Director of Finance and Administration

The Karsh Institute of Democracy (KIOD) Director of Finance and Administration is a new position that will direct financial and human resource activities and ensure the financial health and policy compliance of the Institute and its affiliates, including UVA's Equity Center and Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Reporting to the Managing Director of the KIOD and serving as a member of the Karsh Institute's leadership team, the Director will effectively serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Institute and lead an innovative effort to constitute a newly centralized team of finance professionals and collaborate closely with senior leadership to provide financial expertise and strategic guidance. The Director of Finance and Administration is a key leadership role designed to drive innovation and financial excellence in our fast-paced organization. This role will be integral to shaping and executing our long-term financial strategy and aligning it with our objectives.

The Director of Finance and Administration will oversee all aspects of financial planning, analysis, and ensure we remain agile and forward-thinking. This position is well suited for a visionary leader who can integrate advanced financial insights with operational efficiency, all while fostering collaboration across teams to support sustainable and scalable success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Collaboration and Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting to support operational and strategic decisions.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to provide strategic direction, ensure operational efficiency, and implement financial initiatives.

• Develop and implement strategic financial plans that align with the goals of the Institute.

• Foster a culture of financial accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement within the finance team and across the Institute.

• Serve as the primary liaison on financial matters, ensuring clear communication and alignment across the Institute and stakeholders.

2. Financial Management and Reporting

• Direct day-to-day fiscal operations and the completion of major financial deliverables, including budget preparation, financial reporting, cash flow management, and expenditure control.

• Monitor financial performance and prepare regular financial reports for senior management and stakeholders.

• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, GAAP, and other regulatory requirements.

• Develop and maintain financial reports and forecasts for internal and external stakeholders to analyze trends and identify risks and opportunities.

• Provide insightful analysis and recommendations to optimize financial performance and resource allocation.

• Direct the preparation of grants and contracts, and ensure their compliance to institution, funding source, and federal guidelines and regulations.

• Implement innovative solutions to enhance financial reporting, data integration, and decision-making processes.

3. Human Resource Procedures and Actions

• Formulate, improve, and ensure departmental procedures are in place in accordance with university policies and regulations.

• Negotiate and implement human resources actions regarding hiring, terminations, salary, and disciplinary actions.

• Ensure completion of human resources actions, including as faculty and staff merit increases, staff, and student hiring, terminations, onboarding, and annual evaluations and disciplinary actions.

• Address concerns and proactively resolve issues.

• Identify opportunities for continuous process improvement and efficiency gains.

4. Team Management and Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team through mentoring, coaching, and professional development initiatives.

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork and employee engagement.

In addition to the outlined responsibilities, the Director of Finance and Administration may be required to perform other duties as assigned to support the overall mission and goals of the Institute.

POSITION EXPECTATIONS

• Attention to detail and excellent organizational and planning skills, with an ability to prioritize tasks, follow up and track details and communicate task progress.

• Exhibit a professional and positive demeanor and effective communication and relationship building with diverse stakeholder groups and strategic partners.

• Work independently to creatively solve problems within a fast-paced environment.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Use a collegial approach while executing and explaining UVA and KIOD policies and procedures with staff, faculty, and other partners.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in relevant subject required, MBA or Masters' degree in relevant subject is strongly preferred.

• Experience: Ten years of experience in a financial discipline required, supervisory experience is preferred.Licensure: May hold CPA or other advanced financial certification.

• Experience with Workday Financial and UVA's financial systems, policies, and protocols are preferred.

• Expertise in financial planning, analysis, and reporting; thorough understanding of GAAP and financial regulations.

• Strong leadership abilities with a track record of strategic decision-making and problem-solving.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Proficiency in financial software and MS Office Suite.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $125,000 - $135,000, commensurate with education and experience.

The position is located in Charlottesville, VA, with the option to work a hybrid schedule.

The anticipated start date is Feb 2025.

This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon project need, availability of funding and performance.

This is an Exempt level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit www.hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

This position will remain open until filled. Initial application review will begin at the end of November and first round interviews will begin in early December.

This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

To Apply:

Please apply through the UVA job board and search for R0066083. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs'. Complete an application online with the following documents:

• CV

• Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field; multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA's standardized process Skill Survey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, Recruiting Specialist, atjf2sw@virginia.edu.

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.