Job Summary

The Executive Director of Finance & Business Operations serves as the chief financial officer of the College and reports to and collaborates with the Dean and other administrative leaders and advisory councils in executive fiscal and administrative management of the College. In addition, this role serves as the liaison between the college and relevant university administrative offices, providing support for the staff overseen by the role. The staff that report to or coordinate with this role include fiscal, administrative, facilities and information technology employees. As college strategy evolves to meet the changing landscape of higher education, this role may evolve based on the individual’s expertise.

Executive Director is a strategic thinking partner to the college and executes and facilitates day-to-day business operations. They provide advice and data on fiscal, facility, technology and administrative systems to leadership and advisory councils of the college in alignment with the “Westphal for All” strategic plan. In addition, Drexel University is in a transitional moment and this role will be part of conversations about potential restructuring of the college to meet the University’s goals. A primary goal of the role is transparent management of these areas in partnership with other staff and faculty in a way that leads the college to success while strengthening the fiscal, facility and technology systems of the college. This individual is expected to develop a deep understanding of the College’s mission, goals and working environment and effectively educate and communicate on operational matters related to budgets, finances and resources to the college. They should provide strategic plan implementation for the areas they oversee, guaranteeing the implementation of changes and ensuring smooth coordination of college business operations and projects.

This is a high-visibility position, requiring an individual who is able to interact with various stakeholders, internal to the college and across the wider university, representing the college in positive and productive ways. This position also requires a high degree of accountability and responsibility, as well as meticulous attention to detail and the ability to multi-task. Where information is confidential in nature; discretion is important in this role.

Essential Functions

Budgeting & Financial Management

• Oversees fiscal resources within the college and provides strategic financial management of the college budget, collaborates with Dean, other administrative leaders and advisory councils in support of the academic and research mission and goals.
• Develops long-term models to project the impact of changes or new assumptions affecting the College.
• Coordinates the development and presentation of the annual College budget including quarterly reports and assessments.
• Advises the Dean and other College and unit leadership on impact of budget commitments and communicates arising matters including larger strategic moves related to the physical plant of the college.
• Regularly monitors and analyzes financial records to improve efficiency and planning.
• Prepares and analyzes forecasting data to improve business decisions and communicate results to appropriate stakeholders.
• Serves as administrative liaison between university offices and Westphal College department staff to ensure efficient and streamlined operations.
• Structures internal budgeting processes and establishes internal controls to monitor operations and maintain budget limitations in alignment with College and University business processes.
• Facilitates and advises on the completion and recording of all check requests, deposits, purchase orders, credit card payments and travel forms.
• Assists Department Heads and Program directors with departmental and program cost centers management.
• Prepares and oversees faculty contracts.
• Reviews and facilitates large purchases, funding transfers, cost center requests and Web*Financials access for college level operations in collaboration with leadership and advisory councils.
• Tracks and reports on research expenditures and funding in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Faculty Excellence & Research.
• Works with Institutional Advancement to track and record donor gifts
• Tracks and prepares reports on faculty load and adjunct spending.
• Monitors end-of-fiscal year closing and executes adjustments as necessary.
• Implements and manages finances and strategic budgeting for large capital projects and expansion.

Human Resources Operations

• Oversees human resource operations for faculty and staff and liaises with Human Resources Business Partner who advises and works with the College.
• Advises the Dean on issues related to compensation, job descriptions, recruitment, etc.
• Coordinates and approves all job postings, offers, and prepares all faculty contracts and renewals. Collaborates with Associate Dean of IDEA to ensure that compensation throughout the college aligns with its strategic goals towards equity.
• Advises staff who coordinate procedures and forms processing for faculty and staff hiring and pay.
• Participates as a Dean’s Office representative, non-voting member of the Westphal Faculty Senate Committee on Budget, Planning & Development, supporting the committee’s efforts by supplying relevant information as requested.
• Direct reports may include facilities, finance, and information technology teams as determined by college leadership.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or other relevant business operations majors or equivalent combination of education and work experience. (Please review the  Equivalency Chart for additional information.)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in higher education or similar institution administration.
• Minimum of 5 years supervisory experience.
• Proven skills in budget preparation and strategic fiscal management and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex analysis of financial data.
• Proven proficiency in organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in managing teams to success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Experience with Tableau, Banner, and Hyperion or similar systems.

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade P. Compensation for this grade ranges from $129,850 - $194,770 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.   

We encourage you to explore Drexel's Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on our compensation framework.  

You can also find valuable information about our benefits in the Benefits Brochure.  

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.