Assistant Director, Library Finance

Company: Princeton University
Location: Princeton
Posted on: September 22, 2022

Job Description:

Overview
The Library seeks an Assistant Director, Library Finance, who will steward all operational financial and budget matters for the Library organization. This includes leading a Library department that provides services to all other Library departments and the broader University. They serve as the escalation point for Library buyers, managers, suppliers, and internal Finance and Treasury stakeholders. The Assistant Director manages budgets, forecasts, and year-end close activities. Working closely with each department, the Library Finance Assistant Director is responsible for helping each area make data-driven decisions. The Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring all financial information is recorded accurately and in compliance with University best practices while developing and delivering first-class analysis and reporting. Managing a staff of 20, three direct reports supporting 9 branch Libraries, the Assistant Director provides both tactical support (to drive the day-to-day operations of the department) and strategic direction to propel change. The Assistant Director identifies opportunities to make process improvements, increase efficiency, eliminate redundancies, and identify procedural gaps.
Responsibilities

Establishes strong partnerships with department heads while developing a strong understanding of their needs.
Develops and delivers financial analysis/models and reporting.
Provides consultation/advice to department heads on financial topics and helps them to understand and meet their goals.
Works with staff to ensure the operations of the office are at peak efficiency.
Maintain documentation on all LFO policies and procedures.
Manage the resolution of supplier, procurement, and fulfillment issues as necessary in support of Library departments.
Provides a critical step in the purchasing process to ensure purchases initiated by the Library are compliant but also uses appropriate levels of judgment, wisdom, and initiative to enhance value and the overall process.
Advises Director on Library Finance Office strategic issues.
Exercises appropriate levels of judgment when negotiating contracts to ensure the appropriate balance between end users' objectives and legal protections for the University in partnership with outside relevant departments.
Leads projects to explore and implement new technologies and new workflow process designs to ensure Library functions and processes are at optimal levels.
Works with F&T on long-term strategic goals, including process improvements and financial accounting system changes.
Qualifications

Required:

Strong financial acumen - as a financial leader in the Library, needs to provide clear guidance to clients while working closely with Finance & Treasury in recording and reporting of all financial activity
Given the financial leadership role, a bachelors in Accounting or Finance is required; relevant work experience will be considered with a business degree
Strong customer-service orientation - as the leader of a shared-service operation, must be highly focused on customer needs
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal - ability to clearly communicate with many different customers/stakeholders on a broad range of issues.
Strong people-management skills - must have proven ability to manage staff, change-management skills, and experience a plus
Strong problem-solving skills- ability to understand large and complex businesses and processes, identify areas for improvement, and find solutions for this improvement. Naturally curious.
7+ years minimum work experience


Preferred:

MBA; CPA; Experience in higher education


Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW PI192094018

Keywords: Princeton University, Trenton , Assistant Director, Library Finance, Accounting, Auditing , Princeton, New Jersey