Assistant Dean of Finance

Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration - Digital Learning at UT

Digital Learning at UT is a newly created unit charged with advancing UT's commitment to discovery, creativity, learning, and engagement, specifically for online learners. Using advanced and innovative technologies, Digital Learning at UT will provide scalable solutions that enhance the online learning experience and reduce barriers to student access and success, providing a tremendous impact to online learners across the state and the nation. At Digital Learning, we want to be bold and impactful, transforming the future of online education through innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

The Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration (ADFA) serves as the Senior Leadership Team lead for finance, administration, facilities, and human resources activities within Digital Learning at UT. This position must provide exceptional financial and operational leadership to a complex and quickly growing unit. This is a critical leadership role, serving the business and people needs of the overall unit, and operating in a highly team-oriented environment. This position is responsible for developing critical operational and financial processes and initiatives essential to creating a sustainable business model in alignment with the University of Tennessee's mission. This position develops budgets and forecasts that enable successful operations and facilitates significant financial investments in Digital Learning at UT, in support of the university's mission. This position serves as a critical liaison at the campus and system level, ensuring that financial flows are properly designed and implemented. This position works closely with key members of leadership across the institution, including the Chancellors and Provosts cabinet, campus Finance office, deans, directors, and representatives from all areas of University Administration (finance, human resources, legal, etc.). This position serves as a member of the Digital Learning at UT Senior Leadership Team, while proactively being an advocate for all Digital Learning at UT team members. The ADFA is also responsible for ensuring an effective operational structure within the Digital Learning at UT operations including management of a service-oriented and engaged team with a focus on performance management, positive employee relations and ongoing learning and development opportunities.

The Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration reports to the Vice Dean and COO of Digital Learning at UT and works closely with all areas of Digital Learning at UT and the wider UT community to strengthen the operational areas that enable the learner experience.

Primary Duties Include

* Strategic Planning Leadership
* Develops the annual academic and operating budget planning process creating forward-looking projections and metrics to make significant financial investments related to enrollment trends, teaching pedagogy and other relevant factors.
* Develops strategies and funding to implement new or changes to current processes/procedures to achieve desired outcomes.
* Establishes the strategic plan for fiscal, operational, HR, and capital priorities for Digital Learning at UT.
* Develops strategic resource allocation plans and financial pro forma analyses incorporating enrollment growth plans.
* Develops analytical tools to measure and improve financial and operational functions.
* Serves on special committees and supports strategic projects within Digital Learning at UT and for broader university-wide initiatives as a subject matter expert, at the request of the Dean, Vice Dean, or campus leadership.
* Ensures direct collaboration with appropriate central university functions, including finance and human resources, to achieve consistent practices, focused support for unified university priorities and compliance with mandatory regulations.


* Budget & Financial Leadership
* Creates and oversees a sound financial environment, which includes best practice business processes and procedures.
* Leads the functions who process and record budget and financial transactions to ensure timely and accurate budget and financial information, monitor accounts and resolve problems, to ensure compliance and the safeguard resources and reduce risks.
* Ensures that Digital Learning at UT is a proactive, campus leader in its implementation of new and innovative financial analyses and administrative strategies to maximize all resources.
* Evaluates and implements operational efficiencies across areas and leverages solutions around system management and technology and provides campus recommendations of system-wide implementations that would provide value add, improve efficiency and transparency.
* Ensures ethical administrative, financial, and business practices in keeping with National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) standards and General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
* Works to ensure transparency of the budget process as well as accurate timely budget information to relevant parties. Leads/supervises the financial staff.


* Human Resources Leadership
* Responsibility for the Digital Learning at UT HR function that provides recruiting, hiring, and performance review process management.
* Ensures timely appointments, reappointments, and promotions of employees.
* Establishes strategic priorities and delegates responsibility to the HR team.
* Works with supervisors to manage staff performance and resolves staff issues escalated to the Senior Leadership Team.
* Conduct salary and equity studies to establish salary and raise guidelines.
* Sponsors and supports initiatives and efforts to attract and retain excellent and diverse staff and develop and maintain effective and responsive administrative operations throughout the college.


* Capital & Facilities Planning and Management
* Responsibility for Digital Learning at UT facilities and related operations.
* Develop, manage, and oversee capital planning, facilities and emergency response management aspects relating to the Digital Learning at UT facilities, student, staff, and faculty needs. This includes working with the campus space committee to obtain adequate space and collaboratively setting policies and procedures to adequately support faculty and staff housed in the space.
* Identify gaps in existing facilities framework and provide solutions.
* Work with other campus and system departments as needed to oversee project completion dependent on the project type (work requests, remodels, new capital projects, etc.).
* Work with external partners to obtain, design and outfit space to meet Digital Learning at UT requirements as necessary.


* Education and Experience
* Required:
* Bachelor's degree
* 10 years of progressively responsible financial and business operations experience
* Demonstrated success in a senior leadership level role


* Preferred Experience:
* Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or other related field
* Prefer experience in an academic environment, but also with growing organizations
* Knowledge skills and abilities are in an academic environment
* Lean training & certification



For full consideration, applicants must attach a letter of interest, resume, and the name, address, email, and phone number of three professional references, in addition to completing the applicant file to the Human Resources online application system, Taleo.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. DL_UT