Senior Director, Finance

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: 170,000.00 - 190,000.00

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Finance serves as the financial leader for the Department of Neurology and Sergievsky Center, providing comprehensive oversight of departmental financial operations across clinical care delivery, education, faculty practice plan, and sponsored research programs. The Senior Director of Finance will work closely with the department Chief Operating Officer and VP&S Finance in the development of financial analytics to align with VP&S business objectives and oversee the fiscal operations of the Department. This role partners closely with the Department Chair, Vice Chairs, and divisional leadership to ensure sound financial stewardship, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and sustainable growth of the department's missions in patient care, education, and research.

The Senior Director leads all budgeting, forecasting, reporting, analytics, and financial performance management activities, ensuring alignment between departmental priorities and institutional objectives. The Senior Director will work closely with the Department COO to prepare business plans for new business ventures and faculty recruitment, will review and oversee processes for reporting provider productivity vs. targets, and will oversee modeling, tracking, and analysis of provider incentive plans.

Responsibilities

* Serve as the primary financial advisor to the Department Chair, Vice Chairs, Division Chiefs, and Department Administrator.
* Provide strategic financial counsel related to program growth, faculty recruitment, expansion of clinical services, and development of research initiatives.
* Integrate clinical and research financial strategies to support long-term department sustainability.
* Present financial analyses and recommendations to departmental leadership committees.

* Lead development and management of the department's annual operating budget, including:
- Faculty salary support and incentive compensation
- Clinical operations and practice plan budgets
- Sponsored research portfolios including direct and indirect cost recovery
* Develop multi-year forecasts to support faculty and staff growth.
* Partner with division leadership to align budgets with strategic priorities and productivity expectations.

Produce regular financial reports and dashboards for clinical and research operations.
* Lead variance analysis across:
- Clinical revenue and expense performance
- Physician productivity (RVUs, collections, contribution margin)
- Faculty compensation plans
- Grant funding portfolios, effort distributions, and spend rates
- Indirect cost recovery performance
* Translate complex financial data into actionable insights for physician leaders and investigators.

* Provide financial oversight and analysis for the faculty practice plan and programs within the department.
* Support physician compensation modeling and alignment with academic productivity goals.
* Partner with clinical operations and revenue cycle teams to improve performance related to coding accuracy, collections, access optimization, and cost control.
* Evaluate financial feasibility of new recruitments, clinic expansions, equipment purchases, and programmatic investments.

* Lead departmental financial management of sponsored research activities, including:
- Grant budget planning and financial review
- Effort distribution and salary support modeling
- Monitoring compliance with federal and sponsor regulations
- Cost-share management and post-award financial oversight
* Collaborate with research administration offices to ensure accurate reporting and audit readiness.
* Support principal investigators with financial forecasting and sustainability planning for research portfolios.
* Oversee financial management of HGRC and HPC research centers.

* Ensure strong fiscal controls and compliance with institutional policies, healthcare regulations, and sponsored research requirements.
* Support internal and external audits, financial reviews, and compliance assessments.
* Lead continuous improvement efforts in departmental financial processes, reporting tools, and business intelligence capabilities.

* Lead and mentor the departmental finance team supporting clinical and research operations.
* Foster collaborative working relationships with administrative staff, research administration, and central finance partners.
* Promote staff development and high standards of service and accountability.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus seven years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline, as well as progressive experience in accounting, financial management, or operations, with demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of accrual accounting principles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other financial analysis tools.
• Demonstrated initiative, integrity, and a collaborative approach to leadership.

Other Requirements

• Proven ability to manage complex financial processes and ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.
• Exceptional attention to detail, analytical reasoning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders at all levels.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.