Senior Administrative Officer

 Position Summary 

The Senior Administrative Officer, Finance is part of the finance and administration team for Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and the Vanderbilt Divinity School and is responsible for high-level support of administrative and financial operations of the schools. Reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer (CBO) of the schools, this position analyzes and monitors all Blair School and Divinity School operating funds and endowments, gifts, research, and grants projects as the Data Analyst and Grants Manager (GM). Working closely with the CBO, the Senior Administrative Officer develops, analyzes, and conducts complex financial analyses to assess the viability of strategic and financial programs and independently develops internal procedures and financial reports. This position provides analytical support to faculty and staff on the activities and operations of the schools that they manage or have direct impact on. In coordination with the Associate Administrative Officer, works with faculty and staff to ensure their budgets are transparent, and activities do not exceed budget parameters, and monitors systems and procedures to ensure compliance with accounting principles, University, State, and Federal regulations, and audit requirements. In conjunction with the Deans’ staff, CBO and other school partners, designs, implements, and updates operating policies and procedures, and monitors on an ongoing basis to ensure best practices are in place. 

The Senior Administrative Officer, Finance serves as the backup HCM Specialist to the Senior Administrative Officer, HR for all faculty and staff employment transactions, and serves as the backup Financial Unit Manager (FUM) to the Associate Administrative Officer for review/approval of all financial transactions. This position will interface with a wide constituency of partners across the school and University, including regular interactions with senior-level administrators. The Senior Administrative Manager, Finance will enjoy balancing routine reporting schedules and deadlines with ad hoc reporting and project requests. A strong foundation in accounting and finance coupled with the ability to understand the details and their impact on the big picture and overall operations is also necessary. A demonstrated desire, passion, and drive for providing excellent and timely deliverables; building an understanding of the complexity of the campus community; and fostering constituent trust and confidence is needed in all engagement and undertakings. The Senior Administrative Officer, Finance also performs essential operational and project management assignments as assigned. 

 

About the Work Unit: 

 

About the Blair School of Music: 

Situated on Vanderbilt Campus in the heart of Nashville, TN, the Blair School of Music is a vibrant and fast-paced school at Vanderbilt University, focused on the personal and professional education of highly talented young musicians who demonstrate exceptional artistic capacity and a motivation to help shape the world through music. The school has approximately 115 full and part-time faculty members and industry professionals who teach an estimated 260 music majors, 65 music minors and second majors, and 800 Blair Academy students (comprised of pre-college and adult students) https://blair.vanderbilt.edu/. 

Vanderbilt is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. It offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and a full range of graduate and professional degrees across 11 schools and colleges, all on a beautiful campus—an accredited arboretum—complete with athletic facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories. Vanderbilt is optimized to inspire and nurture cross-disciplinary research that fosters discoveries that have global impact. 

 

About the Divinity School:

The Divinity School administrators and staff comprise a team committed to excellence in theological education. From different composite areas: admissions, community life, academics, special programming, communications, theological and religious library resources, and development and alumni relations, each person contributes to an innovative and collegial environment. The unit as a whole is committed to the mission of both the University and the Divinity School. We seek