Director Strategic Research Finance

The mission of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.



The Director, develops and implements the financial strategy for the Strategic Research Programs (SRP) portfolio and research infrastructure throughout the institution in collaboration with the SVP-Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President-Strategy and Impact and departmental leadership. Will plan and direct multi department financial support, including the preparation and justification for annual operating budgets, forecasting for internal and institutional purposes, and the development of systematic and ad hoc reporting.  Will design and develop complex and relevant data analysis, including the formulation of business and feasibility studies.  Will provide input and guidance across the organization from a financial perspective on programmatic direction.  Works directly with the Director Research Planning & Dev SRP, Director Research Planning Therapeutic Discovery & Development and institutional executive leadership on the evaluation and review of proposed new operational priority programs as well as the possible closure of other translational programs.  Develops, implements, and maintains fiscal policy and internal controls.  Initiates and fosters effective working relationships between the Therapeutics Discovery Division, faculty, staff, department chairs, senior leadership and various support departments.

 

Key Functions

 

Financial Strategy and Oversight

• Provides financial direction to the strategic research programs including moon shots, platforms, operational priorities and research departments.

•  Directs and supports operational and financial programmatic requirements throughout the research organization.

• Serves as a divisional representative for operational and financial programmatic requirements implemented by the institution.

• Leads project teams and committees related to critical business issues and opportunities at the divisional and institutional level.

• Develops business practices and fiscal policy in accordance with institutional policy and sound financial and accounting principles and holds departments accountable for compliance.

• Communicates to executive leadership regarding all financial strategy and outcomes.

• Oversee financial management of all strategic research programs, Moon Shots Programs, STRIDE programs, platforms, and other CSO-designated priority research throughout the institution.

• Provides senior administrative support, highly advanced analysis, and project management to the departments as it relates to research activities.

• Provides input as to programmatic development, including research program activities.

• Serves as financial advisor, instructor, resource link and subject matter expert for strategic research program departments throughout the institution.

• Implements, coordinates and manages special assigned projects from initial planning to completion.  Collaborates with executives, faculty, department and other internal staff to enhance project outcomes.

• Participates on multiple institutional committees as a representative for strategic research programs.

Funding Source Management/Annual Operating Budget

 

• In collaboration with departmental leadership, prepares, justifies and administers the annual operating budget and provides overall fund management for multiple funding sources.

• Oversees the preparation annual business plans for all Platforms.

• Uses financial judgment to provide input of programmatic development as identified in the annual operating budget. Provides financial direction to the strategic research programs throughout the institution.

• Works with departmental leadership to forecast, prepare and monitor budget data, ensuring its accuracy.

• Works with department leadership to track and manage budgets on a monthly basis and advised on mid-course corrections.

• Oversees and manages the capital equipment request and asset management processes for all strategic research programs throughout the institution.

• Works with department leadership Chief Scientific Officer under the VP Strategic Resource Programs to develop annual operating budgets.

 

Financial Reporting and Data Analysis

 

• Works with cancer center and department leadership to develop, maintain, and optimize reporting tools that accurately track research operations.

• Oversees and conducts analysis and assessment of operational programs, process and outcomes utilizing quantitative tools and methods to identify performance issues.

• Presents executive and departmental leadership with reports and analyses related to financial performance and key scorecards and metrics.

• Recommends, develops and implements business tools/metrics related to departmental initiative and the financial impact of process improvements.

• Identifies potential issues, opportunities for revenue enhancement, or other opportunities for streamlining operations or improving reporting.

• Provides department leadership with ad hoc reporting and analysis.

• Possesses a strong working knowledge of institutional data systems and resources, which support our budgeting, accounting, procurement, HR, revenue-capture and research activities and manages the change process related to these systems.

 

Fiscal Policy and Internal Controls

 

• Develops and maintains overarching fiscal policy in accordance with institutional policy and sound business practices, including the establishment of internal financial controls.

• Ensures compliance with institutional and federal policies and procedures related to financial compliance matters.

• Recommends, evaluates and implements solutions and best practices to enable more efficient financial operations and management.

• Communicates rules and expectations regarding research funding and resources to strategic research program directors, staff and faculty.

• Performs periodic audit to ensure that job standards are maintained.

• Oversees fund stewardship, ensuring that fund expenditures are appropriate and allowable and holds people accountable for compliance.

• Serves as a resource for departmental leadership in identifying patterns and trends of fiscal concern.

• Maintains institution-wide security access to MDACC computer systems as required per the scope of duties of this position.

 

Management

 

• Manages a team of four financial personnel within the Strategic Research Programs dept

• Informally mentors and coaches’ financial personnel at M.D. Anderson.  Participates in interview processes and contributes to evaluations throughout the institution.