Financial Manager – Dean’s Operations

Overview

This role supports financial reporting and analysis for the School of Medicine Dean’s Office. The position manages and analyzes Dean’s funds, develops complex financial models and forecasts, strengthens internal controls, and leads process improvement initiatives in partnership with senior leadership and department stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial reporting and operations for the Dean’s funds, including:
  • University General Funds (tuition and sponsored research costs)
  • Hospital-related revenue (including grants and university tax contributions)
  • Internal income such as department fees
• Oversee Dean’s expenses, including:
  • Department operating budgets
  • Dean’s commitments
  • Purchased services (e.g., MCD and LPFCH support, liability insurance, legal)
  • University cost recovery
• Develop complex financial analyses, budget and forecast scenarios, and long-range plans, with a focus on strategic investments in faculty recruitment.
• Model Dean’s Office capacity to maximize investments while balancing other institutional commitments.
• Conduct ad hoc analysis to inform decisions on use of funds and sources of revenue.
• Advise the Controller’s team and CFO on prioritizing spend to fund School strategic initiatives.
• Partner with departments to rethink fee and revenue structures, with a focus on sustainability and equity.
• Lead development of financial reporting on the Dean’s revenue and uses of funds using actuals, budgets, projections, and data from hospitals, the research management group, and development.
• Build ad hoc analyses of revenue and expenditure trends tied to clinical activity, expendable surpluses, and research expenditures.
• Tailor findings for senior leadership audiences and present quarterly financials to the CFO and other senior leaders.
• Evaluate and improve fee and cost-sharing policies, including:
  • Capital Facilities Fund
  • Dean’s Assessment
  • University Assessment
  • Expense and revenue-sharing arrangements with departments (e.g., legal recharges, space cost recovery)
• Design and strengthen internal controls and tracking procedures for Dean’s revenue and expenses.
• Expand Dean’s Commitments reporting and manage annual surveys used for accreditation and institutional ratings (LCME, OMS), including data collection, review, and submission.
• Lead process excellence efforts across the Controller’s team by designing operational improvements with the Controller and CFO.
• Drive reporting enhancements such as automation and new platforms, and train colleagues on new tools and systems.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for school leadership by gathering feedback to improve reporting models.
• Cross-train team members to ensure backup coverage for key processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Duties

• Perform highly analytical, complex finance and control functions, including multi-dimensional and complex reconciliations.
• Prepare or review and approve complex transactions and higher level dollar value transactions.
• Research and synthesize data for broad areas; develop complex financial analyses, budget and forecasting scenarios, and long-range planning.
• Perform root-cause analysis and synthesis; draw conclusions and propose solutions.
• Develop complex financial reports and presentations; design and run ad hoc reports.
• Provide consultation to senior leadership to interpret results.
• Identify and resolve strategic and unit/department issues, including recognizing exceptions and implementing solutions.
• Design effective systems of internal controls for the area of responsibility and implement compliance programs.
• Lead multiple complex, high-visibility process innovation projects.
• Develop, champion, and implement strategic initiatives with significant impact.
• Assess and continuously improve systems and processes to increase efficiencies and improve internal controls.
• Design and provide training on new financial systems.
• Analyze business-critical system problems, identify risks, solutions, and strategies, and act as business owner of projects.
• Represent the organization to client groups and leaders as a subject matter expert on complex technical, financial, or subject matter topics.
• Assess client and business needs and formulate recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes.
• May supervise, train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Expert proficiency in business applications, including Microsoft Office suite (especially Excel).
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems, including internet and computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Advanced professional communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials for and clearly communicate information to internal and external audiences.
• Advanced project management skills and ability to lead large multi-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Not specified.

Physical Requirements

• Constantly sitting.
• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, write by hand, and sort/file paperwork.
• Occasionally stand/walk; lift/carry objects weighing 11–20 pounds.
• Rarely reach/work above shoulder.
• Consistent with legal requirements, reasonable accommodation will be provided to an employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

Working Conditions

• Routine extended working hours during peak cycles.
• Travel to school/unit sites across the university.

Location

• Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, California).

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified.