The UW Information School (iSchool) has an exceptional career opportunity for a financial and management leader and innovator.

THE UW

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

THE ISCHOOL

Information changes lives. The iSchool envisions a world where more effective use of information helps everyone discover, learn, innovate, solve problems, have fun, and make a better world.  By tackling key social and technical problems in the information field, the iSchool is an important link between users of information and designers of information systems, connecting society with the information it needs.  With over 1,200 students in its top-tier undergraduate and graduate academic programs, the iSchool is committed to preparing its students to thrive in the rapidly-evolving information field, with a growing emphasis on cutting-edge research that reflects the school's passion, vision and mission.

THE ISCHOOL

The iSchool’s Resource Planning and Management (RPM) unit provides critical support to the School in developing plans for and administering policies, procedures and processes that support the effective management of the School’s operational financial, facilities and staff human resources.  The RPM staff are highly committed to providing exceptional service with responsive processes within a collaborative environment that provides fulfilling and rewarding roles.  As the School has grown dramatically in the last 20 years and continues to expand, the School is seeking an experienced leader and innovator to support the Assistant Dean for Resource Planning and Management in professionalizing practices and managing a complex and expanding portfolio of resources.

As the Director, Financial Planning and Management, you will be responsible for the administration of the financial resources of the Information School (iSchool), including budget development, decision support, forecasting, monitoring, analysis, and reporting as well as policy setting, communication and coordination of fiscal procedures.  You will lead the Finance team in providing sustainable, responsive, compliant financial services and collaborate with key process partners in implementing coordinated solutions for cross-functional matters.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Resource Planning and Management, you will also serve in a unit-wide leadership role as the delegate for and backup to the Assistant Dean for process and administration roles that span outside of the Finance team.  You will work closely with iSchool leaders, including faculty leadership, and with iSchool unit staff  to ensure that the School is planning appropriately, financially responsible and operationally effective and efficient.  You will be member of the School’s Leadership Cabinet and may represent the School at university-wide meeting and committees related to administrative and financial matters. 

In the iSchool, it is expected that all employees step up where they see an opportunity to apply their special expertise or talents, speak up when they identify opportunities or concerns, and lead by taking actions that exemplify the Information School’s core values. This leadership may be expressed in diverse ways, reflecting the variety of styles and cultures that are represented by Information School faculty and staff.

Financial Planning and Management

You will design and support the planning, reporting, analysis and decision processes for and ensure proper management of the School’s general operating budget (includes state, local, fee-based academic program, self-sustaining, research cost recovery and discretionary gift funds) and all non-research related gift and endowment budgets (total annual activity of approximately $23 million, expect to grow beyond $30 million by 2025). 

You will provide strong leadership for the finance team promoting a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

You will act as a resource for School administration, leaders, and others on university financial systems, policies, and practices and provide advice and guidance on the implementation and interpretation of federal, state, UW, and School policies and procedures relating to fiscal matters.

General Administration

You will provide leadership for general problem resolution, coordinating resolution of complex, cross-functional questions and issues.

You will support the Assistant Dean for approval processes broadly covering financial, human resources and operational issues, reviewing and making recommendations or taking actions with delegated authority and managing delegations of authority and system authorizations.

Unit Administration and Leadership

You will provide leadership for the Resource Planning and Management unit for communication, information sharing and business process improvement; serve as backup for the Assistant Dean.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or a related field.
• Four to five years of increasingly responsible financial and administrative leadership experience, to include reporting and analyzing financial data, policy development, compliance and risk mitigation, and advising high-level decision makers.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, and problem-solving ability.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Experienced in spreadsheet development for budgeting, fiscal monitoring and financial projections using multiple fund sources.
• Skill in creating and using complex spreadsheets and using relational database structures and software programs, particularly Excel and Access or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and other constituents.
• Highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple demands and priorities.
• Demonstrated high degree of initiative-taking, problem solving capability, creativity, and capacity for innovative thinking.
• Proven capacity to effectively manage deadlines and ensure accuracy while responding quickly and appropriately to emerging and/or urgent issues.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new software.
• Ability to supervise and lead a team of staff, as well as motivate, lead, and support the success of unit colleagues to enable school-wide success.
• Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications.

We’re Desiring People with

• Comprehensive knowledge of University of Washington fiscal policies, procedures, and systems.
• Familiarity with federal fiscal policies and procedures for sponsored research funds.
• Basic understanding of fiscal procedures and budgeting for a college, school, or department within a large, public research university.
• Demonstrated success in a supervisory role.
• Ability to design, develop and implement processes, policies and procedures using electronic technology.
• Experience using SharePoint.

Other Conditions of Employment
 

• Hybrid telework scheduling can be accommodated but some onsite presence is required.
• May serve in an emergency management leadership role, requiring active involvement in emergency response actions.
• All UW employees must complete a COVID-19 attestation, verifying that they are fully vaccinated or claim an exemption for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.