Associate Director, Finance and Operations

Department
 

Consortium Research Stevens

About the Department
 

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (Crown Family School) builds upon a legacy of more than a century of scholarship, education and leadership in social work and social welfare, blending a distinctive interdisciplinary tradition with applied problem-solving to foster innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing social problems. For more information about the Crown School, please visit our website at: https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

The University of Chicago Crown Family School is the academic home to the Urban Education Institute (UEI), an internationally and nationally renowned institute with the aim of promoting applied research on youth development and learning in formal and informal settings. UEI conducts rigorous applied research, trains researchers and practitioners, and provides research-based tools and resources in schools across the country.

Job Summary
 

The Associate Director of Finance and Operations provides accounting support to the executive teams of the Consortium on School Research (CSR) and the To&Through Project. This role will be responsible for providing global analysis of budget-to-actual for CSR and To&Through and accounting support, including ledger review, account administration, corrections, and fiscal closings. This role will also provide complete grant, program, or activity-based reporting and coordinate pre- and post-award grant and contract proposals/funding activities, including developing budgets, ensuring payments are received, and expenses are allocated to the correct account.

The To&Through Project strives to create equitable education outcomes for Chicago Public Schools students by helping educators use data for inquiry and impact . We analyze and share quantitative and qualitative data on the educational journeys of Chicago Public Schools students. The To&Through project works alongside education stakeholders from across the system to make meaning of research-backed data in ways that support and shift practice. We help realize equitable learning experiences, pathways, and outcomes for CPS students from the middle grades through college graduation.

For over 30 years, the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research (UChicago Consortium) has informed solutions to the most difficult problems facing urban schools. The UChicago Consortium is committed to better understanding the fundamental practices and conditions that advance student learning, promote attainment, and foster more equitable outcomes. We work in a highly collaborative environment that produces research of high technical quality to inform policy and practice in the Chicago Public Schools, as well as schools nationwide. A central component of our work is engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders and stimulating evidence-driven discourse about the vital issues facing schools. The UChicago Consortium has been described as the gold standard for education research-practice partnerships and has been replicated nationally. Our research has been an essential factor in improving outcomes for students and school staff, both in Chicago and in school districts across the country.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and analyzes monthly reports for Principal Investigators (PIs), University, and funder financial reporting, prepares grant budgets, quarterly and annual financial statements for the Consortium and To&Through Executive Teams, and other financial reporting and analysis as needed.
• Ensures adherence to University and funder financial reporting requirements.
• Maintains and updates staffing allocations and project budgets throughout the year.
• Meets regularly with the executive teams and PIs to discuss budgets.
• Coordinates with UEI, Crown and University finance, grant, HR, and IT staff.
• Implements and maintains robust administrative processes and policies to support efficient operations.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of budgets and financial policies and procedures.
• Has a deep understanding of operational budgets for departments or other operational units.
• Provides analytical support for moderately complex budget projects. Analyzes budget estimates and proposals for completeness; accuracy; and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

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

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications