SODE - ADMINISTRATION - Assistant to the Dean for Finance

Job Classification

  

Position summary

The Assistant to the Dean for Finance serves as the primary financial officer for Global Campus, responsible for budget management, financial reporting, program fiscal viability analysis, and Griggs International Academy student financial services. This position supports the Dean in establishing and monitoring financial structures across all Global Campus operations, including fully owned programs, managed-in-partnership programs, supported college programs, the School of Leadership, the Center for Adult Degree Completion, the Center for Continuing Education, Griggs International Academy, and international off-campus locations.

Qualifications summary

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in the full position description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Duties and responsibilities

Global Campus Budget and Financial Management

• Coordinates with unit directors, department chairs, and program directors to prepare annual budget proposals and reports for the Dean and Financial Administration.


• Monitors monthly financial statements for all Global Campus units; identifies variances and recommends corrective action.


• Manages financial oversight for Global Campus–administered program budgets, including the School of Leadership, off-campus cohort programs, and other directly managed programs.


• Processes and approves routine financial transactions including expense reports, check requests, and credit card statement reconciliation.


• Serves as the Global Campus liaison to the CFO’s office and Financial Administration on budget planning, fiscal policy, and resource allocation.


• Coordinates with Human Resources on financial aspects of hiring (rate sheets, RAFs, contracts, payments) for Global Campus personnel, adjunct faculty, and student workers.

Program Financial Analysis and Fiscal Viability

• Prepares financial analyses and reports on Global Campus program performance for the Dean and CFO, including program-level margin analysis, enrollment-to-revenue tracking, and faculty load cost modeling.


• Assists the Dean in identifying gaps in institutional financial reporting related to online and off-campus program delivery; recommends improvements to how costs and revenues are attributed across delivery modes.


• Works with ITS and Financial Administration to develop and refine reports that support program fiscal viability review across the university for Global Campus delivery modes.


• Provides data and analysis to support new program development proposals, including projected costs, revenue modeling, and break-even analysis.


• Monitors financial performance of Acadeum/consortium course arrangements and third-party content partnerships to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Griggs International Academy Student Financial Services

These functions are performed in coordination with the Director of Student Financial Services (dotted reporting line).

• Serves as the primary contact for Griggs parent financial inquiries, including account balances, payment options, billing schedules, and financing arrangements.


• Processes cancellations, withdrawals, and related financial adjustments for Griggs students in SIS, coordinating with records and academic staff as appropriate.


• Manages exam and service holds for Griggs K12 students, calculating amounts owed, notifying students/families, and coordinating release with the testing office and cashier upon payment.


• Administers monthly manual billing for APLE and Affiliate partner schools; maintains current accounts and ensures clearance by established deadlines.


• Processes denominational billing channel vouchers for accounts billed through General Conference channels.


• Approves exceptions to standard financing policies (e.g., payment plan modifications) within established authority; refers complex disputes to supervisory staff as appropriate.


• Processes refunds of credits on account, returned-check procedures, and bankruptcy notice protocols in accordance with established university procedures.


• Manages the Griggs K12 student finance email account; maintains records and archives.


• Monitors student account status and coordinates with Griggs academic staff to ensure financial and academic processes remain aligned.

General

• Represent the Dean on committees such as the Financial Managemenet Committee.


• Maintains confidentiality of student financial records in compliance with FERPA and institutional policy.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities

May supervise student workers assisting with financial transaction processing, data entry, filing, and report preparation.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field required; master’s degree preferred.


• Minimum 3 years’ experience in financial management, budgeting, or student accounts, preferably in a higher education setting.


• Experience with student information systems and financial reporting tools preferred.

Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Technical competencies

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of budget management, financial analysis, and accounting principles.


• Proficiency with a student information system or ability to learn quickly; experience with financial reporting tools and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.


• Understanding of education financial operations, including tuition and fee structures, student billing, and fund accounting.


• Ability to analyze financial data and translate findings into actionable recommendations for leadership.


• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in financial record-keeping.


• Familiarity with Seventh-day Adventist Church organizational and financial structures preferred.

Interpersonal interactions

• Excellent communication skills; ability to explain financial information clearly to students, families, and colleagues with varying levels of financial literacy.


• Ability to work across organizational units and maintain productive relationships with Financial Administration, Student Financial Services, ITS, and academic departments.

Physical demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work environment

Primary office location is Griggs Hall. Regular digital collaboration with Student Financial Services (Administration Building) and other campus offices. Some in-person meetings across campus as needed. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.