Senior Director of Finance

Biological Sciences Division, Senior Director of Finance - Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is a dynamic and stimulating place to work. We strive for the highest level of complex care for children from diagnosis and treatment; provide outstanding education and training for students, postgraduate scholars, and physicians; and nurture the research of Department scholars who seek to elucidate the causes of pediatric disease and identify promising new therapies. (https://pediatrics.uchicago.edu/).

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Finance acts as the top financial advisor to the Executive Administrator (EA) and Chairman within the Department of Pediatrics and collaborates closely with senior leadership within the Department of Pediatrics, as well as the Division's Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance, as needed. In conjunction with the EA, plans, directs and implements all aspects of financial strategy, decisions and activities impacting the Department of Pediatrics toward the achievement of the Department's philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives. Collaborates with Department Chairman, EA, department leadership, and medical center leadership to develop and implement short and long-term strategic, operational, and financial plans for the department, including clinical business and program development, research development, and scholarship. Through the business development and strategic planning functions, provide sound leadership for the department's growth initiatives across the Chicago metropolitan area and multi-state geographies.

Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Acts as the top financial advisor to the Executive Administrator (EA) and Chairman.
• In conjunction with the EA, plans, directs and implements all aspects of financial strategy, decisions and activities impacting the Department of Pediatrics toward the achievement of the Department's philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives.
• Recommends and oversees effective development and execution of fiscal strategy, leading the budgeting process for operating and capital budgets, revenue and expense management, financial reporting and accounting, oversight and management of incentive plans, and decision support services to ensure alignment with departmental mission, vision and goals.
• Ensures integrity and internal financial controls of annual operating budget and grant portfolio.
• Oversees the preparation of financial statements and reports and critical analyses of performance across all missions, best practices, benchmarks.
• Ensures accurate, timely, and effective reporting and budgeting.
• Monitors all aspects of revenue generation.
• Leads annual operating budget and capital budget to ensure strong programmatic/ financial linkages within Department of Pediatrics.
• Analyzes budget estimates, projections, and proposals for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to streamline financial and administrative operations through best practices.
• Analyzes and interprets financial information and assesses operational plans, forecasts and potential risks; evaluates alternative courses of action.
• Recommends strategies and tactics to improve performance.
• Identifies revenue optimization and expense reduction strategies; effective growth strategies and processes; and opportunities to leverage cross-program strengths to take advantage of new opportunities and/or to address organizational challenges.
• Maximizes available revenues as clinical reimbursement patterns change.
• Accountable for all restricted funding, including assuring compliance with sponsor requirements, accounting, reporting, and grants management.
• Oversees execution of physician compensation programs.
• Achieves optimal outcomes with respect to all financial activities.
• Using all financial and operational data available, provides strategies to support departmental programs, both current and proposed.
• Assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and recommends changes to systems and procedures to ensure conformance with budgetary provisions.
• Directs the activities of the unit's financial and research administration staff.

Strategy

• Collaborates with Department Chairman, EA, department leadership, and medical center leadership to develop and implement short and long-term strategic, operational, and financial plans for the department, including clinical business and program development, research development, and scholarship.
• Through the business development and strategic planning functions, provide sound leadership for the department’s growth initiatives across the Chicago metropolitan area and multi-state geographies.
• Influences the development of system-wide growth, learning and work collaboratively with finance, operations, medical leadership, section and department leadership.
• Identify innovative ideas and initiatives to help encourage a vibrant spirit of innovation throughout the Department.
• Develops and fosters a keen understanding, build relationships and business alliances in an assertive manner and exploit the Department's competitive advantages in the marketplace through unique, inter- departmental and inter-organizational relationships.
• Participates in a variety of assignments such as designing projects, providing thought leadership on various engagements and staffing teams.
• Provides programmatic leadership and input for all strategic plan implementation processes.
• Integrates strategies into daily operations and financial planning.
• Creates business plans and serves as chief information source for market assessments to facilitate physician recruitment, works closely with EA to ensure business plans are coordinated relative to mission, capital equipment, space, revenue and expense.
• In conjunction with EA and department leadership, formulates tactical planning for growth and viability of clinical programs.
• Conducts comprehensive feasibility studies for evaluation of programs.
• Develops clinical/operational programs to address programmatic/financial issues to ensure clinical, educational & research missions are being met.
• Participates in negotiating agreements, preparing strategic plans and other activities associated with the Department's affiliate hospitals or clinics.
• Organizes, plans, directs and supervises activities of key personnel to achieve HR/organization development goals, ensuring that all HR activities are carried out consistent with University personnel policies in appropriate/consistent manner.
• Oversees the review, negotiation, and execution of contracts on behalf of the Department in collaboration with UCMC Office of Legal Affairs and UCMC Network Development Office.
• Executes functional business plans and contributes to the development of financial goals, strategies, plans, and policies for the unit.
• Recommends the management of operating and capital budgets, information and accounting systems, revenue billing and collection, and the monitoring of expenditures on active accounts.
• Advises budgets for all areas within scope of responsibility. Directs quarterly and year-end reporting for the operating budget.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• MBA or advanced degree in finance, health care administration or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative/supervisory experience.
• Experience in financial management, administration, personnel management, and business development.
• A minimum of seven years of healthcare experience.
• Proven track record of leading organizational economic performance.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights and anticipate trends. Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strategic thinking and ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans, considering the financial landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex environments, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in financial principles, practices, methodologies, and applications, including budgeting, planning, and reporting within the organization's financial ecosystem.
• Strong financial modeling skills within financial platforms.
• Excellent analytical and organizational abilities, with a focus on maximizing efficiency within financial systems.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to establish and maintain relationships at all organizational levels.
• Collaborative work style with strong consultative skills, facilitating effective engagement with financial stakeholders.
• Ability to independently develop and analyze alternative solutions and make recommendations.
• Ability to work closely with senior University officials.
• Ability to work effectively under considerable time pressure on high visibility, high-stakes projects.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet aggressive deadlines.
• High level of organization, planning, time management, and problem-solving skills to develop workable solutions to problems of varying complexity.

Benefits Information

• 2025 University of Chicago Benefits Guide
• Vacation, Holidays, and Time Off | The University of Chicago