Director of Finance

FINANCIAL ANL SUPV 1 (004623)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_1000429

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

9/23/2026 7:27:35 PM

Date Last Edited:

9/30/2026 12:36:35 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

9/30/2026

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1210O

Organization:

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE        

Division Code:

1212D

Division:

ARTS & ARCHITECTURE DIV                

Department:

040000 - DEAN, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_1000429

Position Description ID

264371

UC Payroll Title:

FINANCIAL ANL SUPV 1 (004623)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 22

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

C: Supervisor - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40187786

Reports to Payroll Title:

ADMIN MGR 2

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40057755

Department Head Payroll Title:

DEAN

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

7709

FINANCIAL ANL 3

2

5184

FINANCIAL SVC ANL 3

3

4627

FINANCIAL SVC ANL 2

1

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Operating and Financial Officer, Associate Dean for Administration and Finance (COO/CFO), the Director of Finance leads the financial administration and Business Office operations of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. The School comprises four academic departments, three public arts units, eight faculty research centers, and the Dean's Office, with an annual budget of approximately $68 million supported by state funds, contracts and grants, sales and service activities, gifts, endowments, and other restricted and unrestricted resources. The Director translates the COO/CFO's financial strategy and resource-allocation priorities into effective budgets, forecasts, controls, reporting, systems, and business services. The incumbent leads the annual budget and multi-year forecasting processes; oversees financial performance, permanent-budget and staffing controls, fund management, fiscal close, reconciliations, audit support, and finance-system implementation; and provides analyses and recommendations to support School leadership decisions. The Director manages the Business Office and supervises the teams responsible for budget and purchasing, together with other assigned finance and administrative staff. The incumbent establishes service standards, operating procedures, internal controls, workload priorities, and staff-development expectations for these functions; coordinates financial practices across the School; and ensures that transactions and commitments comply with University policy and applicable donor, sponsor, and fund restrictions. Material resource-allocation decisions, structural commitments, policy exceptions, and significant financial risks are escalated to the COO/CFO.

As the premiere public arts school in the nation, the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) plays a vital role in the cultural and artistic life of the campus and the broader community. Guiding our mission is the belief that the arts are not only an essential part of the cognitive, critical, inquisitive life of a public research university, but the practice and presence of the arts are a cornerstone of the creative, innovative thinking and collaborative approaches that the 21st century demands.

One of 12 prestigious professional schools at the University, the School of the Arts and Architecture offers leading programs in four degree-granting departments: Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design | Media Arts, and World Arts and Cultures/Dance. Our commitment to innovative education, pioneering research, dynamic public service, and community engagement is fueled by our unwavering belief in the fundamental value of creativity and the artist’s unique ability to change the world and shape the future.

Budget Development, Forecasting and Financial Performance

1. Leads the School-wide annual budget process in accordance with priorities and assumptions established by the COO/CFO. Develops the budget calendar, consolidates unit submissions, validates funding and staffing assumptions, and prepares allocation scenarios and recommendations for executive review. (E) 2. Develops current-year and multi-year forecasts for the School and its units. Analyzes expenditure patterns, revenue trends, commitments, reserves, and structural balances; identifies material variances and emerging risks; and recommends corrective actions. (E) 3. Maintains accurate annual and permanent-budget records and ensures consistency among budget, staffing, payroll, and financial systems. Oversees reconciliation of faculty and staff rosters, benefits projections, UCPath funding, and permanent commitments. (E) 4. Produces regular executive dashboards, financial statements, management reports, and ad hoc analyses for the COO/CFO, Dean, School leadership, and campus offices. Translates complex financial information into clear findings, options, and recommendations. (E)

25%

Business Office and Purchasing Operations

1. Manages the School's Business Office and provides direct leadership to the teams responsible for budget and purchasing, as well as other assigned staff. Establishes work plans, service standards, workload priorities, quality expectations, and performance measures. (E) 2. Oversees purchasing, procurement support, payment processing, travel and entertainment, P-Card administration, reimbursements, vendor coordination, and related business services in accordance with University policy and delegated authority. (E) 3. Establishes and maintains documented workflows, review protocols, escalation procedures, and service expectations for Business Office activities. Ensures appropriate separation of preparer, reviewer, approver, and monitoring responsibilities and implements compensating controls when necessary. (E) 4. Monitors transaction timeliness, accuracy, customer service, policy compliance, and unresolved workload; identifies process improvements and coordinates corrective action. (E) 5. Partners with academic departments, public arts units, research centers, and central campus offices to resolve complex purchasing and business-service matters. (E)

20%

Financial Operations, Internal Controls and Fiscal Close

1. Leads monthly and annual fiscal-close activities and ensures compliance with University procedures, deadlines, and documentation requirements. Coordinates reconciliations, accruals, deferrals, inventories, transfers, and closing adjustments. (E) 2. Maintains the School's financial internal-control framework. Oversees timely reconciliation of operating budgets and financial ledgers, conducts or coordinates risk-based transaction reviews and sample audits, documents findings, and tracks corrective actions. (E) 3. Supports internal and external audits and other reviews by coordinating documentation, analysis, responses, and remediation. Immediately escalates suspected fraud or loss, material control failures, significant noncompliance, and repeat findings to the COO/CFO. (E) 4. Ensures financial records and files are maintained in accordance with University and School requirements. Serves in assigned mandatory-review or system-approval roles only when formally delegated and consistent with segregation-of-duties requirements. (E)

20%

Fund and Portfolio Management

1. Oversees financial administration and reporting for the School's state and permanent funds, contracts and grants, sales and service activities, gifts and endowments, scholarships and fellowships, and School-wide resources and augmentations. (E) 2. Monitors restrictions, balances, income and expense trends, award status, grant closeout, effort-reporting requirements, gift and endowment purpose, rates, and other compliance obligations. Advises units and escalates material risks, deficits, or competing claims on resources. (E) 3. Coordinates with departmental administrators, fund managers, academic personnel, human resources, advancement, research administration, and campus offices to ensure that financial and staffing actions are accurately reflected across systems. (E) 4. Reviews the financial viability and implementation requirements of grants, revenue-generating activities, rates, scholarships, and other portfolio decisions and provides recommendations to the COO/CFO. (E)

15%

Financial Advisement, Systems and Process Improvement

1. Provides financial analysis for academic, public arts, research, advancement, facilities, workforce, accreditation, and strategic initiatives. Evaluates total cost, funding sources, sustainability, implementation capacity, and financial risk. (E) 2. Reviews the financial components of significant proposals, grants, contracts, rates, and program plans and prepares recommendations for COO/CFO or Dean review. Signature and approval authority remains subject to University delegations. (E) 3. Leads the operational implementation and continuous improvement of ASCEND and related budgeting, reporting, procurement, payroll, and financial systems. Establishes data-quality checks, reports, workflows, procedures, testing, training, and adoption plans. (E) 4. Liaises with Academic Planning and Budget, central finance, procurement, research administration, and other campus offices to resolve issues and implement policy or system changes. (E)

10%

Team Leadership, Training and School-wide Coordination

1. Supervises, coaches, and evaluates budget, purchasing, and other assigned Business Office staff. Assigns work, establishes performance expectations, develops staff capabilities, addresses performance issues, and builds continuity and succession. (E) 2. Provides functional leadership and coordination to financial staff and fund managers across the School. Convenes regular meetings, communicates policy and process changes, and promotes consistent practices and service standards. (E) 3. Develops and delivers orientation and School-specific training on budgeting, purchasing, financial systems, controls, and University policies, supplementing campus-provided training as appropriate. (E) 4. Assesses workload, organizational capacity, and service effectiveness and recommends staffing, structure, technology, or process changes to the COO/CFO. Provides temporary leadership or support during transitions when assigned. (E)

10%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

in related area and / or equivalent combination of education and experience / training

Required

Master's Degree

In finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field; and/or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience/training

Preferred

Demonstrated experience leading budget planning, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial control for a complex, multi-fund organization.

Required

Advanced knowledge of fund accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, restricted funds, sponsored activity, purchasing, and audit support.

Required

Demonstrated ability to manage a Business Office and lead budget and purchasing teams, including setting priorities, service standards, controls, and performance expectations.

Required

Demonstrated supervisory experience, including staff development, workload management, performance evaluation, change leadership, and creation of effective and efficient support systems.

Required

Skill in analyzing complex information, identifying patterns and risks, developing alternatives, and presenting objective conclusions and actionable recommendations to senior leaders.

Required

Financial modeling and forecasting skills sufficient to evaluate current-year costs, multi-year commitments, structural balance, revenue trends, and alternative resource-allocation scenarios.

Required

Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet, database, reporting, and financial-management systems; ability to design reliable models, dashboards, controls, and repeatable processes.

Required

Ability to interpret and apply complex University policies and external requirements and to establish practical procedures that support compliance and effective service delivery.

Required

Excellent written, verbal, consultation, and interpersonal skills to work effectively and tactfully with administrators, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and campus partners.

Required

Ability to exercise a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, discretion, and confidentiality while managing competing priorities and time-sensitive work.

Required

Experience in higher education and knowledge of contracts and grants, gifts and endowments, sales and service funds, permanent budgets, and staffing reconciliation.

Preferred

Working knowledge of UCLA or University of California financial, budget, payroll, procurement, grants, and reporting policies and systems, including ASCEND, UCPath, and successor tools.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

CANRA: The position is designated as a mandatory reporter under CANRA. The employee must sign the "Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse".

Clery Act: The position is a designated CSA (Campus Security Authority) under Clery Act requirements.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Broad Art Center

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.