Finance Division Director- Division of Animal Resources, School of Medicine

Emory University•Atlanta, GA

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Division of Animal Resources (DAR) supports Emory University’s research mission by providing comprehensive animal care, veterinary services, and program oversight across twelve research facilities totaling more than 200,000 gross square feet. DAR supports over 250 investigators and up to 16 species, delivering specialized services including breeding, aquatics, diagnostics, surgery, ABSL3, behavioral support, and logistics. DAR is an AAALAC-accredited unit with a $16M operating budget supporting a $215M research portfolio, DAR partners with faculty and institutional leadership to ensure animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and reliable infrastructure in support of high-quality research across Emory University. This is a divisional finance leadership position, serving as the principal financial officer for the division. May have oversight for Human Resources, facilities or other operational functions. This position is hybrid remote with up to three in-person days each week. This role operates under a shared accountability framework, partnering closely with leadership of the Emory School of Medicine Dean’s Office while maintaining dedicated financial stewardship responsibility for the Division of Animal Resources (DAR). This is an SOM finance business advisory position, serving as a key finance lead for DAR. A critical role responsible for overseeing financial operations primarily related to DAR and other key projects identified within the organization. The director will provide financial oversight and decision support. The Finance Director provides strategic financial guidance, operational transparency, and data driven decision-making support to both groups, to ensure alignment of divisional operations with SOM financial priorities and DAR programmatic needs. Serves as a trusted advisor to SOM and DAR leadership by translating complex financial and operational insights into clear recommendations to support informed decision making. Partners with DAR and SOM leadership in the planning and financial evaluation of capital equipment investments, facility improvements and infrastructure modernization initiatives. Assesses financial risk associated with operational growth, census and service variability, and evolving research and regulatory demands, providing strategic recommendations to ensure fiscal resilience.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business management or a related field. MBA is preferred.
Seven years of professional experience in accounting, finance, project management or strategic planning.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
NOTE: This role will be granted the opportunity to work from home regularly but must be able to commute to Emory University on a flexible weekly schedule based upon business needs. Schedule is based on agreed upon guidelines of department. This role requires residency in the state of GA. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.
Demonstrated success managing the finances of a complex service center including forecasting, cost allocation, rate reviews, and deficit mitigation in alignment with federal costing requirements (uniform guidance).

Nice To Haves

Prior involvement in planning and financial evaluation of capital equipment, facility improvements, or infrastructure modernization (e.g., cage wash equipment, ventilation systems).
Experience in research animal program administration, vivarium operations, and/or within an academic research enterprise, particularly within a service center or recharge center environment.
Experience supporting principal investigators, research administrators, veterinary staff, and institutional leadership, with a track record of building collaborative relationships across operational and scientific teams.

Responsibilities

Directs the financial planning and accounting activities for a division.
Provides leadership and participates in long-range financial planning, trending, and budgeting.
Analyzes and presents financial trends and generates executive summaries of consolidated and unit specific financial reports.
Prepares recommendations regarding the appropriate utilization of budgets/funds.
Ensures the integrity and accuracy of financial information and reporting for assigned areas of responsibility.
Develops short and long term financial goals and implements fiscal policies to support the financial viability of the organization.
Assesses cash needs, manages cash flow and maximizes the appropriate use of funds.
Oversees, coordinates and manages special projects.
Finalizes budgets, conducts feasibility analyses, researches and drafts business processes, and performs comprehensive operational assessments of business units.
Prepares financial sections for various reports.
Evaluates and recommends funding levels for various business operations/programs.
Monitors, develops and facilitates action plans to address deficit accounts.
Tracks and addresses funds flow and cash reserves, capital equipment funding, debt service and new building construction.
Researches and assists in forecasting the financial impact of changes to programs.
Prepares materials and keeps leadership informed about budgets, funds flow, accounts, surpluses, deficits, and other financial affairs.
Collaborates with others to facilitate projects and ensure timelines and action plans are accomplished.
Reviews financial and statistical reports, summarizes trends, and recommends actions to take.
Establishes and maintains relationships with banks, auditors and other constituents.
May represent the organization in external financial or business activities.
Leads and/or participates in special projects.
Develops and prepares operational and statistical reports.
May hire, train and supervise staff.
Performs related responsibilities as required.
Provides executive oversight of DAR’s service center financial model, including cost accounting and rate development, review and submission processes.
Ensures compliance with federal cost principles (Uniform Guidance), institutional policies and audit requirements.
Establishes defensible cost allocation methodologies and transparent recharge structures aligned with regulatory expectations.
Leads continuous improvement efforts to enhance financial transparency, operational efficiency, and long term sustainability across DAR’s service center functions
Ensures financial policies, rate structures, and billing processes are transparent, well-communicated and responsive to investigator needs while maintaining regulatory rigor and audit defensibility.
Leads long-term financial planning efforts to enhance operational sustainability across DAR’s multi-facility program. Plays a central role in positioning DAR for long-term financial sustainability, capital planning readiness and infrastructure modernization within Emory’s evolving research environment.
Develops operational and statistical reporting tools that integrate financial, census and service utilization data to inform leadership decisions.