Description

Department:

85000 Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Academic Deans Office

Status:

Full time

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Hours Per Week:

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

N/A

Pay Range
$44.15 - $66.25

JOB SUMMARY:
The Program Director of Academic Finance is a senior operational leader who reports to the Associate Vice President for Finance to coordinate, implement, and manage enterprise academic finance initiatives across Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health. This role translates financial strategy into operational execution-supporting multi-year financial planning, enterprise budgeting, academic program financial modeling, and reporting infrastructure across multiple campuses and academic missions (education, research, faculty affairs, and graduate medical education). The Program Director serves as the operational integrator across finance, analytics, academic leadership-ensuring consistent financial practices, clear decision support, and disciplined execution of academic finance priorities aligned with enterprise strategy.

PREFERRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of five years of financial experience in a large organizational setting, or
• Master's degree plus three years of relevant financial experience in a large organizational setting
• Experience in an academic medical center or healthcare system environment, preferred

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION: not required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job Duties

• Lead Financial Planning & Forecasting: Develop and maintain annual budgets, rolling forecasts, proformas, and multi-year financial plans. Support scenario modeling for revenue, expenses, staffing, and capital investments, and monitor performance against plan.
• Coordinate Budget Development & Monitoring: Oversee budget preparation across multiple departments or programs. Ensure consistent budgeting practices and timelines and track budget variances with actionable reporting.
• Provide Comprehensive Financial Management and Reporting: Deliver timely, accurate reports and analyses to Vice Deans and academic leadership that monitor performance, identify variances, and support strategic decision-making.
• Design Financial Dashboards to Monitor Academic Metrics and KPIs: Transform data into actionable insights that enable academic leadership to make strategic, data-driven operational decisions.
• Provide Financial Analysis & Decision Support: Conduct financial modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and ROI evaluations. Translate financial data into clear recommendations and support business cases for new initiatives.
• Monitor Academic Endowments and Chair/Faculty Financial Commitments: Identify, monitor, and report on the utilization of endowments and faculty commitments to ensure compliance, stewardship, and strategic alignment with institutional priorities and long-term academic objectives.
• Ensure Financial Controls & Compliance: Support implementation of financial policies, procedures, and internal controls. Ensure adherence to regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Manage Cross-Functional Finance Projects and System Enhancements: Lead finance-related initiatives such as system implementations, process improvements, or restructuring efforts. Partner with operational stakeholders to assess needs, optimize processes, and enhance financial systems and reporting tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Build Stakeholder Partnerships & Communication: Serve as a trusted advisor to AVP and other academic leaders on financial matters. Present financial insights clearly and facilitate financial transparency and education across teams.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent financial management and budgeting skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of data analysis and financial reporting
• Ability to navigate in a highly matrixed environment
• Ability to achieve results with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytic skills

Physical Requirements
This position requires periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, and reaching. It is essential that the teammate can speak, hear, and see. Ability to use finger and hand dexterity.

Education, Experience and Certifications
Bachelor's degree with three years of progressive and applicable experience in the area to be served.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more - so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

Responsible for a significant function or program within a major department, institute, or division that has organizational impact. Plans, coordinates, and manages all aspects of the assigned program or functional area and is responsible for maintaining collaborative and effective working relationships to both internal and external colleagues and associates. Assures leadership decisions are implemented in a positive and timely manner.