Finance Director, Arts & Architecture

UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture seeks a Director of Finance reporting to the COO/CFO. This role leads financial administration for the school, including budget, forecasting, controls, and reporting across four departments, centers, and the Dean's Office.

The position requires deep expertise in university finance, governance, and strategic resource allocation. Responsibilities include managing the Business Office, developing practical procedures, and ensuring compliance with UC

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading budget planning, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial control for a complex, multi-fund organization. (Required)
• Advanced knowledge of fund accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, restricted funds, sponsored activity, purchasing, and audit support. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to manage a Business Office and lead budget and purchasing teams, including setting priorities, service standards, controls, and performance expectations. (Required)
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including staff development, workload management, performance evaluation, change leadership, and creation of effective and efficient support systems. (Required)
• Skill in analyzing complex information, identifying patterns and risks, developing alternatives, and presenting objective conclusions and actionable recommendations to senior leaders. (Required)
• Financial modeling and forecasting skills sufficient to evaluate current-year costs, multi-year commitments, structural balance, revenue trends, and alternative resource-allocation scenarios. (Required)
• Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet, database, reporting, and financial-management systems; ability to design reliable models, dashboards, controls, and repeatable processes. (Required)
• Ability to interpret and apply complex University policies and external requirements and to establish practical procedures that support compliance and effective service delivery. (Required)
• Excellent written, verbal, consultation, and interpersonal skills to work effectively and tactfully with administrators, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and campus partners. (Required)
• Ability to exercise a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, discretion, and confidentiality while managing competing priorities and time-sensitive work. (Required)
• Experience in higher education and knowledge of contracts and grants, gifts and endowments, sales and service funds, permanent budgets, and staffing reconciliation. (Preferred)
• Working knowledge of UCLA or University of California financial, budget, payroll, procurement, grants, and reporting policies and systems, including ASCEND, UCPath, and successor tools. (Preferred)

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial administration and Business Office operations for the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
• Oversee annual budget and multi-year forecasting processes, and manage financial performance and controls.
• Supervise budget and purchasing teams; establish service standards and internal controls across the School.
• Provide analyses and recommendations to support leadership decisions.
• Ensure transactions comply with University policies and donor, sponsor, and fund restrictions.

Skills

Budget planning

Financial analysis

Internal controls

Supervisory leadership

Stakeholder communication

Financial modeling

Spreadsheet proficiency

Policy interpretation

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

ASCEND system

UCPath

Database reporting

Dashboards

Job description

The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture seeks a Director of Finance reporting to the COO/CFO. This role leads financial administration for the school, including budget, forecasting, controls, and reporting across four departments, centers, and the Dean's Office.

The position requires deep expertise in university finance, governance, and strategic resource allocation. Responsibilities include managing the Business Office, developing practical procedures, and ensuring compliance with UC