Finance Associate Director

The Finance Associate Director, in collaboration with a peer Associate Director and the Senior Director of Financial Administration and Strategy, plays a pivotal role in the financial management of the Development division. This position ensures the division’s financial resources are strategically aligned and deployed to enable the achievement of overarching organizational goals.

Functioning collaboratively, the ideal candidate will bring strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, along with a commitment to process improvement and clear communication. Each Finance Associate Director supports a dedicated set of leaders (AVPs) across Development while managing specific focal areas and priority projects for the division.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Analysis

• Monitor labor and non-labor expenditure activity, proactively collaborating with budget managers within Development to resolve operational and financial issues.
• Co-manage critical annual financial cycles, including annual pay adjustments, adopted and adjusted budget balancing, and labor/non-labor forecasting.
• Leverage historical knowledge and relevant financial analyses to advise leadership on future budget allocations and strategic usage of add-on funds.
• Assist leadership in developing and tracking performance metrics to measure individual unit and overall division outcomes.
• Guide department administrators on financial best practices regarding budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and position management.
• Support divisional operations by connecting with central administrative offices, external auditors, and attending relevant campus meetings and committees.
• Document core financial processes, timelines, risks, and strategic takeaways for internal team reference and stakeholder alignment.

Strategic & Analytical Projects 

• Execute complex financial analyses and strategic initiatives driven by the Senior Director, such as calculating the cost of fundraising and performing survey data analysis.
• Create and refine reporting tools for internal finance staff and divisional budget managers.
• Help identify and implement operational efficiencies, including improved event budget tracking and underwriting reconciliation.
• Prepare materials and data for the Budget Working Group to identify, prioritize, and support divisional funding requests.
• ​​​​​​​Standardize and maintain thorough documentation for financial procedures.

Position Management

• Review and approve job descriptions prior to HR submission for assigned operational areas.
• Track, monitor, and report on a growing portfolio of 300+ active positions and vacancies.
• Partner closely with Talent Acquisition to monitor position lifecycles from creation and recruiting through hiring and separation.
• ​​​​​​​Consult with leadership on the strategic need for new positions and the optimal utilization of existing or vacant lines.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data modeling, complex formulas, pivot tables) and experience working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and financial reporting software.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights, forecast trends, and streamline operations.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with a track record of building effective working relationships across diverse teams and leadership levels.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (MBA, M.S. in Finance) or relevant professional certifications (CPA, CFA, Certified Financial Manager).
• 5+ years of progressive professional experience in financial management, budgeting, financial analysis, and operations.
• Prior experience in higher education, non-profit financial management, or advancement/development operations.
• Experience managing large-scale headcount budgets (300+ positions) and partnering with HR and Talent Acquisition teams.
• ​​​​​​​Proven experience leading process re-engineering, documentation, and change management initiatives.

RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED to be considered for this position.  Please add in the attachments section of the application.

Application Deadline to Apply:  Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Salary: Low $80s, commensurate with experience

This position is located in South Bend, Indiana. 

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.