"Finance and Business Manager"

Job Details

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice: Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing: The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment.

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Position Summary: The Department of Bioengineering is seeking a Finance and Business Manager to oversee the department’s financial and business operations, including budgets, sponsored research portfolios, and compliance programs. This role requires advanced financial expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to develop and implement efficient, scalable processes that support both daily operations and long-term goals. The Finance and Business Manager manages the department’s core accounting and finance staff, research administrators, and serves as the primary liaison to central administration, while providing strategic guidance to faculty and leadership. This position performs complex finance functions with programmatic impact on the institution and plays a key role in ensuring the department’s financial stability, research continuity, and administrative effectiveness. The manager will work closely with the Executive Department Business Administrator, department chair, faculty, and staff to support a high-volume, research-intensive academic unit.

Ideal Candidate Statement: The ideal candidate is an experienced finance professional with strong research administration and post-award expertise. They work independently in a fast-paced environment, provide strategic financial guidance, and lead staff with clarity and accountability. Skilled in financial planning, compliance, and process improvement, they partner effectively with faculty and central offices to support the department’s operational and research goals.

Workplace Requirements: The position entails work on Rice University’s campus, with the potential for some remote work/flexible work arrangements. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $75,000 - $80,000

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three or more (3+) years of related finance experience, including independent financial analysis, budget development, and compliance oversight in a complex administrative or research setting.

Skills:

• Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance monitoring
• Familiarity with sponsored research administration or financial operations in an academic or nonprofit setting
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Effective interpersonal and professional communication skills to interact with faculty, staff, and central administrative units
• Experience interpreting and applying institutional policies, procedures, and external regulations
• Comfort with financial systems and reporting tools; proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Office applications

Preferences:

• Experience managing the post-award lifecycle of research administration, including award setup, budget monitoring, compliance oversight, financial reporting, and closeout
• Working knowledge of pre-award processes, including proposal budgeting and sponsor guidelines, to ensure alignment and continuity with pre-award teams
• Familiarity with federal, state, foundation, and industry sponsors (e.g., NIH, NSF, ARPA-H, DOD, CPRIT) and their post-award requirements
• Proficiency in preparing and reviewing complex financial reports, projections, and reconciliations across grant and departmental accounts
• Experience mentoring or training finance and research staff in best practices for post-award management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to navigate institutional financial systems (e.g., Oracle Cloud) and work effectively under tight deadlines
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Word skills for financial analysis and documentation

Essential Functions:

• Manages day-to-day financial operations for the Department of Bioengineering, including complex reconciliations, transaction approvals, and oversight of departmental and sponsored funds
• Leads the post-award administration of federal, foundation, and industry-sponsored research projects, ensuring compliance with sponsor and university policies
• Develops complex budgets, multi-year forecasts, and financial reports to support departmental planning and faculty decision-making
• Reviews and advises on high-level transactions, identifies variances, and recommends strategic or corrective actions
• Supervises finance and research staff, providing training, guidance, and support to ensure consistent and accurate post-award management
• Serves as liaison to central administration (e.g., Research Administration, Finance, HR, OISS) and represents the department in resolving financial and administrative issues
• Evaluates existing financial and administrative processes; recommends and implements improvements to increase efficiency and strengthen internal controls
• Participates in departmental strategic planning and leads or contributes to special projects and operational initiatives
• Performs other duties as assigned