Assistant Dean of Finance (Financial Admin Leader), Jacobs School of Music
Job Summary
The Jacobs School of Music seeks a strategic, collaborative, communicative, and forward-thinking Assistant Dean of Finance (ADF) to provide executive leadership across the School's financial functions. The ADF reports to the IUB Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration with a secondary reporting and daily relationship to the David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean of the Jacobs School of Music.
Department Specific Responsibilities
- Operates effectively in a large, multifaceted artistic and academic environment; foster a culture of transparency and accountability; communicates clearly to varied audiences; and guides the Jacobs School of Music through evolving financial, operational, and budgetary challenges.
- Leads the development, implementation, and assessment of the School's short- and long-term financial and budgetary strategies to ensure stewardship, transparency, and alignment with academic priorities.
- Provides regular, data-driven analysis and decision support to the Dean, associate deans, chairs, and directors.
- Establishes and maintains strong internal controls, compliance systems, and financial reporting processes.
- Identifies revenue opportunities, emerging economic trends, and financial risks; develop proactive strategies to strengthen the School's financial position.
- Works in collaboration with Indiana University Foundation (IUF) colleagues and others, ensure effective use of IUF funds, departmental reserves, and diversified revenue streams, including tuition, gifts, grants, and artistic revenues.
- Oversees the School's operating budget, resource allocation processes, financial forecasting, and cash-flow optimization.
- Ensures financial systems, policies, and practices are efficient, modernized, and aligned with university standards and best practices.
- Explores strategic opportunities for centralization of administrative and financial functions while remaining sensitive to the needs and operations of departments, programs, and other administrative units.
- Partners with HR leadership on workforce planning and financial implications of staffing models, including compensation and resource distribution.
- Provides financial projections to support capital project prioritization. Serve as financial liaison for the School with the campus and Capital Planning and Facilities.
- Maintains effective accounting practices, grant administration procedures, and compliance with fiscal policies across departments.
- Leads the Finance Office, guiding staff in the realms of financial policies and procedures as well as resource management strategy. Serve as supervisor, mentor, and champion of the team and their work.
- Serves as a trusted advisor to Dean and Jacobs leadership team, helping integrate academic and administrative planning.
- Builds strong, collaborative relationships with academic units and departments, other schools within Bloomington campus, university financial and administrative offices, and external peer colleges.
- Using these relationships, work with Associate Deans (ADs), department chairs, program directors, and staff to optimize financial operations that increase efficiencies while minimizing negative impacts. Ensure regular communications across the School related to such optimizations.
- Communicates complex financial and operational information clearly to diverse audiences in and out of the School, fostering transparency and shared understanding.
- Champions a positive, inclusive, and accountable organizational culture; mentor, develop, and support a team of financial and administrative professionals.
- Represents the School in campus- and university-wide committees, budget forums, and strategic planning initiatives.
- In partnership with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, participate formally in campus-level planning and strategic discussions whenever relevant.
- Advances the School and the campus's capacity for analytics, reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
- Promotes financial literacy and skill-building among department chairs, directors, and administrative and budgetary staff.
- In collaboration with campus, provide increased learning opportunities related to campus-wide and all-funds finances.
- Ensures training build foundational knowledge and skills for all in the School. Build onboarding pathways for staff finance-related roles across the School.
- Implements modern financial systems and tools, including opportunities involving automation, AI-enabled processes, or shared-service models, to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
- Oversees regular evaluation and improvement of financial, operational, and budgetary performance, ensuring practices remain aligned with institutional goals including university and industry standards.
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