Arizona State University

Executive Director, Finance and Business Operations

Arizona State University$175K — $195K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA or similar)
  • Nine years of relevant experience, including five years in management
  • Demonstrated executive leadership in finance or administration
  • Experience in higher education financial management preferred
  • Knowledge of ABA-accredited law school operations is a plus

Responsibilities

  • Advise the Dean on financial and operational strategy as an Executive Committee member
  • Develop long-range strategic plans for resource alignment with the College's mission
  • Collaborate with leadership to support academic and institutional goals
  • Oversee all financial operations including budgeting and compliance
  • Lead human resources strategy and workforce planning efforts
  • Implement operational policies to enhance efficiency and compliance
  • Manage administrative services and ensure quality control

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance
  • Retirement savings plans
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Collaboration with senior academic leaders
  • Work in a dynamic environment focused on academic excellence
  • Flexible work schedule options
Full Job Description
Job Profile:
Administrative Operations Manager 4

Job Family:
Administrative Operations

Time Type:
Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Administers and evaluates all business and administrative matters including budget, operations, and programs and personnel administration within several departments. Provides financial analysis and strategic planning as well as oversees the budgetary controls.

Job Description:

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law seeks an accomplished executive leader to provide strategic oversight of the College's finance, business operations, and human resources functions. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Executive Director serves as a member of the College's Executive Committee and as the Dean's principal advisor on financial strategy.

The Executive Director partners with college and university leadership to develop and implement long-range strategies that advance the College's mission through financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and operational excellence. This position aligns financial, human, and operational resources with institutional priorities while ensuring compliance with university policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $195,000 per year; DOE

Essential Duties:

Strategic Leadership
  • Serve as a member of the ASU Law Executive Committee, advising the Dean and senior leadership on strategic, financial, operational, and organizational matters.
  • Develop and implement long-range strategic plans that align financial, human capital, and operational resources with the College's mission and priorities.
  • Collaborate with college leadership to advance institutional goals related to academic excellence, student success, faculty and staff support, reputation, rankings, and new degree development.
  • Foster collaborative relationships with university leadership and administrative partners to advance college initiatives and ensure alignment with university priorities.
  • Identify risks and opportunities and recommend strategies that improve operational effectiveness, financial sustainability, and organizational performance.


Financial Leadership & Stewardship
  • Provide executive oversight of the College's financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, accounting, fund management, and financial reporting.
  • Lead the development of annual operating and special budgets, multi-year financial forecasts, and strategic financial analyses to support executive decision-making.
  • Ensure responsible stewardship of college financial resources and compliance with university, state, federal, and donor requirements.
  • Oversee management of personnel services budgets, operating expenditures, revenues, financial aid, and capital planning.
  • Provide executive oversight of sponsored project financial administration, including proposal review, post-award financial management, effort reporting, and compliance with applicable regulations.
  • Analyze financial trends and organizational data to inform strategic resource allocation and long-term planning.


Human Resources & Organizational Leadership
  • Provide executive leadership for the College's human resources strategy and operations in partnership with university Human Resources.
  • Oversee workforce planning, organizational structure, and position management to support the College's strategic priorities.
  • Advise leadership on employee relations, performance management, compensation planning, succession planning, and organizational development.
  • Ensure compliance with university policies, employment regulations, and applicable state and federal employment laws.
  • Promote employee engagement, professional development, and leadership development across administrative units.
  • Provide strategic guidance regarding recruitment, retention, and workforce planning.


Administrative & Operational Leadership
  • Provide executive oversight of the College's business operations and administrative services.
  • Develop and implement administrative policies, procedures, and internal controls that improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
  • Lead and mentor managers within the Business Office and HR functions while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure effective coordination of internal and external audits and implementation of audit recommendations.
  • Remain informed of and ensure compliance with university policies and applicable state and federal regulations.


Desired Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated executive leadership experience in finance, business operations, or administration within a complex organization, preferably in higher education.
  • Experience developing long-range financial strategies and managing large, multi-source budgets.
  • Experience building high-performing administrative teams.
  • Experience with higher education finance, budgeting, and human resource administration.
  • Knowledge of university financial systems, policies, and sponsored project administration.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial and organizational information to executive leadership.
  • Experience collaborating with senior leadership to develop strategic initiatives.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the unique governance, academic, and operational environment of an ABA-accredited law school. A Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school or significant professional experience supporting executive leadership within an ABA-accredited law school environment is preferred.
  • CPA, MBA, MPA, or other relevant professional credentials.


Working Environment:
  • Regular activities require the ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
  • Evidence of effective communication skills
  • Regular use of standard office equipment including, but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals


Driving Requirement:
Driving is not required for this position.

Location:
Campus: Downtown Phoenix

Funding:
No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

Please use the link below to log in using single sign-on.
https://www.myworkday.com/asu/d/inst/1$9925/9925$25561.htmld

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:
  • Cover letter
  • Resume or CV


Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university with its main campus in Tempe, Arizona. It is one of the largest public universities in the United States by enrollment. ASU offers degree programs in more than 800 areas of study, including over 250 undergraduate majors and more than 120 graduate programs. ASU is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities ? Very high research activity". ASU's athletic teams are called the Sun Devils and compete in the Pac-12 Conference. ASU has multiple campuses throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, with four regional campuses and several extension centers.
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