Senior Director (Finance Leader), Financial Management Reporting Strategy and Reporting Center of Excellence

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Initially, this position serves as the architect and project leader responsible for modernizing our financial management reporting strategy, evaluating our current capabilities, and implementing the cutting-edge technology required to elevate our financial intelligence. Upon the successful deployment of this framework, this position establishes, scales, and leads a permanent Finance Reporting Center of Excellence (CoE), serving as a critical strategic partner to academic and administrative leaders across the institution.
• Supports the Associate Vice President Financial Enterprise Engagement in leading and implementing Project Horizon, the Indiana University Financial Transformation Initiative. Project Horizon is the initiative to modernize IU's overall financial operations and systems to align them with the needs of a multi-billion dollar, public higher education institution with multiple R1 campuses. The goal of the initiative is to create a culture of fiscal responsibility and accountability to ensure the financial health and strength of IU now and in the future.
• Establish an institution-wide financial management reporting framework that defines core metrics, standardizes report cadences, and creates a clear reconciliation crosswalk between accounting results and management reporting results.
• Evaluates existing reporting tools, data structures, processes, and team capabilities across all campuses to identify gaps and establish future-state KPIs for academic and administrative decision-making.
• Partners with UITS and external vendors to assess, select, and implement middle-layer reporting and business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and leverage AI solutions for advanced financial analysis.
• Defines enterprise data governance policies, establishing clear boundaries between technical tool ownership and functional content ownership to ensure reporting integrity.
• Launches and leads a permanent Financial Reporting Center of Excellence that consolidates reporting functions, manages a governed enterprise report portfolio, and reduces reliance on ad-hoc, unit-built solutions.
• Develops and maintains standardized executive reporting packages and performance scorecards, providing senior leadership and campuses with unified financial views for results summary, trend analysis and strategic planning.
• Structures, recruits, and mentors a high-performing team of data analysts and BI specialists, fostering a customer-centric service model for central and campus partners.
• Oversees university-wide training, adoption, and change management strategies to empower fiscal officers, deans, and executives to effectively navigate and utilize new financial tools.
• Acts as the primary financial liaison across campuses to translate complex data into actionable insights, while introducing predictive analytics, rolling forecasts, and scenario modeling to institutional leadership.

General Responsibilities

• Oversees the analysis of financial performance in university units.
• Prepares and presents financial analyses and recommendations to top-level university management.
• Creates financial models and analyses of financial and operational metrics to evaluate and direct business performance.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field (data analytics, information systems)

Preferred

• Master's degree (MBA, or related discipline)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5 years in finance, financial administration, accounting, or related field

Preferred

• 10 years experience in finance planning and analysis (FPandA), financial reporting, financial systems management or related experience
• Proven excellence in managing large initiatives from inception to executing day-to-day operations
• Higher education, public sector, or governmental organization experience strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of fund accounting, responsibility center management (RCM) budgeting, and the unique financial ecosystem of higher education

SKILLS

Required

• Ability to analyze and interpret financial data
• Demonstrated analytical skills
• Excellent interpretation of complex statistical data
• Demonstrated written communication skills
• Articulate and responsive to colleagues
• Develops and delivers effective presentations
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills
• Ability to lead/manage others
• Instills commitment to organizational goals
• Assumes personal responsibility for actions
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Ability to work within tight time frames and meet strict deadlines

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional projects and leading high-performing technical or financial teams
• Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Excellent organizational skills
• Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills
• Effective conflict management skills
• Understanding of technology initiatives and the coordination necessary with IT to successfully implement
• Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals at all organizational levels, including executive leadership, staff, and external partners
• Diplomacy and sound judgment in managing sensitive and confidential information
• Proven track record of leading successful implementations of financial reporting systems, (e.g., BI platforms - Tableau, Power BI)
• Proven success managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects in dynamic, complex environments
• Experience utilizing AI in reporting and analysis
• Excellent facilitation, collaboration, and negotiation abilities

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana or Indianapolis, Indiana

Advertised Salary

$150,000 - $175,000 annually, depending upon qualifications

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Strategic

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Finance

Job Family: Financial Analysis

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Contact Us

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Telephone: 812-856-1234