Assistant Director, Financial Accounting

Job Summary

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is seeking an Assistant Director, Financial Accounting with high level Workday expertise to play a pivotal role in our Workday Financials implementation and ongoing optimization. Reporting to the Director of Accounting, this position will lead the transformation of accounting operations from the Institution’s legacy ERP system to Workday Financials, ensuring processes, roles and systems are fully aligned with best practices.

This individual will combine deep technical expertise in accounting and high-level expertise in Workday/ERP systems with strong leadership and change management skills. The successful candidate will guide the accounting team through this transition and transformation, help design and implement efficient workflows, ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and nonprofit financial reporting requirements (ASC 958), uphold internal accounting policies, and position the organization for sustained operational excellence in the Workday environment.

Job Description

Essential Duties & Functions:

Workday Financials Design 

• Serve as the Workday Financials subject matter expert (SME) for Financial Accounting, including General Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Endowment & Gifts, Accounts Payable, and Projects. 

• Partner with the Finance Systems and Implementation teams to design and refine business processes, validations, and system configurations that align with Workday best practices and institutional goals. 

• Collaborate with Finance Systems to define security roles and responsibilities, ensuring proper segregation of duties and efficient system utilization. 

• Contribute to the design of monthly financial statement reports (Statement of Position, Statement of Activities, Cash Flow, Functional Expenses) required for audited financial statements. 

• Support the design, testing, and validation of Workday financial reports, dashboards, and new feature releases to ensure accuracy, usability, and compliance. 

• Identify and document new financial accounting- related FDM requirements (e.g. new departments, spend categories, etc.) and work with Finance Systems to administer the changes. 

• Lead the accounting team in executing system testing for upgrades, integrations, and deployment of new functionalities. 

Process Improvement & Controls 

• Identify and implement opportunities to automate processes, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiency in accounting operations. 

• Maintain robust internal controls and ensure data integrity across Workday financial processes. 

• Support internal and external audit requests, ensuring transparency, completeness, and accuracy in financial reporting. 

Team Leadership