (IDC), auxiliary revenues, service centers, and fixed-price agreements. The position is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations while providing proactive financial guidance that supports the Institute's research, instructional, and strategic priorities.

Working independently, the Senior Financial Officer exercises sound judgment in interpreting policies, resolving complex financial issues, identifying operational improvements, and implementing best practices. The position also collaborates closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs throughout the entire grant lifecycle, from proposal development through award closeout.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations governing multiple funding sources, including sponsored research, state appropriations, private foundations, and indirect cost recoveries.

• Strong analytical, quantitative, and financial modeling skills, including the ability to develop long-term financial projections for complex, multi-million-dollar budgets.

• Ability to interpret financial data and communicate complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize work, manage multiple competing deadlines, and resolve complex financial issues.

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with faculty, researchers, administrators, staff, students, and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, grants management, or research administration.

• Experience managing multiple funding sources and preparing complex financial analyses.

• Experience using enterprise financial systems or ERP platforms.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis.

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline.

• Knowledge of Commonwealth of Virginia financial policies and higher…