Finance Director - College of Design

The Finance Director serves as the senior technical accounting, finance and budget lead for the College of Design (CDes), responsible for ensuring the operational integrity, policy compliance, and fiscal health of the college. Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Strategy and Advancement, this role directs daily financial operations, manages the comprehensive annual budget planning process, and oversees resource allocations across all academic departments and units.

As a vital strategic partner, the Finance Director provides executive-level data analysis, trend reporting, and forecasting to support the Dean, Assistant Dean, department chairs, and other collegiate leadership, in critical decision-making. The position combines hands-on technical expertise and authority - serving as the ultimate college-wide system approver for financial transactions - with leadership, directly supervising a team of finance professionals and representing the college's fiscal interests to central university administration.

Position Overview

• Job Code: 9783FG (Fin Anlst 3-Fin Gnrlst)
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $170,000
• Reports To: Assistant Dean
• Supervision: Oversees collegiate finance team
• This position is expected to work in the office, on the Twin Cities campuses, a minimum of 4-5 days per week.

Primary Responsibilities

Budget Reporting and Process Management (40%)

• Manage the collegiate budget and financial planning process, including the preparation of the annual budget and the allocation of resources to academic departments and units.
• Lead financial research and provide high-level data and analyses, dashboards, and forecasting needed to ensure the effective use of collegiate resources.
• Collaborate in the preparation of the annual collegiate compact; serve as the primary contact for generating the spreadsheets used in the annual budget meetings.
• In partnership with student services and the academic units, determine annual collegiate and course fees and entry into EFS.
• Distribute ICR grant funds in collaboration with senior research leadership.
  

Technical Support and Strategic Collaboration (25%)

• Serve as the senior technical resource to the Assistant Dean, department chairs, and unit administrators regarding financial strategies and operating budgets.
• Support the Assistant Dean in developing strategies to improve financial performance and efficiency.
• Provide executive-level analysis and interpretation of information pertaining to the financial performance of the college.
• Identify trends and changes in resources and expenditures that may require action.
• Ensure strategic projects are feasible and meet funding parameters.
• Explore emerging technologies (ex. AI) for use in the development of efficiencies for the collegiate finance team.

Financial Oversight and Compliance (20%)

• Ensure the college operates with integrity, internal controls, and sound business practices in compliance with law and university policy.
• Maintain effective accounting practices and procedures, ensuring appropriate accountability and timely reporting of financial data.
• Oversee all financial transactions for compliance with University, State, and Federal policies.
• Maintain budget forecasts and provide them to the Dean on a regular basis.
• Initiate process improvement efforts and identify areas for continuous improvement, particularly in areas where there is opportunity to leverage emerging technologies.
• Manage the processing and auditing of accounting and grants management including serving as the final approver in EFS and sign-offs for PRFs.

Staff Management and Leadership (10%)

• Supervise and direct the work of the collegiate finance team.
• Ensure appropriate training and development of staff and provide ongoing performance feedback.
• Foster a workplace environment committed to respect, inclusivity, continuous improvement, and teamwork.
• Serve as an advisor and coach to unit administrators and team members.

University Liaison (5%)

• Represent the college to central administration and other University units on budgetary and fiscal matters.
• Maintain contact with central offices, including the Office of Budget and Finance, the Controller's Organization, and Sponsored Project Administration.
• Participate in University-wide committees or task forces as required.
  

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: BA/BS degree plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Technical Expertise: Recognized as a technical expert within the organization regarding financial indicators and business insight.
• Problem Solving: Ability to manage complex, nuanced, and sometimes contradictory information to solve unique financial problems.
• Independence: Ability to act based on own judgment while adhering to policy and operating procedures.
• Communication: Ability to communicate to stakeholders at varied levels in the organization, and in multiple formats, current financial realities and financial decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• U of M Certified Approver status, or ability to obtain within 12 months
• Experience supervising or leading a team of professional accountants

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Dakota People, ceded in the Treaties of 1837 and 1851. We are committed to recognizing the complex history of this land by honoring the truth of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together now. We acknowledge the need to end the violence against missing and murdered Indigenous women- a local and national epidemic which can be traced back to the arrival of European colonizers across Turtle Island. We acknowledge and fight against the legacy of white supremacy and culture of anti-Black racism in our own community, which has led to the murders of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Winston Smith, and countless other Black Americans across this nation. Black lives matter. We stand with our Hmong, Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities against the rise of xenophobic violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that words are not enough and we remain committed to the work of eradicating the injustices against all Black, Indigenous, and people of color caused by systemic racism.

Formed in 2006, the University of Minnesota's College of Design encompasses a full range of design disciplines, including apparel design, graphic design, product design, human factors and ergonomics, retail and consumer studies, and heritage studies and public history, in addition to architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. We offer eight undergraduate degrees, twenty-four graduate and professional degree options, and nine centers for research, creative scholarship, and engagement. Through rigorous commitments to creativity, equity, and advancing technologies, College of Design educational programs and innovations address emerging issues, identify problems, frame creative approaches, and generate solutions across all scales of human experience. We offer rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research and public engagement, through highly-regarded research and engagement centers, including the Center for Retail Design and Innovation (CRDI), Wearable Product Design,Digital Design Center (DDC), Minnesota Design Center (MDC), Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR), and the Goldstein Museum of Design. For more information about the college, please visit our website at design.umn.edu.

We are located in the Twin Cities, known as a major design hub and home to design-oriented Fortune 500 companies such as Target, 3M, General Mills, Best Buy, and Medtronic, several international and national award-winning architecture practices, thriving local businesses, and a strong non-profit sector. Our students have a wide range of internship opportunities, our graduates enjoy high employment rates, and our alumni are highly engaged with current students and faculty. We take pride in Minnesota's designations as a Research 1 and Community-Engaged University, which provide foundations for many of our award-winning projects.

The University of Minnesota, a Class 1 research institution, enables connections with faculty and students in a broad range of disciplines. The Institute for Advanced Study supports interdisciplinary collaboratives and programs. The Northwest Architectural Archives holds an extensive collection of architectural drawings and related ephemera, and the University of Minnesota Press is known for its architecture publications. For more information, see: https://twin-cities.umn.edu/about-us.

Pay Range: $130,000 - $170,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. To be fully considered for this role, please submit the following:

• Updated Resume
• Cover Letter addressing your interest in this role.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.