Director of Finance for Operations

Director of Finance for Operations University of Kansas United States, Kansas, Lawrence 1450 Jayhawk Boulevard (Show on map) May 01, 2026
Position Overview The Director of Finance for Operations serves as the chief financial strategist and operational finance leader for KU Operations. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Operations, this position leads comprehensive financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, data analytics, and fiscal stewardship activities across all Operations units-including Facilities, Parking & Transit, EH&S, Space Management, Campus Police, Administration, and other assigned units. This role directs the Operations Business Office, ensuring consistent financial operations, strong internal controls, effective resource allocation, and clear financial reporting. The Director collaborates with key KU units such as Procurement and the Shared Service Center to ensure proper review and processing of contracts, purchasing activity, and other financial matters. The Director also serves as a campuswide partner and advisor, supporting leadership with datadriven insights, operational performance metrics, and longrange financial planning. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated experience in complex, multi-unit financial management, advanced analytics, and the ability to communicate financial concepts to a wide range of stakeholders. Job Description 30% - Operations Business Office Leadership Provide strategic leadership and daytoday oversight of the Operations Business Office, including direct supervision of the financial team.
Develop, implement, and maintain standardized budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and reconciliation processes to ensure accuracy and alignment with university financial policies.
Mentor and develop financial staff by providing ongoing coaching, training, and performance feedback to build analytical, technical, and customerservice capabilities within the Business Office.
Ensure strong internal controls, audit readiness, and proper documentation of fiscal procedures, approvals, and financial transactions across the Operations portfolio. Oversee workload distribution, project assignments, and service delivery standards to support highquality financial support for all Operations units.
Collaborate with other University administrative partners such as Procurement and the Shared Service Center to ensure accurate processing and appropriate review of contracts, purchasing activity, and other financial matters across Operations.
Lead continuous improvement efforts to streamline financial systems, enhance reporting tools, and strengthen crossunit coordination within Operations.
Serve as the primary escalation point for complex financial issues, providing guidance and decisionmaking support to Business Office staff and Operations leadership.
30% - Financial Strategy, Planning & Oversight Develop and manage the annual Operations area budget in collaboration with department heads and leadership ensuring compliance with university, state, and federal guidelines.
Serve as a strategic partner to Operations unit leaders, providing consultative support, financial guidance, and datadriven recommendations to align financial strategies with departmental and institutional goals.
Conduct annual budget development, multi-year forecasting, revenue and expenditure modeling, and financial scenario planning.
Monitor fiscal performance across all Operations units; provide variance analysis, financial risk identification, and recommendations for corrective actions.
25% - Project & Capital Financial Management Oversee project financial management including project setup, budgeting, funding, analysis, and closeout procedures
Oversee and coordinate with Facilities, Planning, and Capital Project teams on construction, renovations, and auxiliary services to ensure compliance with KU, state, and KBOR requirements.
Develop cost analyses, pricing models, and profitability reviews for internal services and billable operational functions.
Represent Operations on committees related to finance, analytics, compliance, and operational planning.
15% - Data, Analytics, Metrics & Reporting
Oversee collection and analysis of operational and financial data to guide resource allocation and improve operational efficiencies.
Utilize and develop dashboards, KPIs, scorecards, and reporting structures for executive decision support.
Prepare reports and presentations for the Vice Chancellor, senior leadership, and campus stakeholders.
Ensure reliable, streamlined data management and reporting systems to support enterprise-level decision making.
Standardize business processes, templates, and financial workflows across units for consistent operational execution.
Develop standards and processes to facilitate budget management for all Operations personnel with budget management responsibilities. This may include holding monthly meetings with each individual to review prior month expenditures and plan for future needs.
Communicate financial information to a wide range of audiences, including non-financial stakeholders. Position Requirements Primarily sedentary work, involving sitting for extended periods.
Occasional walking to different locations within the office or campus.
Ability to lift and carry light objects, such as files or documents, if needed. Required Qualifications Master's degree and five (5) years of related experience or Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of related experience.
Five (5) years of progressive leadership responsibility.
Five (5) years of supervisor experience.
Demonstrated leadership and management experience in budget and financial analysis as evidenced by application materials. Preferred Qualifications Graduate degree in business, finance, accounting, higher education, public administration, or related field.
Work experience that required collaboration and teamwork, and the ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, administrators, and other members of the University as evidenced by application materials.
Strong time-management and organizational skills and self-motivated as evidenced by application materials.
Demonstrated experience with the structure, policies, and procedures of the University of Kansas Lawrence campus as evidenced by application materials.
Experience using PeopleSoft system(s) for HR/Payroll and/or Financials, version 9.0 or higher. Additional Candidate Instructions A complete application includes:
Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications
Resume/CV
List of three (3) professional references
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Application review begins Monday, May 11th and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified. Contact Information to Applicants Callie Long
cjl@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range Starting at $96,100.00 Application Review Begins Monday May 11, 2026 Anticipated Start Date Monday June 1, 2026