Department

Harris School Finance

About the Department

Policy with real impact doesn’t evolve from ideology or intuition, or even experience. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact.

Addressing today’s interconnected, global challenges requires rigorous inquiry. It also requires innovative people who will face the facts, gather data, and understand why current policies exist to improve them.

For more than thirty years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been steadfastly committed to serving society by advancing analysis- and evidence-informed policy. Guided by this exacting mission, our community of 60 tenure-track scholars, more than 1,200 students, and more than 6,000 alumni from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are taking on the world’s most important problems by using the latest tools of social science.

The second-largest professional school at the University of Chicago and home to one of its largest undergraduate majors, Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs that empower serious-minded and aspiring leaders from more than 40 countries each year. Harris is the academic home to 20 research centers, institutes, and labs that study and engage with the public on areas such as conflict, democracy and effective government, economic and political development, education, energy and environment, health, municipal finance, public safety, social policy, and urban policy.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Finance and Research Administration, the Director of Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis serves as a senior financial leader and principal architect of the Harris School’s financial strategy. This specialized role acts as a key liaison between the Harris School and University operational units, driving the strategic direction of financial planning, resource allocation, and risk management. The Director leads the development and implementation of sophisticated financial models, oversees complex budgeting and forecasting processes, and ensures robust compliance with evolving regulatory and institutional standards. Supervising a Financial Administrator and managing multiple high-impact projects, the Director provides expert guidance to senior leadership, translates organizational priorities into actionable financial strategies, and fosters a culture of transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Director communicates with diplomacy and discretion, leveraging in-depth knowledge of University policies and best practices to support the School’s mission and long-term financial sustainability. This position remains vigilant regarding regulatory changes, proactively plans for departmental compliance, and implements corrective actions as necessary to safeguard institutional integrity and advance strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis:

• Serve as the chief financial strategist, partnering with the Assistant Dean to design and implement long-term financial plans that align with the Harris School’s academic and research priorities.

• Lead scenario planning, sensitivity analyses, and multi-year forecasting to inform executive decision-making and optimize resource allocation.

• Develop and refine key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and financial models to monitor and project financial health, identifying risks and opportunities for growth.

• Advise senior leadership on capital investments, program expansions, and new revenue streams, providing data-driven recommendations to support sustainable growth.

• Represent the Harris School’s interests in University-wide financial system transformations, ensuring seamless adoption and integration of new technologies and processes.

• Financial Reporting & Compliance:

• Oversee the preparation, analysis, and presentation of comprehensive financial reports, including monthly, quarterly, and annual statements, ensuring accuracy and adherence to internal and external standards.

• Monitor compliance with University policies, governmental regulations, and best practices, proactively identifying and mitigating financial risks.

• Manage internal and external audit processes, coordinating with auditors and central administration to ensure timely and effective resolution of findings.

• Stay abreast of regulatory changes, leading the department’s response and implementing necessary policy or procedural updates.

• Budgeting, Forecasting & Resource Optimization:

• Direct the annual and multi-year budgeting processes, collaborating with academic and administrative units to align financial resources with institutional priorities.

• Oversee the development of detailed fiscal projections, monitoring expenditures for compliance and efficiency, and providing strategic guidance on budget adjustments as needed.

• Lead the Financial Administrator in the production of monthly budget forecasts and variance analyses, ensuring timely and actionable insights for stakeholders.

• Procurement, Disbursements & Internal Controls:

• Oversee all procurement activities, ensuring alignment with University policies and strategic sourcing initiatives to maximize value and mitigate risk.

• Approve high-value reimbursements, purchase requisitions, and non-salary disbursements, ensuring proper documentation, fund availability, and compliance.

• Provide policy guidance, training, and troubleshooting support to faculty and staff, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Leadership, Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Mentor and supervise the Financial Administrator, fostering professional development and a high-performance culture.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to faculty, researchers, and administrators, offering expert counsel on internal awards, policy updates, and financial best practices.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with University financial officers, external partners, and regulatory agencies, representing the Harris School in strategic negotiations and initiatives.

• Innovation & Process Improvement:

• Champion the adoption of new financial technologies, process enhancements, and data analytics tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and strategic insight.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging institutional knowledge and industry best practices to enhance financial systems and services.

• Serves as an experienced liaison interacting with financial administrators within operational units on financial, budget or accounting matters to prepare, advise and recommend.

• Analyze, organize and communicate business information to ensure deliverables are meeting or exceeding expectations.

• Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses to monitor and manage for expense optimization by identifying market drivers, enhance strategies, or improve revenue generation.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Moderate to advanced Excel proficiency and comfort in manipulating/analyzing large datasets and proficiency in systems and processes.

• Strong financial modeling skills.

• Analyze, interpret and implement University policy and procedures and sponsor guidelines and regulations to ensure accurate response.

• Familiarity with federal and non-federal grant and contract policies.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong attention to detail, highly organized, timely, and responsive.

• Work successfully with staff, faculty, and other senior officials (University and external).

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Manage projects simultaneously, and work under considerable pressure to meet deadlines.

• Handle confidential information with absolute discretion.

• Take initiative and organize/complete projects with minimal supervision.

• Ability to research issues and propose solutions to problems.

• Ability to effectively work on multiple projects simultaneously and to meet deadlines.

• Ability to understand details contained within grant contractual language.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Financial Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$110,000.00 - $130,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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