Strategic Finance Lead for Academic Budgets

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts & Sciences; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, seeks an Assistant Finance Director to lead comprehensive financial management for a medium-sized academic unit. You will partner with department leaders to translate strategy into budgets and forecasts.

The role requires advanced analytical skills, institutional budgeting experience, and the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse stakeholders; hybrid work on campus three days per week in Cambridge, MA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• MBA or Master’s degree is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Experience managing multiple funding sources, including sponsored research, endowments, gifts, and unrestricted funds.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership for a medium-sized academic department or unit.
• Develop and maintain budget workbooks with personnel and operating costs.
• Prepare variance analyses and trend reports for leadership.
• Support stewardship reporting and external reporting for funded programs.
• Track endowments, gifts and restricted funds and ensure donor intent compliance.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

MBA or Master’s degree

Tools

University financial systems

Job description

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, seeks an Assistant Finance Director to lead comprehensive financial management for a medium-sized academic unit. You will partner with department leaders to translate strategy into budgets and forecasts.

The role requires advanced analytical skills, institutional budgeting experience, and the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse stakeholders; hybrid work on campus three days per week in Cambridge, MA.