Senior Financial Officer

Senior Financial Officer

The mission of William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality. The Office of Finance provides strategic financial leadership and stewardship for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences by managing, forecasting, analyzing, and reporting on more than $200 million in operational and capital resources, including approximately $60 million in annual operating activity. The office establishes and communicates sound financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources while delivering expert, collaborative, and customer-focused financial services with accuracy, integrity, professionalism, and timeliness.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Research Finance and Budgeting, the Senior Financial Officer serves as the primary financial advisor for assigned academic and research sections and centers. The position provides strategic financial planning, budget development, forecasting, financial analysis, grants management, and operational support while supervising financial staff and serving as a trusted business partner to faculty, principal investigators (PIs), department leadership, and institutional administrators.

The Senior Financial Officer oversees complex financial operations involving multiple funding sources, including Educational & General (E&G) funds, sponsored research, private and philanthropic funding, indirect cost recoveries (IDC), auxiliary revenues, service centers, and fixed-price agreements. The position is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations while providing proactive financial guidance that supports the Institute's research, instructional, and strategic priorities.

Working independently, the Senior Financial Officer exercises sound judgment in interpreting policies, resolving complex financial issues, identifying operational improvements, and implementing best practices. The position also collaborates closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs throughout the entire grant lifecycle, from proposal development through award closeout.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations governing multiple funding sources, including sponsored research, state appropriations, private foundations, and indirect cost recoveries.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and financial modeling skills, including the ability to develop long-term financial projections for complex, multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Ability to interpret financial data and communicate complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize work, manage multiple competing deadlines, and resolve complex financial issues.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with faculty, researchers, administrators, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.

Experience:

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, grants management, or research administration.
• Experience managing multiple funding sources and preparing complex financial analyses.
• Experience using enterprise financial systems or ERP platforms.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of Commonwealth of Virginia financial policies and higher education accounting practices.
• Knowledge of Workday Financials and Workday HCM.
• Knowledge of Cayuse or comparable electronic research administration systems.

Preferred Experience:

• Significant financial management experience in higher education or research administration.
• Experience with sponsored research administration, including both pre-award and post-award activities.
• Experience managing private, philanthropic, or foundation funds.
• Experience supervising professional staff.
• Experience leading process improvement or operational efficiency initiatives.

Compensation Range: Starting at $75,000 commensurate with experience, skills, and internal equity.

Conditions of Employment:

• Occasional work beyond normal business hours may be required to meet operational deadlines and business needs.
• Continued professional development is expected to maintain current knowledge of applicable accounting standards, sponsor regulations, university policies, and industry best practices.

Essential Duties:

Budget Management and Financial Analysis (50%)

• Manage financial operations for assigned academic sections, research centers, and programs.
• Monitor, reconcile, and forecast revenues, expenditures, commitments, and available balances across all funding sources.
• Prepare financial analyses, projections, and reports that support strategic planning and operational decision-making.
• Review and prepare accounting adjustments, payroll reallocations, journal entries, and labor distribution changes.
• Coordinate effort certification activities and ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
• Meet regularly with faculty and principal investigators to review financial performance, grant expenditures, and long-term funding strategies.
• Identify financial risks and recommend corrective actions to ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations.

Budget Development and Research Administration (20%)

• Develop annual operating budgets in collaboration with section chairs and center directors.
• Assist leadership in developing multi-year financial plans that support strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Provide comprehensive pre-award support, including proposal budget development, personnel planning, cost sharing, and sponsor compliance.
• Collaborate with the Office of Sponsored Programs throughout proposal development, submission, award acceptance, and post-award administration.
• Develop and review service center rates and cost recovery models in consultation with Finance leadership.
• Coordinate funding for graduate student stipends, tuition, and undergraduate student employment.

Financial Operations and Compliance (20%)

• Review and approve purchasing, accounts payable transactions, expense reimbursements, procurement requests, and financial documentation.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure timely reconciliation of all assigned funding sources.
• Serve as the primary financial resource for assigned departments regarding university policies, sponsor regulations, and financial procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve internal controls, business processes, and financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance colleagues to standardize processes, share best practices, and provide cross-functional support.
• Perform additional duties that support the operational and strategic needs of assigned units.

Leadership, Supervision, and Organizational Effectiveness (10%)

• Supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate assigned financial staff.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Conduct performance evaluations in accordance with university policies and established timelines.
• Facilitate onboarding and cross-training of new financial personnel.
• Promote consistent application of financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Lead or participate in process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, customer service, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Serve as a collaborative leader who fosters teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service.

Additional Job Description:

Job Profile: JP0182 - Financial Specialist II - Exempt - Salary - S11

Qualifications:

Compensation Grade: S11

Recruiting Start Date: 2026-07-07

Position Restrictions: Continuing E&G funded position and not term-limited

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