Assistant Director, Finance & Operations - Neurosurgery

UTHealth Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid medical premiums for full-time employees

Generous time off including holidays and vacation

Longevity Pay after two years of service

Retirement/pension plan benefits

Free financial and legal counseling

Job summary

UTHealth Houston is seeking an Assistant Director, Finance & Operations, to oversee financial management and support administrative operations across its departments.

With a focus on budget planning and compliance, the role demands strong financial leadership and collaboration within a dynamic academic environment. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in budget management, financial planning, and possess relevant educational qualifications.

The position offers a comprehensive rewards package, including fully paid medical premiums and generous time-off policies.

Qualifications

• 6 years related experience in academic and healthcare financial management.
• 3 years of supervisory experience required.
• Proficiency in budget development and monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead budget development and compliance monitoring for multiple departments.
• Coordinate faculty and staff transactions in partnership with HR.
• Serve as a liaison between departments ensuring smooth operations.

Skills

Financial expertise

Leadership experience

Collaborative approach

Knowledge of financial regulations

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

Master’s Degree in Finance or Healthcare Administration

Tools

Microsoft 365

Coupa

PeopleSoft HCM

Oracle

FMS

EPIC reporting

Job description

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Join a dynamic academic healthcare environment where you will play a key leadership role in supporting the financial success of a nationally recognized Department of Neurosurgery. The Assistant Director, Finance & Operations leads budget development and monitoring, financial planning, faculty compensation administration, and financial reporting while partnering with faculty, clinical, and administrative teams. This role offers the opportunity to develop and maintain standardized reporting and analytics processes and support informed financial decision‑making. The ideal candidate combines strong financial expertise, leadership experience, and a collaborative approach to supporting the department’s mission.

Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or Healthcare Administration is preferred. 1 year of experience in healthcare or an academic institution is also preferred. Microsoft 365, Coupa, PeopleSoft HCM, Oracle, FMS, and EPIC reporting and data analytics experience are all a plus!

Location: 6400 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030, with travel within and outside Greater Houston required rarely.

Once you join us you won’t want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full‑time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world‑renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as:

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary

The Assistant Director, Finance & Operations, supports the financial and administrative operations of multiple central departments. This role contributes budget planning, implementation, evaluation, and daily coordination of business and financial activities, directly impacting academic, research, faculty and student service functions. The Assistant Director ensures the efficiencies of management pertaining to daily financial and personnel operations related to those departments within our scope of work in addition to multiple external departments that have dual appointed roles and budgets.

Position Key Accountabilities

• Heavy involvement related to the financial oversight and management of annual budgets for multiple central and external departments as required that extends beyond basic internal departments within SVP, Academic and Faculty Affairs. Monitors compliance with institutional and legislative guidelines as directed each fiscal year.
• Coordinates key faculty and staff transactions, such as appointments, additional pay, funding changes and other personnel actions, in partnership with Human Resources and other administrative offices.
• Serves as a liaison between internal departmental staff and senior management as well as external departments, providing regular updates and facilitating clear communication to maintain seamless operations across all assigned departments. Address financial and administrative needs, recommending process improvements and ensuring responsive support.
• Heavy emphasis on fiscal year budget creations and interact closely with each department's leadership for open discussions to ensure all capture scopes of work for fiscal years are getting addressed and budget allowance for spending.
• Provides support and input on the financial review process for new department setups, research initiatives, long‑range financial planning and resource allocation.
• Manages human resource activities for all departmental staff as it relates to recruitment and separation. Training, development, mentorship and counseling, performance evaluation and salary planning.
• Ensures the staff remain knowledgeable of changes in federal and university guidelines, policies, and procedures related to administrative processes and tasks.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to implement and support research, academic, and administrative initiatives throughout the fiscal year. Collaborate wit leadership to align budget decisions and strategic priorities budgetary stewardship.
• Maintain and monitor internal controls to ensure operations are efficient, assets are properly safeguarded, and financial information is reliable and compliant with applicable laws, HOOP policies, and procedures.
• Supports cross-department collaboration related to financial business operations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support the mission and operational excellence of the departments.
• Manages Human Resources activities of department in regards to: recruiting and selection, hiring and termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills

• None

Minimum Education

Bachelor's Degree Business Administration required. Bachelor's Degree Management, Finance or Healthcare preferred.

Minimum Experience

6 years related to academic, healthcare and financial experience required. 3 years supervisory experience required.

Physical Requirements

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive

This position is a security‑sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code 51.215 and Texas Government Code 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. 791.4.

• 51.215 and Texas Government Code
• 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code
• 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R.
• 791.4.

Residency Requirement

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.