Director Finance, KRI LLC at Northeastern University

About the OpportunityJob Summary:The Kostas Research Institute (Kostas) the applied research arm of Northeastern University focused on DoD-related S&T R&D seeks a dynamic and experienced Director of Finance to support its mission across multiple sites including Burlington MA Arlington VA and Brunswick ME. Kostas is affiliated with the independent 501(c)3 KRI at Northeastern University LLC (KRI) a wholly owned special-purpose subsidiary of the University with ambitious plans to grow top-line revenue to and beyond $500 million annually.This role requires an extremely experienced finance professional who combines a record of professional success in financial management grant administration budget oversight and Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal contract compliance. The Director of Finance will provide strategic financial leadership and operational oversight for all financial matters across the Institute and its affiliated entity ensuring efficient management of research and operational budgets in compliance with federal sponsor requirements University policies and industry best practices.The Director of Finance will report to the Director of the Kostas Research Institute and CEO of the KRI LLC. Working closely with the Institutes Executive Leadership and the Program Management Office the Director of Finance will support Kostas mission to discover and translate new knowledge through S&T R&D programs for US government mission-driven agencies allied governments and corporate customers. The position requires implementing an orderly and trackable business environment with best-in-class practices; providing oversight for effective financial and sponsored award management; executing all aspects of budgeting financial transactions analysis and control; and collaborating with colleagues across Northeastern University Research Enterprise Services (NU-RES) the Office of the Provost and external partner organizations.Minimum Qualifications:Education:Bachelors degree requiredMasters degree or relevant professional certification (e.g. CPA CPM CMA) strongly preferred in finance accounting business administration or related fieldExperience:Minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience in financial planning and administration project management or grant management in complex organizationsExperience working in a research university or research institution strongly preferredExperience managing federal (particularly DoD) and/or institutional research budgetsDemonstrated experience with DoD organizations funding mechanisms and contract compliance preferredProven experience supervising financial analysts or similar positionsKnowledge & Skills:Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel requiredKnowledge of university financial systems (Banner Cognos Workday Concur SharePoint Argos Archibus Tableau IntelliBUY etc.) a plusStrong understanding of federal research compliance requirements particularly DoD regulationsDemonstrated ability to develop and execute financial planning and budgeting processesProven ability to lead finance and administrative staff collaborate across departments and make effective decisionsExperience with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and general ledger managementEffective communication and analytical skills with ability to focus on strategic objectives while executing day-to-day operational activitiesStrong analytical and project management skills with ability to sort out complex financial informationExcellent strategic leadership and team building skillsDemonstrated strong commitment to exceeding client/customer expectationsAbility to multi-task and work independently as well as in teams with a strong bias for actionAbility to adapt quickly to address new priorities in a fast-paced and unstructured environment with an entrepreneurial solutions-oriented mindsetSecurity:Willingness and ability to obtain a DoD security clearance preferredActive DoD secret clearance or above strongly preferredKey Responsibilities & Accountabilities:Develop multi-year operational and research budgets supporting the Institutes growth trajectoryCreate and maintain budgetary policies and procedures ensuring compliance with University policies federal funding requirements and DoD and other federal regulationsConduct regular budget vs. actual analyses to inform Institute leadership and support strategic decision-makingRecommend develop and implement processes procedures and budget structures to support effective and efficient financial operationsProvide pre- and post-award administration of grants and external funding related to budgetary issuesConduct regular budget vs. actual analyses and other reporting to inform Institute leadership and support strategic decision-makingIdentify short and long-range budgetary issues (operational or research) and recommend solutionsOversee Financial Analyst who will be responsible for day-to-day operational financial and administrative tasksSupport contract development and oversight with external partner organizations academic institutions and corporate customersSupport development of forecasting models for all research initiatives and programs including operational management/supportEnsure proper usage of funds (including internal funds and externally sponsored research) monitor open salary lines revenue sources and movement between budget categoriesEnsure efficient deployment of financial resources through data-driven analysis and modelingTrack research efforts reporting and compliance issues to ensure all are addressed in partnership with NU-RESPosition TypeTemporaryAdditional InformationNortheastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience education and skills when extending an offer.Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical vision dental paid time off tuition assistance wellness & life retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin age sex sexual orientation disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.Pay Rate:70.00Required Experience:Director Key Skills Accounting Software,Forecasting,Ellucian,Financial Report Writing,GAAP,Accounting,Corporate Finance,Financial Analysis,Financial Modeling,Budgeting,Financial Management,Financial Planning Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1