Overview

Columbia Global (CG) is a groundbreaking new initiative that aims to establish a unifying and strategic platform to promote and facilitate impactful engagement of the University’s faculty, students, and alumni with the world, to enhance understanding, address global challenges, and advance knowledge and its exchange. Columbia Global aligns some of the University’s key global initiatives, including Columbia World Projects, the Global Centers, and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination. Looking ahead, there will be opportunities to include other global initiatives under its umbrella to support and expand the University’s global activities and presence.

Columbia Global seeks an experienced and seasoned Director of Finance to oversee all budget and financial operations. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director is an integral member of CG’s senior management team and provides financial leadership and direct oversight of the financial operations of the CG portfolio. The Director is responsible for financial analysis, budget and financial reporting, accounting operations, financial controls, compliance, reconciliations, audit requirements and providing direction to finance staff. The Director works closely with CG leadership and staff to develop an efficient, high-functioning financial, accounting, and reporting infrastructure to support Columbia Global’s mission and strategic direction. The Director will lead and supervise a team of finance, budget and grant managers.

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinates and leads disciplined annual budgeting, planning and forecasting processes for all CG operating budgets; administers and reviews all financial plans and works closely with all CG leadership to develop annual operating budgets;
  • Develops short and long-term financial forecasting and strategic financial analyses to inform budget development; Provides analytical insight and direction to management decision makers, while dually ensuring that aggressive yet realistic plans are established;
  • Working with COO, ensures that the organization develops and maintains an optimal capital structure, minimizing the cost of capital while maintaining financial flexibility;
  • Develops and maintains a financial dashboard that measures and tracks key financial performance measures;
  • Leads financial system to produce regular financial status reports and analysis including CU-required (i.e., Columbia Finance, Sponsored Projects Finance, OMB, etc.), audit reports and special reporting requests;
  • Maintains strong relationships with finance leadership within the University, Columbia Global Centers, and external partners in order to reinforce CG’s finance infrastructure and drive strategic priorities. Execution of this duty may require domestic and/or international travel;
  • Leads and manages a financial system and workflow for all financing, cash management, accounting, control and tax functions;
  • Maintains adequate financial and non-financial controls and leverages information technology in the accumulation, analysis, interpretation and distribution of financial information;
  • Approves financial transactions within the Columbia Financial Systems; solves issues and discrepancies, provides policy guidance and ensures compliance;
  • Provides leadership to the finance organization (centrally in NY and throughout global center platforms), ensuring that the function is properly organized, staffed, developed, and motivated;
  • Travels to global sites as necessary to provide leadership, support and training on finance-related issues (travel may be up 15% of time);
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required and 7-9 years of related finance experience.

  • Substantial hands-on experience in financial administration and supervisory/management of finance-related personnel;
  • Background in budgeting, accounting, and contract administration, including detailed knowledge of GAAP;
  • Familiarity using and navigating within Columbia University finance systems including Accounting and Reporting at Columbia (ARC), Financial Data Store (FDS) and Financial Systems (FinSys);
  • Experience running financial reports for project reconciliation, budgeting in the University Budget Tool, handling labor accounting in People@Columbia (PAC), and working in the Financial Front End (FFE) and RASCAL systems;
  • High degree of proficiency in financial data analysis, financial modeling;
  • Strong knowledge of global banking/financial systems and financial management practices;
  • Analytical thinking, stress resistance, and leadership;
  • Solid communication skills, especially persuasiveness and decisiveness;
  • A proven track record of managing complex financial processes;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication for wide range of audiences especially non-finance experts.

**Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume.**

Preferred Qualifications:

  • An advanced related degree (i.e., MBA, MPA) and 10+ years of experience managing finances for complex global development organization, consulting firms and/or university setting.
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