Assistant Dean for Operations & Finance at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN

Job description

Position Summary : The Chief Business Officer (CBO) is responsible for the financial and business operations of Vanderbilt Law School (VLS), including daily business processes, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, financial modeling and analysis, strategic planning, human capital management, sponsored project administration, policy development and implementation, compliance and internal controls, and capital planning and budgeting. Reporting jointly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and to the Dean of the Vanderbilt Law School, the CBO is a key advisor to the Dean on strategic, financial, human resource, and operational topics. The CBO is an effective leader, natural collaborator, and skilled communicator who builds trusting relationships across VLS and the University. The ideal candidate will have a strategic, decision-enabling mindset and keen financial and business acumen that will allow them to effectively advise the Dean, associate deans, administrators, and other key stakeholders. The CBO serves as the primary point of contact relative to financial and business operations for VLS, working to accomplish the priorities of the School and of the broader University by leading and facilitating interactions with and between many of the core University offices that support the various schools, including Finance, People Culture and Belonging, General Counsel, Risk Management, Facilities, Development and Alumni Relations, and Vanderbilt University IT. About the Work Unit : Among the nation’s leading law schools, Vanderbilt stands out for its distinguished faculty; highly talented students; collegial and collaborative school culture; graduates’ top-tier employment outcomes; and global alumni network. Vanderbilt Law School's national reputation has its basis in our rigorous academic program, which is developed and delivered by our faculty of top legal scholars. The Finance & Operations Administration team in the Law School is responsible for the management of all operations, finance, accounting, grants administration, and other business services. This team works to ensure compliance across the Law School relative to university policies and procedures as well as federal and state laws, or sponsor guidelines. The Law School has 60 resident faculty members, 130 affiliated faculty members, 80 staff employees, and a student enrollment of approximately 600 students. Key Functions and Expected Performance: Financial Oversight Develop and manage the annual operating budget, monthly forecasts, and management reporting for the School, including quarterly budget variance analysis. Analyze financial data to support budgeting and decision-making, providing clear, actionable insights. Support capital planning by developing the annual capital budget, planning for capital project financing, and monitoring capital expenditures. Ensure effective utilization of gift and endowment funding while complying with donor restrictions. Report to Finance and Development and Alumni Relations periodically on gift and endowment utilization. Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations on donor agreements, gift and endowment accounting, and project management. Oversee contract and grant administration, including grant expenditures, effort certification, cost-sharing, cost transfers, and grant closeout. Collaborate with Research Finance on grant accounting, reporting, and compliance matters. Plan, oversee, and manage various programmatic revenue sources. Review and approve general accounts receivable and deposit transactions. Oversee monthly, quarterly, and year-end accounting activities, ensuring accurate accounting and classification of transactions and year-end accruals. Implement and monitor effective internal controls for the processing of financial transactions, including segregation of duties, access controls, and monitoring and evaluating financial results and budget variances. Operational Oversight Develop, implement, and improve op