Job Details

Director, Accounting & Finance

Position Number: 6466680
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Business - Accounting

Director, Accounting & Finance

Job Summary

The Director of Accounting and Finance provides strategic and operational leadership for the financial management of the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering at the University of Utah. Serving as the senior financial officer for the college, this position oversees all accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance functions across eight departments and programs. The Director is responsible for scenario planning, financial forecasting, and resource management to ensure that college-level and departmental operations are aligned with the strategic goals of the university. This role functions as a key advisor to the Dean and acts as a liaison to university-level financial administration. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership and technical skills to guide decision-making through robust financial analysis and planning.

Responsibilities

Leads the college's short- and long-term financial planning, scenario analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation to support strategic objectives and financial sustainability.
Develops and implements financial goals and strategies aligned with the missions of the college and university.
Assesses overall financial health using key metrics (e.g., debt-to-equity ratio, profit and loss, variance reports, financial statements) and recommends optimal use of resources and investments.
Oversees college-wide budget development, compliance, and performance monitoring, including variance analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
Creates and maintains financial models, forecasts, and internal reporting tools to inform decision-making and assess potential impacts to financial growth.
Provides executive-level financial insight and recommendations through reporting, modeling, and data interpretation for senior leadership.
Supervises and supports professional development of accounting and financial staff, including hiring, performance evaluations, training, and mentoring.
Acts as the college's primary liaison to university-level financial administrators, and advises department chairs, directors, and staff on financial policy and procedures.
Develops and promotes financial tools and resources to improve reporting accuracy, transparency, and departmental decision-making.
Oversees the preparation and submission of internal and external financial and institutional reports, including surveys (ASEE, OSU, US News), audits, and donor or legislative reports.
Ensures compliance with university, state, and federal financial policies and regulations, and contributes to the development and interpretation of internal policies.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically requiredNearly Continuously: Office environment.Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be requiredNearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration or related area, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); eight years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communications skills required. Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field or equivalence; basic understanding of accounting principles, analytical techniques, and statistical methods; working knowledge of spreadsheet applications and computerized databases; and experience in higher education financial areas is preferred.

Special Instructions
For questions regarding this job posting, please contact:
Monica Heaton
Director of Administration
John and Marcia Price College of Engineering
(801) 585-9371 | monica.heaton@utah.edu

Requisition Number: PRN42807B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Additional hours may be required outside of the standard schedule to meet business needs, attend events, or fulfill leadership responsibilities.
Department: 00051 - College of Engineering-Dean
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: 120000 to 160000
Close Date: 10/1/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/187116