Columbia University
Position Summary
Reporting to the Department Chair, the Director of Finance and Administration is responsible for the overall financial management and administrative operations of the Department of Computer Science in The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). The Director provides strategic hands-on leadership of the Department’s financial and administrative activities, including long-term budgeting and financial planning, expense reconciliation, closing, reporting, and internal controls. The role also leads the Department’s Human Resources and Faculty Affairs programs, manages onboarding for faculty and researchers, and oversees recruitment, selection, and onboarding of administrative staff. The Director builds and sustains a high-performing administrative team through training, coaching, counseling, and team-building, while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Director acts as a strategic advisor to the Chair and faculty leadership, providing data-driven insights to support decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term planning. The position promotes operational excellence by driving innovation, developing and documenting SOPs, and optimizing departmental efficiency, while ensuring compliance with University policies and external regulations; manages departmental facilities and business operations in coordination with the Associate Director; oversees the HR and operational functions related to student affairs in collaboration with the Director of Academic and Student Affairs; supports external relations activities; and performs other duties as assigned. Responsibilities
(45%): Financial Planning, Budgeting, Reporting, and Internal Controls: Budgeting and Financial Planning: Provides strategic financial planning and forecasting to the Chair by capturing and analyzing data to inform financial decisions of the Department. Utilizes budget analyses and modeling to forecast future financial needs/resources. Responsible for budget submission and other regular and ad hoc reporting. Expense Reconciliation: Manages the Department’s administrative budget, including gift projects, discretionary projects, and pre- and post-award grants and projects connected with special programs. Ensures monthly reconciliation of departmental accounts and oversees reconciliation of sponsored projects to prevent overdrafts. Investigates and resolves variances and recommends budget modifications to adjust spending levels. Internal Controls: Oversees the department’s financial transaction and accounting practices. Designs, implements, and monitors financial reporting and control systems. Establishes departmental financial policies and SOPs. Ensures compliance with Department, SEAS, and University policies and external rules. Approves high-dollar threshold transactions and provides ad hoc approvals. Coordinates with SEAS Finance, CU Internal Audit, SPA/SPF, and other stakeholders to comply with audit requirements. Is the designated approver of reconciled departmental P-Card transactions. Closing and Reporting: Guides departmental financial staff and collaborates with SEAS Finance to complete year-end transactions for the Department.
(20%): Human Resources, Faculty Affairs, and Administration: Administrative Staffing: Recruits, selects, onboards, trains, and supervises departmental Officers of Administration and Support Staff. Monitors utilization of casuals and agency temporary staff. Faculty Onboarding: Leads onboarding for new faculty, collaborates with Search Committees, SEAS HR, SEAS Financial Office, and Dean’s Office to ensure timely onboarding of Officers of Instruction and Research. Manages recruitment and selection in J@C and RAPS, including external advertising. Ensures compliance with EEOC/Affirmative Action. Assists new faculty and researchers with benefits, relocation, housing, tuition, and other transitional matters. Promotion and Tenure: Provides administrative support for faculty promotion and tenure cases, in collaboration with faculty committees and HR leadership. Personnel Transactions: Reviews and approves PAFs and Nominations Forms for faculty, staff, and students. Employee & Labor Relations: Collaborates with SEAS HR and CUHR Labor Relations to administer the collective bargaining agreement and address labor-related issues. Maintains a positive work environment and effective conflict resolution. Safety: Collaborates with EHS and SEAS HR to ensure safe workplace practices and timely reporting of incidents.
(20%): Staff Training, Development, and Leadership: Hands-on Leadership: Provides day-to-day leadership and guidance on administrative and financial matters, ensuring university compliance. Development and Documentation of SOPs: Documents procedures and drives efficiency through standardization. Training and Professional Development: Trains new staff, communicates changes in procedures, and develops cross-training and mentoring programs. Recognizes staff achievements. Staff Collaboration: Leads regular staff meetings and cross-functional project teams. Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Drives process improvements and fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Performance Management: Coaches and conducts performance evaluations, supporting SMART goal progress.
(5%): Academic Administration: Oversees HR and administrative functions related to student affairs, ensuring compliance with visa eligibility, enrollment, and funding requirements.
(5%): Oversight of Facilities and External Relations: Oversees facilities projects with SEAS Facilities, supervises the Publicity Coordinator, and manages external relations. Coordinates with other offices to ensure smooth department operation.
(5%): Other Performs other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required; preference for Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, or related fields. Advanced degree desirable (e.g., MBA, MPA).
Minimum 5 to 7 years of substantial hands-on experience in financial administration and supervisory/management roles.
Budgeting, accounting, and contract administration experience; higher education or large complex institution experience preferred.
Familiarity with Columbia financial systems (ARC preferred).
Experience with financial reporting for project reconciliation, budgeting in University tools, labor accounting in PAC, and RAPS for affirmative action searches is desirable.
Detailed knowledge of University policies, procedures, and systems; extensive experience with grants and sponsored projects compliance preferred.
Ability to provide strategic leadership in financial planning and operations; strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Proven ability to prioritize, manage competing demands, and exercise sound judgment.
Detail-oriented with strong quantitative analytics; proficiency in Excel and MS Office; Linux experience is desirable.
A positive, forward-thinking, mission-oriented attitude with collaborative leadership and a sense of humor.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to hiring qualified local residents.
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Reporting to the Department Chair, the Director of Finance and Administration is responsible for the overall financial management and administrative operations of the Department of Computer Science in The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). The Director provides strategic hands-on leadership of the Department’s financial and administrative activities, including long-term budgeting and financial planning, expense reconciliation, closing, reporting, and internal controls. The role also leads the Department’s Human Resources and Faculty Affairs programs, manages onboarding for faculty and researchers, and oversees recruitment, selection, and onboarding of administrative staff. The Director builds and sustains a high-performing administrative team through training, coaching, counseling, and team-building, while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Director acts as a strategic advisor to the Chair and faculty leadership, providing data-driven insights to support decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term planning. The position promotes operational excellence by driving innovation, developing and documenting SOPs, and optimizing departmental efficiency, while ensuring compliance with University policies and external regulations; manages departmental facilities and business operations in coordination with the Associate Director; oversees the HR and operational functions related to student affairs in collaboration with the Director of Academic and Student Affairs; supports external relations activities; and performs other duties as assigned. Responsibilities
(45%): Financial Planning, Budgeting, Reporting, and Internal Controls: Budgeting and Financial Planning: Provides strategic financial planning and forecasting to the Chair by capturing and analyzing data to inform financial decisions of the Department. Utilizes budget analyses and modeling to forecast future financial needs/resources. Responsible for budget submission and other regular and ad hoc reporting. Expense Reconciliation: Manages the Department’s administrative budget, including gift projects, discretionary projects, and pre- and post-award grants and projects connected with special programs. Ensures monthly reconciliation of departmental accounts and oversees reconciliation of sponsored projects to prevent overdrafts. Investigates and resolves variances and recommends budget modifications to adjust spending levels. Internal Controls: Oversees the department’s financial transaction and accounting practices. Designs, implements, and monitors financial reporting and control systems. Establishes departmental financial policies and SOPs. Ensures compliance with Department, SEAS, and University policies and external rules. Approves high-dollar threshold transactions and provides ad hoc approvals. Coordinates with SEAS Finance, CU Internal Audit, SPA/SPF, and other stakeholders to comply with audit requirements. Is the designated approver of reconciled departmental P-Card transactions. Closing and Reporting: Guides departmental financial staff and collaborates with SEAS Finance to complete year-end transactions for the Department.
(20%): Human Resources, Faculty Affairs, and Administration: Administrative Staffing: Recruits, selects, onboards, trains, and supervises departmental Officers of Administration and Support Staff. Monitors utilization of casuals and agency temporary staff. Faculty Onboarding: Leads onboarding for new faculty, collaborates with Search Committees, SEAS HR, SEAS Financial Office, and Dean’s Office to ensure timely onboarding of Officers of Instruction and Research. Manages recruitment and selection in J@C and RAPS, including external advertising. Ensures compliance with EEOC/Affirmative Action. Assists new faculty and researchers with benefits, relocation, housing, tuition, and other transitional matters. Promotion and Tenure: Provides administrative support for faculty promotion and tenure cases, in collaboration with faculty committees and HR leadership. Personnel Transactions: Reviews and approves PAFs and Nominations Forms for faculty, staff, and students. Employee & Labor Relations: Collaborates with SEAS HR and CUHR Labor Relations to administer the collective bargaining agreement and address labor-related issues. Maintains a positive work environment and effective conflict resolution. Safety: Collaborates with EHS and SEAS HR to ensure safe workplace practices and timely reporting of incidents.
(20%): Staff Training, Development, and Leadership: Hands-on Leadership: Provides day-to-day leadership and guidance on administrative and financial matters, ensuring university compliance. Development and Documentation of SOPs: Documents procedures and drives efficiency through standardization. Training and Professional Development: Trains new staff, communicates changes in procedures, and develops cross-training and mentoring programs. Recognizes staff achievements. Staff Collaboration: Leads regular staff meetings and cross-functional project teams. Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Drives process improvements and fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Performance Management: Coaches and conducts performance evaluations, supporting SMART goal progress.
(5%): Academic Administration: Oversees HR and administrative functions related to student affairs, ensuring compliance with visa eligibility, enrollment, and funding requirements.
(5%): Oversight of Facilities and External Relations: Oversees facilities projects with SEAS Facilities, supervises the Publicity Coordinator, and manages external relations. Coordinates with other offices to ensure smooth department operation.
(5%): Other Performs other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required; preference for Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, or related fields. Advanced degree desirable (e.g., MBA, MPA).
Minimum 5 to 7 years of substantial hands-on experience in financial administration and supervisory/management roles.
Budgeting, accounting, and contract administration experience; higher education or large complex institution experience preferred.
Familiarity with Columbia financial systems (ARC preferred).
Experience with financial reporting for project reconciliation, budgeting in University tools, labor accounting in PAC, and RAPS for affirmative action searches is desirable.
Detailed knowledge of University policies, procedures, and systems; extensive experience with grants and sponsored projects compliance preferred.
Ability to provide strategic leadership in financial planning and operations; strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Proven ability to prioritize, manage competing demands, and exercise sound judgment.
Detail-oriented with strong quantitative analytics; proficiency in Excel and MS Office; Linux experience is desirable.
A positive, forward-thinking, mission-oriented attitude with collaborative leadership and a sense of humor.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to hiring qualified local residents.
#J-18808-Ljbffr