Assoc Dir Academic Budget/Oper - Columbia College

Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.

Columbia College Chicago a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business is currently searching for an Associate Director of Academic Budget and Operations.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Budget Analysis, the Associate Director of Academic Budget and Operations serves as the senior business officer for multiple schools/departments and is responsible for their overall fiscal wellness and financial operations. This includes serving as the primary point of contact for assigned academic units to provide leadership and direction in budget and financial management, administrative operations, human resources, capital investment, risk management, grant/gift oversight, and cost containment strategies for the efficient and effective use of the College’s resources while ensuring compliance with all policies and procedures.

The Associate Director of Academic Budget and Operations must be able to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively while exercising discretion, diplomacy, and good judgment. The Associate Director of Academic Budget and Operations works collaboratively with the school’s individual leadership to support budget management within Academic Affairs and is expected to lead with excellent customer service, demonstrating responsiveness and making timely, well-reasoned decisions.

Flexible work option is available.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct financial planning, analysis, and administration of all assigned school/department funds.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate the budget development process and timelines, including the preparation of the assigned school/department annual budget.
• Provide high-quality and detailed fiscal analyses, projections, and updates to the school directors, academic, and auxiliary unit leaders.
• Analyze budget estimates and proposals for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives, understanding key assumptions and issues.
• Prepare monthly budget-to-actual reports, determine if allocated funds have been spent and analyze significant variances; advise the school directors and department leads of any budget issues and concerns.
• Work to identify any underlying business drivers and potential problems, reconciling fiscal issues on behalf of the assigned schools, ensuring that all cost efficiencies are attained.
• Project and forecast all assigned school/department budgets with a future-oriented outlook, finding ways to control costs while sustaining growth, productivity, and efficient systems for decision-making.
• Consolidate individual budgets into operating and capital budget summaries that argue for or against funding requests.
• Review, approve, and oversee all assigned school/department restricted and unrestricted funds, ensuring expenditures are appropriate, allowable, and comply with guidelines and policies.
• Partner with academic and auxiliary unit leaders to administer key operational areas and advocate for units’ needs and goals.
• Strategically analyze department performance metrics to inform budget planning and fiscal management and identify efficiencies, cost containment, and department needs.
• Analyze needs and recommend changes in staffing, facilities, space planning, workflows, technology, and administrative functions.
• Provide stewardship to financial operations in the areas of accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, payroll, and reimbursements with attention and adherence to college policies and procedures including reconciliation and audit controls.
• Serve as a resource to the directors and leads on compliance, policies, and procedures.
• Manage day-to-day fiscal operations of the assigned schools/departments and provide fiscal oversight for auxiliary units.
• Serve as the human resource liaison for assigned academic units working closely with the Directors, Academic Personnel, and Human Resources on faculty and staff hiring, position changes, leaves, position reviews, employee relations, additional pay requests, and separations; provide input and support of the alignment and implementation of strategic staffing plans.
• Provide oversight and direction of capital investment to achieve standardization, economies of scale, and efficiencies of operations; assess opportunities for centralization and/or sharing of capital resources.
• Assess, modify, and/or develop and implement processes, procedures, and/or systems to increase efficiency, accuracy, and insightfulness of data analytics.
• Collaborate with the Directors or Designees on all matters related to the financial impact of course scheduling on instructional costs.
• Provide direction and ad hoc problem/conflict resolution to effectively triage and address emergent and/or other issues requiring assistance and support to enable day-to-day department operations.
• Perform other related duties and/or projects as assigned or required.

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or related field required, Master’s degree preferred with demonstrated successful finance and budget management experience.
• 7+ years of experience with increasing responsibility in budgeting, finance, or accounting preferably in higher education.
• Knowledge of various financial principles, practices, and applications including budgeting, financial planning, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
• Proven ability to develop spreadsheets and utilize database software for complex financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports. Financial modeling experience is strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop, analyze, and monitor budgets required.
• Proven experience in operational effectiveness is strongly preferred, strategic planning experience a plus.
• Strong organizational skills: ability to prioritize, work well under pressure, and adhere to time-sensitive deadlines.
• Detailed oriented with strong problem-solving and analytical skills alongside of creative thinking and innovative approaches within a strategic perspective.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment.
• Strong work ethic, and a high degree of personal and professional integrity, flexibility, and adaptability.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills required. Ability to establish and maintain relationships at all organizational levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and dynamic environment.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience using financial software such as PeopleSoft preferred.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits. 

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement, and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position subject to a background screening.
• This is a non-union position.
• This position is overtime ineligible

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.