Director of Finance

Job no: 526942

Position Type: Staff Full Time

Campus: UMass Boston

Department: Institute Community Inclusion

Pay Grade: 34

Date opened: 02 May 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close:

The Director of Finance will provide high-level strategic leadership and support for the financial and administrative goals of the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) and its institutes, including the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) and the Institute for New England Native American Studies (INENAS), all housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The incumbent will oversee all aspects of financial management and operations of the Institute and School, including grants management, budgeting, and accounting functions. They will analyze financial data, advise on spending, and ensure operational compliance within budgets.

The Director will collaborate closely with the Associate Dean of CEHD, the Director of ICI, Principal Investigators, and various university offices such as ORSP, OBFP, and the Office of the Dean. They will supervise grant-administrator staff and may serve in the Institute Director’s absence with decision-making authority.

1. Provide strategic leadership for business management, including cost analysis and efficiency improvements.
2. Lead budget formulation, analysis, and monitoring for the School and Institutes, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
3. Prepare annual consolidated budgets and analyze requests.
4. Collaborate on budget decisions with research administration teams.
5. Support team culture and professional development within research administration.
6. Track and plan FTEs for grant-funded staff.
7. Manage personnel information and supervise grant administrative staff.
8. Ensure compliance with university policies and external regulations, including federal guidelines.
9. Manage accounting functions for sponsored and non-sponsored accounts, including processing payments and monitoring expenditures.
10. Assist PIs with grant applications, budgets, and negotiations with sponsors.
11. Oversee award amendments, subcontracts, and sponsor interactions.
12. Maintain knowledge of sponsor requirements and federal regulations.
13. Support PIs with contracts, compliance, and reporting.
14. Oversee procurement, personnel forms, audits, and serve as a financial liaison within the university.
15. Represent SGISD/ICI in meetings and serve on committees.
16. Develop policies, train staff, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in financial practices.
17. Participate in training activities related to sponsored programs.
18. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Master’s Degree in business or finance, with 7-10 years of relevant experience, preferably in higher education. Supervisory experience and knowledge of federal funding regulations (e.g., OMB Uniform Guidance, PHS Grants Policy) are required. Proficiency in Excel and sponsored program systems is necessary. Experience in research administration, contract negotiation, and diversity and inclusion initiatives is preferred. Membership in professional organizations such as SRA or NCURA is advantageous.

Application Instructions: Please apply online with your resume, cover letter, and three references. Review begins after the closing date. Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit are considered first. Salary range details are available here . This is a grant-funded, union, exempt position with a current end date of August 31, 2025, subject to renewal based on funding and needs. For accommodations during the hiring process, contact or 617-287-5150.

Applications close: