Job Information
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance in Charlotte, North Carolina
Position Number: 000271
Department: Financial Services (Adm)
Employment Type: Permanent - Full-time
Months Per Year: 12
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte ( UNC Charlotte) is the state’s urban research university and a driving force of growth, discovery, and innovation for the metro Carolinas. UNC Charlotte leverages its location in the state’s largest city to offer internationally competitive programs of research and creative activity, exemplary undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and a pioneering learning experience that prepares graduates to become active citizens of the world. UNC Charlotte is home to more than 30,000 students, including approximately 6,000 master’s and doctoral candidates. Founded in 1946, the campus sits on 1,000 wooded acres just eight miles from Uptown Charlotte, rated the number one “Most Up and Coming City in America” by Yelp. The University is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region and the third largest of 17 constituent members of the University of North Carolina System.
Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs, the Associate Vice Chancellor ( AVC ) for Finance is a senior campus leader and part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Team. This position is responsible for the management of all University and related entities’ financial services and serves as principal advisor to the Vice Chancellor in the areas of finance. The AVC has been delegated signature authority to bind the University in contractual agreements and to approve payments for the related entities. The AVC works with vice chancellors, deans, and department heads in administering the following duties and responsibilities of the position.
The AVC Finance is responsible for administration of a department of about 80 authorized positions consisting of professionals and technical/clerical personnel. The AVC Finance is responsible for all personnel decisions (hiring, training, evaluation, affirmative action, corrective discipline, dismissal) that affect Financial Services’ department employees. The AVC Finance must plan and schedule the work to ensure that reports to state and federal agencies are timely and accurate, and is responsible for meeting audit standards of federal circulars, North Carolina statutes, and UNC System Administrative Memoranda. The AVC Finance provides vital input to the University for long-range and short-term financial planning and analysis.
Major tasks include:
Participation in the total University planning process by projecting the financial consequences of chosen courses of action and analysis of alternatives. Prepare multi-year forecasts and financial plans for University funds.
Analyze the University’s financial resources and develop strategies to accommodate any changes resulting from planning and evaluation activity.
Formulate recommendations on methods of financing the University’s future educational, research, and public service objectives.
Identify improvements to UNC Charlotte’s financial systems. Works with the Executive Director of IT for Business Affairs Support and personnel in Financial Systems Support to develop and implement systems improvements. Assist in obtaining approval for systems that require off-campus approvals.
Implement and maintain a system of adequate and appropriate internal controls.
Recommend and actively participate in University policy development, as appropriate.
Investments:
Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate execution of guidance developed for effective investment of all University and related entities’ funds, including endowments, required reserves (bond funds), surplus current funds, and prior year institutional fund balances. Major responsibilities include:
Ensure compliance with restrictions applicable to various types of institutional trust funds
Oversee semi-annual preparation of reports for boards and committees (or more frequently when required) on the performance of investment managers and fiscal agents.
Oversee preparation of investment reports for the Board of Trustees.
Controllership and Accounting:
Manage the traditional controllership functions for all University funds (appropriated, institutional trust, and special funds). Major duties and responsibilities include:
Ensure that financial management systems facilitate compliance with applicable state and federal statutes, regulations, and guidance, as well as bond covenants and endowment agreements.
Provide timely and accurate financial reporting to North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, Office of State Controller, Office of State Auditor, federal agencies, UNC System Office, and the UNC Charlotte campus.
Oversee payments to faculty, staff, and student workers using locally-developed procedures that accommodate health plans, retirement plans, federal/state tax requirements, and allowable employee discretionary deductions.
Oversee the management of the University Accounts Payable system, including verifying receipt of goods and services, vouchering, and ensuring payments are made in a manner that maximizes effective use of cash and other University resources.
Oversee the management of the University system for travel and expense management, ensuring compliance with all State Budget Manual and IRS regulations and guidelines related to travel and the use of p-cards.
Oversee the operations of Grants Cash Management to ensure the accuracy and timely issuance of invoices to sponsors and the collection of funds owed the University.
Treasury Services:
Coordinate fiscal support activities for related entities. Major responsibilities in this area are listed below:
Oversee financial management of all institutional trust programs.
Ensure good governance of all related entities: UNC Charlotte Foundation (including the Finance Committee), UNC Charlotte Athletic Foundation, UNC Charlotte Investment Fund, UNC Charlotte Student Legal Services, Inc., UNC Charlotte Endowment Fund, and any other related entities that come into being in the future.
Oversee issuance of all University debt including selection of financial advisors, bond counsel, underwriters, underwriters counsel, rating agency presentations, etc.
Serve as the University liaison with, and oversee the financial results and condition of, the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
Bursar Operations:
This office performs the billing, cashiering, and collection operation for UNC Charlotte’s student accounts, student loans and other receivables, and is the campus depository of all cash and cash equivalents received by any University department or unit. Additionally, this office functions as a central collection agency for all inter-agency, student loans, and outside billings. Major responsibilities include:
Make and enforce cash management policy as it applies to the physical receipt, custody, and security of all University cash.
Ensure accurate assessment of all applicable charges based on student course or program enrollment and the associated tuition and fees approved by the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees and UNC System Board of Governors.
Maintain current and accurate individual financial records on all students.
Maintain student loan information and records on all students who have accounts with outstanding balances.
Interact with the North Carolina Attorney General, IRS , and collection agents to ensure debts owed to the University are liquidated as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Materials Management:
The AVC Finance is responsible for ensuring efficient and timely acquisition of goods and services, ensuring the appropriate handling of physical asset inventories and surplus property, and maintaining and delivering office supplies, stock orders and software licenses. These activities are tightly controlled by the State of North Carolina and the AVC Finance is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate regulations are adhered to.
Special Assignments:
At UNC Charlotte, the incumbent is expected to perform certain extra duties that may not be associated with the duties of the financial manager at UNC constituent institutions. These duties frequently change but are always demanding. Duties from time-to-time include serving on
various University- and system-wide committees and on NACUBO / SACUBO boards or committees, and serving as Acting Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs in the event that employee is away from the office.
Minimum Experience / Education:
A master’s degree or higher from an accredited university or college in a relevant area.
A minimum of ten years of experience in increasingly responsible related positions and a minimum of five years of senior administrative experience in finance.
Extensive experience in fiscal affairs, accounting and administration.
Demonstrated ability to successfully manage and develop staff, and to work collaboratively with multiple constituents.
Demonstrated ability to represent the fiscal affairs operations broadly across the University.
Superior interpersonal and communication skills.
The ability to think creatively, strategically, and proactively.
Preferred Education Skills and Experience:
Experience in higher education, government, or the non-profit sector.
Familiarity with industry performance standards and regulatory requirements, including NACUBO benchmarking and GASB , FASB and other governmental standards.
Experience with Banner Financial Systems.