Director Operational Finance - UNC Faculty Physicians

Description

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Job Summary:

The Director leads financial planning and analysis activities across a portfolio of approximately 20 clinical departments by overseeing a team of managers and analysts responsible for departmental finance. This role provides strategic leadership to both embedded departmental finance teams and a centralized finance function supporting enterprise-wide initiatives, guiding cross-departmental projects aligned with School of Medicine and UNC Health financial strategy, performance improvement, and resource optimization. The Director standardizes the use of reporting and decision-support tools to ensure consistent financial planning practices, data integrity, and actionable insights that support operational and strategic decision-making. Serving as a key partner to departmental Chairs, ACAs, and senior leadership, this position develops a high-performing finance organization and translates complex financial data into meaningful recommendations that drive planning, investment decisions, and long-term financial sustainability.

Description of Job Responsibilities:

1. Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for embedded departmental finance teams supporting 20 clinical departments, as well as a centralized UNC Faculty Physicians (FP) analyst team responsible for enterprise-level initiatives. Leads the prioritization and execution of cross-departmental projects that advance School of Medicine and UNC Health financial strategy, performance improvement, and resource optimization. Develops and sustains a high-performing finance organization by fostering core team values and building critical competencies, including:

o Business and financial acumen across central FP, hospital operations, and academic medicine environments

o Relationship management, executive-level communication, and consultative partnership with clinical, administrative, and senior leadership stakeholders

o Recruitment, mentorship, and development of team members to promote professional growth and operational excellence

2. Serves as a strategic partner to operational and clinical leadership, departmental Chairs, ACAs, and senior leaders by analyzing budget-to-actual variances, escalating financial risks and opportunities, and guiding the team in delivering accurate, actionable reporting and insights that inform decision-making, planning, investment priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

3. Coordinate with FP accounting team on monthly financial close, variance analysis, and preparation of timely, accurate management reports

4. Develops and maintains budget, forecasts, and long-range financial plans aligned with health system strategic objectives

5. Establishes, standardizes, and advances team utilization of UNC Health and School of Medicine reporting and decision-support platforms (e.g., Strata, Business Objects, Tableau, Microsoft Fabric). Ensures consistent application of financial planning methodologies, data governance standards, and reporting best practices to drive operational effectiveness, financial transparency, and achievement of organizational goals.

6. Ensures adherence to applicable UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine financial, accounting, and procurement policies by promoting compliant processes, standard work, and internal controls across team operations.

7. Reports to the Vice President of Finance, UNC FP, and provides direct leadership to departmental financial managers, analysts, and centralized FP analysts.

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* Master's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance (or substantial equivalent with concentration in finance).
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* No licensure or certification required.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* Seven years of relevant work experience, including at least five years in a management role.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
* Substantial experience with financial planning and decision support tools.
*Experience partnering with operational leaders to achieve financial and operational goals.
*Understanding of accounting, including experience with Lawson or other general ledger systems.

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Faculty Physicians

Organization Unit: FP Financial Services

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.