Financial Manager – Dean’s Operations

Direct or perform prospective analytical, problem solving and evaluative work applicable to the full range of university financial and management operations. Work includes collecting and analyzing data, formulating and evaluating alternative solutions, and preparing reports. This series differs from the Accounting job series where the work is process oriented and focused on accurate financial data accumulation.

Our Purpose

Stanford Medicine is leading the biomedical revolution in precision health. We are transforming health care away from after-the-fact diagnosis to prediction and prevention and away from one-size-fits-all medicine to personalized care that empowers people to lead healthy lives. We are leveraging the art and science of medicine to predict and prevent disease before it strikes and cure it decisively if it does.

To achieve our Precision Health vision, we are integrating, building, and leveraging our strengths in fundamental research, the new field of biomedical data science, and nine transformative biomedical platforms. As a learning health system, we will apply these advances in our hospitals and health care delivery systems within Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health.

Our Values

Fulfilling our promise to humanity requires the engagement of a diverse, creative, and collaborative team of professionals who work together to advance our research, education, and patient care mission. We strive to create a culture of inclusion and belonging to ensure all employees have the meaningful employment experience that is necessary to do their best work.

Our Work

We are searching for a proactive and enthusiastic Financial Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, has experience delivering complex financial analysis, is detail oriented, and able to partner effectively with a variety of department stakeholders. This role leads Dean’s Office financial reporting and analysis and supports operational activities that impact departments and units across the School of Medicine.

Key Responsibilities Include*:

• 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), and 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), and University cost recovery.
• Develop complex financial analyses, budget and forecast scenarios, and long-range plans, with a particular focus on strategic investments in faculty recruitment. Model the Dean’s Office capacity to maximize these investments while balancing other institutional commitments. Conduct ad hoc analysis to inform decisions on use of funds and sources of revenue, and advise the Controller's team and CFO on how to prioritize 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, drawing on actuals, budgets, and projections, and on 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, and tailor findings for senior leadership audiences. Present quarterly financials to CFO and other senior leaders.
• Evaluate and improve fee and cost-sharing policies, such as the Capital Facilities Fund, Dean's Assessment, and University Assessment, as well as 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 the 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, 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, gather feedback to improve reporting models, and cross-train team members to ensure backup coverage for key processes.
• - Other duties may also be assigned.
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*: Constantly sitting.
• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, writing by hand, sort/file paperwork.
• Occasionally stand/walk, lift/carry objects weighing 11-20 pounds.
• Rarely reach/work above shoulder.
• *- Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
• WORKING CONDITIONS: Routine extended working hours during peak cycles; travel to school/unit sites across university.

Responsibilities

• Core Duties: Perform highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; multi-dimensional and complex reconciliations and related analysis; 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, long-range planning, and analyses. Perform root-cause analysis and synthesis, draw conclusions, and propose solutions.
• Develop complex financial reports and presentations, design and run ad hoc reports, and prepare or review complex transactions to support the stewardship of university resources. Provide consultation to senior leadership to interpret results
• Prioritize, identify, and resolve strategic and unit/department issues; recognize exceptions, recommend and develop resolutions and implement solution. Ensure effective and efficient delivery and integration of all financial services for area of responsibility.
• Design an effective system of internal controls for area of responsibility utilizing strategic analysis of interrelationships of financial processes, policies, and procedures; implement and ensure compliance programs.
• Lead multiple complex, high-visibility process innovation projects. Develop, champion and implement strategic initiatives with significant impact. Empower action, remove obstacles, enable constructive feedback and support from leaders, and reward and recognize progress and achievements.
• Develop, assess, and continuously improve systems and processes to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls. Design and provide training on new financial systems.
• Analyze problems in business critical systems, and identify risks, solutions, and strategies; act as business owner of project.
• Represent organization to client group(s) and leaders: serve as subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise.
• Assess client and business needs, and formulate recommendations to determine approach to managing and completing processes.
• May supervise, train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed. Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.
• Minimum Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Expert proficiency in business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel.
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems; internet and computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Advanced professional communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and all levels of management.