Senior Director for Finance and Administration

The University of Texas at Austin; Utah; On-site; USD 145,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas is seeking a Senior Director for Finance and Administration to serve as the school’s chief business officer for the new School of Computing. You will provide executive leadership across finance, HR, and administrative operations, reporting to the Executive Director and coordinating with central university offices.

The role focuses on financial management, budgeting, internal controls, and staff development, ensuring effective service delivery across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial and business operations management.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience overseeing HR, faculty affairs, and/or research administration in a complex org.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to advise senior leadership and build relationships across a large institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership across finance, HR, and administrative operations.
• Oversee accounting, reporting, budgeting, and internal controls.
• Lead budget planning and five-year budget projections.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal policies.
• Supervise HR, faculty affairs, and research administration functions.
• Represent the school to university administrative offices and central offices.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting

HR oversight

Policy compliance

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance

Master’s degree preferred

CPA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Accounting software

Job description

Job Posting Title: Senior Director for Finance and Administration — Hiring Department: School of Computing — Position Open To: All Applicants — Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 — FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA — Earliest Start Date: Immediately — Position Duration: Expected to Continue — Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

General Notes This position will support the university’s new School of Computing, which includes 3 strong departments—Computer Science, Information, and Statistics and Data Science—and more than 9,000 students across all programs. The School of Computing has a close relationship with Austin’s thriving tech culture and works at the forefront of fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. The School of Computing is seeking an experienced Senior Director for Finance and Administration to serve as the school’s chief business officer, providing executive-level leadership across finance, human resources, and administrative operations.

Purpose

The Senior Director for Finance and Administration serves as the chief business officer for the School of Computing, providing executive-level leadership and oversight of the school’s financial, human resources, faculty affairs, research administration, and business operations. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position leads the school's core administrative functions, translates school priorities into operational plans, and ensures effective and coordinated delivery of administrative services. The Senior Director represents the school in university-wide business administration forums and serves as a primary liaison with the College of Natural Sciences, Office of Accounting, and other central university offices.

Responsibilities

• Business Affairs Leadership Serve as the school leadership’s principal advisor on financial management, human resources, research operations support, and administrative matters. Lead the development and refinement of the school's business and administrative operating model, identifying opportunities to improve coordination, streamline processes, establish consistent practices, and strengthen service delivery across the school and its departments. Hire, supervise, and develop staff, fostering a strong service orientation and high standards of performance. Serve as a resource to and collaborate with the school’s three department business officers.
• Financial Management and Oversight Oversee the school’s business functions including accounting and reporting, ensuring sound fiscal management and controls and the effective functioning of business operations. Ensure the efficient and effective use of school resources and recommend and implement process improvements and efficiencies.
• Budget Planning and Development Provide comprehensive financial planning and analysis for the school. Coordinate the preparation of annual budget recommendations and the school’s five-year budget planning. Work collaboratively with the School Head and Executive Director to implement financial and human resources goals and priorities, including school merit processes, faculty budgets, indirect cost return distributions, and financial commitments.
• Internal Controls and Compliance Establish and maintain a strong system of internal accounting controls and ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal policies and procedures. Review and approve business-related forms and transactions.
• HR, Faculty Affairs, and Research Administration Oversight Provide leadership and oversight of the school's HR, Faculty Affairs, and Research Administration functions through the supervision of their respective team leads. Support the establishment of these teams and related school policies. Coordinate and lead cross-team processes for ongoing operational effectiveness. Promote consistent practices, effective coordination with departments and central university offices, and continuous improvement in service delivery.
• School Representation and Liaison Serve as the school’s representative to university administrative offices. Build and maintain trust and collaborative relationships for the school across the institution. Serve as a resource to and support the business officers and operations of the three school departments. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field.
• A minimum of eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in financial and business operations management, including budget development, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• At least five years of supervisory experience, including hiring, developing, and managing professional staff.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing human resources, faculty affairs, and/or research administration functions within a complex organization.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to advise senior leadership and build effective relationships across a large institution.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related field; CPA or equivalent certification.
• Experience in higher education business administration, particularly within a college, school, or comparable academic unit.
• Familiarity with university budgeting, accounting, and compliance systems and processes (e.g., state and federal grant compliance, indirect cost recovery, endowment and gift fund management).
• Experience overseeing research administration in an academic setting.

Salary Range

$170,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

This position is based on campus and generally works standard business hours, with additional hours required during peak periods. May require occasional travel for university business.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) to the University. They may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) ... You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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Comments and Inquiries

Email comments to [e-mail]. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at [phone], or toll-free at [phone]. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus