Department
BSD AFA - Accounting
About the Department
The University of Chicago biomedical enterprise houses three entities: the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), and the Pritzker School of Medicine. Collectively called UCM, we are one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions and have been at the forefront of discovery, education, and clinical care since 1927. Located 20 minutes south of downtown Chicago, our Hyde Park main campus provides a single environment for learning, world-renowned basic science and clinical research, and outstanding clinical care.
The BSD is the largest academic unit within the University. The BSD is comprised of faculty from ten basic science departments, 13 clinical departments, and several Centers and Institutes. The approximately 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff members working in the BSD collaborate across the organization to achieve our Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV):
MISSION: As part of the University of Chicago, we pursue globally impactful solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Through our rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing, we collaborate on life-changing advancements that create meaningful results for our community and the world, including a greater, more equitable future for all.
VISION: Together, we elevate the human experience with knowledge and health care.
VALUES:
- Commit to Excellence: We contribute our exceptional talents to all we do and empower the same spirit of excellence in others.
- Embrace Curiosity: We stay open to new ideas, champion diverse perspectives, and drive a culture of thoughtful risk-taking to deliver transformative innovation.
- Embody Equity: We identify systemic issues and then foster change to drive a more equitable environment inclusive of diverse people, ideas, and fields of science.
- Grow Together: We meaningfully collaborate with one another to create something bigger than we could ever achieve alone.
- Make a Difference: We lead with heart and compassion in all our interactions. We create positive change in our areas of influence, whether expanding scientific inquiry, developing the next generation of leaders, or healing our community.
- Take Ownership: We accomplish what we say we will and hold ourselves and one another accountable for our actions.
The MVV serves as our True North, charting our strategic plan for the next ten years and beyond. It is an exciting time to be a part of the University of Chicago and the BSD. Our team is helping to shape the future for our learners, staff, faculty, patients, and community.
Job Summary
The job manages multiple teams of managers and professional staff responsible for establishing and maintaining accounting policies and controls, fiscal controls, preparing financial reports and safeguarding the assets. Develops strategy for accounting and financial records and reports.
The Senior Director, Finance Service Delivery Unit (Senior Director) leads and manages a team of finance professionals and provides strategic direction, supports professional development, and ensures high standards of accuracy, efficiency, and accountability. The Senior Director fosters a collaborative and inclusive team culture, sets clear expectations, and aligns team efforts with institutional goals and priorities. The Senior Director will work with supported units to manage budget development, financial projections, proformas for business plan development, compensation and productivity analysis, general ledger, fund management, monthly and annual close processes, in addition to working with BSD Finance on accounts payable/receivable, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
This role has accountability to the departments it supports, while being administratively enabled by BSD Finance. The Senior Director will create a culture where the SDU staff identify as extensions of the departments. The Senior Director is the strategic partner for the departments, chairs and executive administrators whose role is to support the advancement of financial planning initiatives. The Senior Director would also partner with BSD Finance on accounting system modernization and process improvements to help ensure we centrally continue to develop the most meaningful tools, reports and processes to support excellence across our three missions.
Responsibilities
Leads and manages a team of financial professionals providing support to departments or administrative units on budget development, financial forecasting, compensation and productivity analysis, accounting including intra and inter-company transactions, accounts receivable/payable activity, financial variance management, and funds management.
Develops relationships with the department chairs, lead administrators, and faculty to create a trusted collaborative partnership. Owns the SDU control framework for financial operations (e.g., approvals, reconciliations, role assignment approver); establishes risk-mitigating practices across units.
Works with units on budget development including use of ratios and trends to project various revenue streams (patient care, grants, hospital support, etc.), compensation expense, Individual Award and Discretionary Funds (IADFs), services & supplies expense. Enters budget information into Oracle UCPlan as appropriate.
Collaborates with department chairs, section chiefs, Executive Administrators, and health system service lines to understand system strategy as well impact on recruiting, deployment, and financial statements.
Provides oversight and department specific knowledge to creation of new PSA agreements with outside and arms length entities; help with management of existing PSA agreements such as helping to centralize the agreements, highlight PSAs not adhering to BSD PSA standards, and moving departmental billing to ITC when possible. Monitors PSA billing, AR and overall financial health of each agreement.
Provides business planning development support. Generate clinical and research related proformas for initiatives and new recruits including research start-up packages.
Leads development, evaluation, and ongoing refinement of faculty compensation plans.
Leads review and analysis of productivity-based and supplemental incentive programs.
Monitoring of compensation alignment with productivity, market benchmarks, and institutional policy.
Partners with physician and administrative leaders to interpret productivity and compensation data, supporting informed decision-making around recruitment, retention, and resource allocation.
Works with units to provide forecasting projections with explanations where forecasts are materially different than budget.
Collaborates with units, Office of Grants Management, Clinical Trials Financial Group and other stakeholders to monitor use of funds (grants, gifts, endowment, operating, IADFs) for appropriate application, including labor and non-labor costing allocations, initiate corrective action when needed.
Collaborative partner with Department leadership to ensure strategic utilization of all funds.
Provides business planning development support. Generate clinical and research related proformas for initiatives and new recruits including research start-up packages.
Collaborates with Strategy and Analytics as an individual and as a member of the Senior Director team to identify and prioritize reporting needs.
Oversees monthly and annual close for units, including reconciliations and supporting schedules. Generates monthly variance analysis.
Coaches team members on accounting treatments, policies, and procedures to develop cross training and coverage.
Enforces accounting policies and procedures that enable compliance, and internal consistency across all missions.
Manages managers and professional staff. Establishes performance goals, allocates resources and assesses policies for direct subordinates.
Advises on accounting transactions, collecting and analyzing accounting data, analyzing business results, and/or developing management reports.
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.
Certifications:
-
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
7+ years of work experience in Higher Education, Academic Medical Center, or Health Care.
Demonstrated experience presenting strategic insights and recommendations to senior academic and administrative leadership, with the ability to influence decision-making at the executive level.
Proven track record of leading and overseeing complex, cross-functional projects from concept through execution, including managing teams and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
Experience interpreting and leveraging clinical, research, and educational data to measure performance, inform strategy, improve operations, and support decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups.
Advanced experience in financial analysis and modeling to support planning, resource allocation, and long-term forecasting; ability to guide team members in conducting and presenting financial assessments.
Prior leadership experience in system implementations strongly preferred, including stakeholder engagement, change management, and integration of new tools or platforms into business operations.
Familiarity with Project Management methodologies.
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Adobe Acrobat.
Familiarity with Oracle cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
Extensive experience and knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
Licenses and Certifications:
Preferred Competencies
Ability to lead a team in a collaborative approach through all points of project development.
High level of independent analysis.
Advanced skills in financial and statistical analysis.
Ability to represent the mission, values, and strategic priorities of the organization and leadership through strategic planning, decision-making, and communications, both personally and through their team.
Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive materials and situations with discretion and sound judgment; ensures direct reports uphold the same standards.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for a variety of audiences, including senior executives, faculty, staff, and cross-functional teams.
Proven ability to build and maintain productive, collaborative relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders across the BSD, University, and UCM.
Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and shared accountability within the team and across departments.
Demonstrates reliability, a strong drive for results, and the ability to motivate and guide others to meet individual and team objectives.
Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with a focus on team development, performance management, and operational efficiency.
Skilled in managing competing priorities and deadlines while providing structure, guidance, and support to direct reports navigating complex or shifting demands.
Demonstrated dedication to data integrity and ensuring accurate reporting.
Working Conditions
Application Documents
Resume (required)
Cover Letter (Optional)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Financial Management
Role Impact
People Manager
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$120,000.00 - $250,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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