Director of Finance and Administration - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

Director of Finance and Administration





Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Business and Finance





Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The School offers a unique approach, incorporating cross-disciplinary legal education, a distinctly collaborative environment, and an innovative curriculum to enrich student learning. The small and highly interdisciplinary faculty achieves scholarly excellence while emphasizing a shared effort to advance understanding of the law. The result is an intellectual community that bridges traditional boundaries and disciplines within a renowned internal culture of collegiality, making the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School an extraordinarily supportive academic community for all its members.


The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School staff play a critical role in providing a world-class educational experience, supporting faculty, students, alumni, and fellow staff members in a collaborative, ambitious environment.


Reporting to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration and CFO, the Director of Finance and Administration (Director) ensures communication and efficiencies across a high-volume set of Penn Carey Law departments (Business Affairs, Conferences and Events, Facilities, HR, and ITS). This position is eligible for a limited hybrid work schedule with the understanding that core functions of the role require on-site presence.





Job Description


Responsibilities include:




Strategic Representation & Communications



+ Serve as the architect of strategic communication across the Finance and Administration teams.


+ Ensure cross-departmental communication on relevant issues, tying work of one department to others in strategic ways.


+ Establish and monitor feedback mechanisms to ensure excellence across communication methods.




+ Build agendas for and report out on all departmental meetings.


+ Triage Finance and Administration email accounts (including that of the CFO) and direct prompt, accurate, and efficient responses to all inquiries.


+ Ensure that departmental communication and websites generally are up-to-date and accurate; direct edits as needed.





Operations



+ Staying abreast of relevant technology and programmatic innovations, research, create, and implement systems, procedures, and programs to streamline Finance & Administration services.


+ Oversee departmental compliance with University required documentation; draft and ensure timely filing of cross-departmental documentation such as Capital Needs Statements.


+ Develop and implement systems for procurement across departments.







Institutional Reporting, Compliance, and Data Management



+ Develop and maintain comprehensive data tracking management systems.


+ Collaborating across Law School departments, operationalize data to aid in internal and external reporting requirements, including to the ABA.


+ Develop reports and slide decks on reports as requested.





Student Financial Matters



+ Support student leaders in managing their financial accounts; oversee their reimbursement and funding requests.





Other Duties as assigned




Candidate Qualifications:


Graduate degree strongly preferred. BA/BS or equivalent required; minimum 5-7 years of administrative experience required. Experience in higher ed admissions, event planning, and/or project management is strongly preferred. Ability to work well with others in a service-oriented environment; positive attitude and interest in getting the work of the team done are essential. Must be able to demonstrate ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks; excellent attention to detail; flexibility. Excellent technical skills including proficiency with Excel, Power Point, Canva, spreadsheets and data management. Knowledge of Penn Law specific technologies and web development tools is highly desirable. Must be able to work under pressure with time constraints.






The University of Pennsylvania and its Law School are equal opportunity employers.








Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Law School





Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.




Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.