Assistant Director of Capital Finance

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General Description

The Assistant Director of Capital Finance reports directly to the Director of Construction and Associate Vice Chancellor and provides strategic financial oversight for the capital construction program. The position oversees project expenditures, forecasting, funding allocations, cost controls, and financial reporting, while evaluating project performance, identifying financial risks and trends, and providing data-driven analysis and recommendations to support informed decision-making, effective project planning, and responsible stewardship of capital resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Support the overall financial management, administration, and fiscal oversight of the capital construction program.

· Monitor project expenditures, commitments, encumbrances, forecasts, funding availability, and overall financial performance throughout the project lifecycle.

· Prepare and maintain budget-to-actual reports, cash flow projections, expenditure forecasts, variance analyses, and executive-level financial reports.

· Review invoices, purchase orders, contracts, amendments, change orders, payment applications, and other financial transactions for accuracy, completeness, and proper authorization.

· Monitor project costs and proactively identify cost variances, funding constraints, financial exposure, emerging trends, and other risks that may affect project delivery.

· Partner with Project Managers and construction leadership to validate cost projections, anticipated commitments, remaining costs, and projected completion values.

· Assist with annual capital planning, funding requests, financial plans, and multi-year expenditure and cash flow projections.

· Track project funding sources, allocations, transfers, commitments, expenditures, and available balances to ensure sufficient funding is maintained throughout project execution.

· Maintain accurate and complete financial records and perform routine reconciliations between project management, accounting, procurement, and financial systems.

· Ensure expenditures are properly classified and charged to the appropriate project, account, contract, cost category, and funding source.

· Review project financial data for consistency, completeness, and alignment with approved project scope and funding authorizations.

· Coordinate closely with Finance, Accounting, Procurement, Construction, Legal, and other internal departments on financial and contractual matters affecting capital projects.

· Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of standardized financial procedures, internal controls, reporting requirements, and reconciliation protocols.

· Develop financial dashboards, management reports, key performance indicators, and analytical tools to improve visibility into capital program performance.

· Analyze historical spending patterns, commitments, schedules, and projected costs to support forecasting and management decision-making.

· Track outstanding contractual commitments, pending change orders, unpaid invoices, retainage, allowances, contingencies, and anticipated project liabilities.

· Support accrual reporting by identifying costs incurred but not yet invoiced or paid and coordinating required financial information with Accounting.

· Assist in monitoring project contingencies and allowances and evaluate their utilization throughout the project lifecycle.

· Review and analyze proposed change orders for financial impact, available funding, cost trends, and effect on projected project completion costs.

· Monitor contract balances and identify contracts approaching authorized limits or requiring amendments, additional funding, or other financial action.

· Support funding reconciliations and ensure approved funding actions are accurately reflected across applicable financial and project management systems.

· Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and fiscal year-end financial reporting and reconciliation activities.

· Support internal and external audits, regulatory reviews, and management inquiries by preparing reconciliations, financial schedules, supporting documentation, and responses.

· Ensure compliance with applicable CUNY, CUCF, governmental, accounting, procurement, internal control, and financial management requirements.

· Maintain appropriate documentation and audit trails supporting financial transactions, approvals, funding actions, and project cost adjustments.

· Identify discrepancies between project management and financial systems and coordinate timely resolution with responsible departments.

· Assist with capital asset reporting, project capitalization, construction-in-progress reconciliation, and other project closeout financial activities, as applicable.

· Support project closeout by confirming final expenditures, outstanding commitments, contract balances, funding balances, and completion of required financial reconciliations.

· Evaluate financial processes and recommend improvements that enhance accuracy, transparency, internal controls, reporting efficiency, and data integrity.

· Participate in the development and implementation of financial systems, reporting tools, dashboards, cost structures, and project controls supporting the capital program.

· Support the development and maintenance of standardized cost codes, financial classifications, reporting structures, and data requirements across capital projects.

· Prepare financial presentations, briefing materials, analyses, and recommendations for the Director of Construction, Associate Vice Chancellor, executive leadership, and other stakeholders.

· Respond to financial inquiries from senior management and provide timely analysis regarding project costs, funding availability, commitments, forecasts, and financial risks.

· Provide guidance and technical support to Project Managers and staff regarding financial procedures, documentation requirements, cost tracking, and project financial controls.

· Supervise, train, and provide direction to finance and administrative staff, as assigned, and establish priorities to ensure timely completion of financial reporting and reconciliation activities.

· Promote consistent financial management practices across the capital portfolio and ensure project teams maintain accurate, timely, and reliable financial information.

· Perform special financial analyses, reconciliations, reporting initiatives, and other assignments as directed by the Director of Construction and Associate Vice Chancellor.

· Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Construction Management, or a related field.

· 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in capital finance, accounting, budgeting,

financial management, or related areas.

· Experience managing capital budgets, expenditures, forecasts, financial reporting, and reconciliations.

· Knowledge of accounting principles, budgeting, financial controls, and project cost management.

· Experience reviewing contracts, invoices, purchase orders, change orders, and financial documentation.

· Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial/ERP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

· Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.

· Experience with capital construction, facilities, or infrastructure programs.

· Experience working with CUNY, New York City, New York State, or other public-sector agencies.

· Experience with ERP, financial management, and capital project management systems.

· Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills.

· Experience with capital planning, cost control, and financial forecasting.

Core Competencies

· Capital Finance & Financial Management

· Capital Budgeting & Forecasting

· Financial Analysis & Reporting

· Capital Accounting & Reconciliation

· Project Cost Control

· Budget-to-Actual Analysis

· Contract & Invoice Management

· Procurement & Financial Compliance

· Financial Controls

· Risk Management

· Strategic Planning

· Team Leadership

· Problem Solving & Decision Making

· Strong Communication Skills

· Organizational & Multitasking Skills

· Process Improvement

· Attention to Detail

· Ability to Manage Multiple Priorities

· Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Knowledge of Capital and Operating Budgets

Pay Range:

Minimum - Maximum: $125,000 to $145,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.