The position provides essential strategic leadership in the BU Wheelock’s operational, financial, and human resources activities and is responsible for the management of the college’s facilities. Reporting to the Dean of BU Wheelock, this position oversees and performs a wide range of financial functions including budget and financial planning, accounting, and financial reporting. This position works independently making decisions regarding BU Wheelock finances, operations, and facilities issues in alignment with the college’s strategic direction. The Assistant Dean ensures sound fiscal management from supporting the development of the unrestricted operating budget to monitoring and adjusting the operating funds during the first, second and third quarter of the fiscal year.
This position also oversees the restricted budgets ensuring the funds in discretionary accounts are spent according to generally accepted accounting principles and within guidelines of Boston University. This position works with the Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Faculty and Staff regarding all financial and operational issues. The position oversees the operations of BU Wheelock supporting faculty in research, teaching, and service as well as the human resources activities at BU Wheelock which include the processing of all faculty personnel and staff actions. The position also oversees facilities management and space management. The position has supervisory responsibility for the Personnel/Payroll Administrator, the Financial Administrator and the Senior Operations Administrator.
Essential Function 1: Finance and Business Management/Strategic Implementation: (45%)
- Provides financial oversight, including budget development and management, tracking budget to actuals and financial management of all unrestricted and designated fund resources.
- Develops short-term and long-range financial plans that encompass executive management and academic priorities and is aligned with college’s strategic plan.
- Works with faculty and staff to develop and create budgets to carry out program missions, outreach initiatives, research and development, and new and existing academic programs. Serve as a key liaison for faculty and staff navigating university financial systems and policies.
- Supports staff to prepare monthly financial reports as needed.
- Works closely with the Dean to develop and prepare budgets for BU Wheelock from Stage 1 to the final budget submitted to the Provost for the unrestricted accounts and prepare quarterly budget projections for the central office.
- Oversees all accounting and financial reporting, coordinating year- end, signing off on reconciliations and approving purchases and payments. Streamlines and optimizes processes to enhance efficiency and reduce faculty/staff effort or unnecessary redundancies.
- Implements cost-saving measures and identify opportunities for resource optimization.
- Represent the College in university-wide committees and initiatives as necessary.
Essential Function 2: Operations and Human Resources (40%)
Manages and directs the administrative operations at BU Wheelock. This includes:
Facilities & Operations
- Leads the development and implementation of the College’s Operations Manual, Identifying and assessing operational risks, developing and implementing mitigation strategies. This includes, for instance, managing updates to the College Emergency Plan annually.
- Provides guidance to and operational alignment of staff. Acts as a leader for the operational and administrative staff in the College and analyzes operational needs and creates new or revised systems and structures to accommodate shifting demands.
- Works with Faculty, Administrators and Administrative Coordinators to ensure proper organizational processes and routines are efficient and effective.
- Maintains information on space assignments and space related requirements; Makes recommendations to the Dean regarding space allocations; Reviews space and works with faculty in analyzing and planning for new research/lab space and office needs supporting expanding activities.
- Ensures infrastructure is developed and maintained to support the needs of the College.
- Works with BU Facilities and Management regarding building issues; Works with Manager of BU Facilities to resolve building and maintenance issues for BU Wheelock.
- Reviews office space and allocate funds to update offices and provide an effective working environment for faculty and staff that helps promote college priorities.
- Coordinates and oversees any building-related projects.
Human Resources
- Oversees processes to ensure that programs and units are receiving HR services as needed.
- Works with the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs to ensure that the processing of faculty personnel actions including appointments, reappointment, leave of absence, and sabbaticals are completed in a timely manner.
- In alignment with university procedures, oversees human resources functions related to College staff, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
- Collaborate with HR to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures.
- Put systems, routines and processes in place that foster a positive and inclusive work environment for both direct reports and the college as a whole, with the goal of improving retention, effectiveness and job satisfaction.
Essential Function 3: Other Duties: (15%)
- As a member of the leadership team, works proactively and closely with the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs and senior Staff to implement the strategic plan and to establish annual goals.
- Establishes goals and timetables for Operations, Finance, and Human Resources and develops strategies for implementation, and oversees execution of goals.
- Provides management support in the creation of planning documents, strategic initiatives, and business plans.
- Routinely analyzes fiscal documents, workload statistics, etc. to support college-wide decision-making regarding policy changes and alternate courses of actions. Prepares reports, collects and analyzes data.
- B.A./B.S. required, Master’s degree preferred.
- 8 to 10 years of related experience required.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.