Executive Director, Fiscal Administration - Academic Innovation

Job Summary

The Executive Director, Fiscal Administration provides strategic financial leadership for Academic Innovation, operating with an entrepreneurial, revenue-driven mindset within a public research university. This role functions as a senior business partner and growth strategist, responsible not only for fiscal stewardship, but for actively shaping, scaling, and sustaining revenue-generating academic enterprises including fully online degree programs, self-funded extended education programs, student fees, and other initiatives.

Academic Innovation operates in many respects as an academic auxiliary, requiring a leader who is comfortable applying financial discipline, ROI analysis, and market-responsive decision-making within a shared-governance environment. This role is critical to the division's long-term financial sustainability and growth and plays a central role in translating institutional strategy into executable, scalable financial models.

Core Responsibilities

1. Initiates, develops, and owns business plans and multi-year pro forma financial models for existing and proposed academic initiatives, including fully online degree programs, in partnership with the Vice Provost of Academic Innovation.
2. Serves as a primary financial strategist for revenue growth, identifying opportunities to scale programs, optimize pricing, and align investments with long-term financial sustainability.
3. Leads financial evaluation of new and evolving initiatives, clearly articulating risk, return, and strategic value to executive leadership, deans, and academic partners.
4. Partners closely with academic colleges and Academic Affairs to negotiate investments, revenue-sharing arrangements, and payout structures for online and professional education programs.
5. Builds trusted advisory relationships with deans, associate deans, and college financial leadership, effectively influencing decision-making and securing alignment around Academic Innovation's financial models and value proposition.
6. Leads the annual budgeting and forecasting process for all Academic Innovation departments.
7. Analyzes student fee revenue trends and collaborates with the Vice Provost to develop fee adjustment proposals that align with future forecasts and strategic goals.
8. Leads change management efforts to modernize, streamline, and implement best-practice financial processes, proactively identifying opportunities for innovation, scalability, and operational efficiency.
9. Demonstrates fluency in institutional budget models and fund accounting while translating complex financial concepts into clear, actionable insights for various stakeholders.
10. Provides strategic oversight of departmental budgets across Academic Innovation, ensuring alignment with division priorities, growth goals, and performance expectations.
11. Researches higher education financial trends, market dynamics, and regulatory changes at the national and institutional levels.
12. Oversees financial planning, usage, and compliance for gifts, endowments, and grants, ensuring funds are spent for stated purposes in a timely manner.
13. Oversees division internal controls, audits, fiscal compliance, and year-end processes.
14. Leads and develops the Business Service Center team, fostering customer service, accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
15. Serves on the Academic Innovation Executive Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, enterprise-wide decision-making, and cross-campus collaboration.
16. Advises financial and administrative staff across the division regarding University procedures and systems including paperwork and electronic workflow for payroll classification, recruitment and new hire, employee grievances, transactional processing, reconciliation and reporting.
17. Understands the institutional budget model in the context of Academic Innovation.
18. Builds and maintains strong partnerships with Business Affairs, Academic Affairs, and institutional finance teams through transparent communication and regular engagement.
19. Performs additional duties as assigned in support of Academic Innovation's mission and growth objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• Seven (7) years of related work experience.
• This position requires the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.