Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in how we treat each other and in the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Facilities and Capital Planning department is seeking a Finance Manager to coordinate the department's financial operations, with a primary focus on capital projects, project accounting, and revenue-supported activities. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely entry, review, reconciliation, and reporting of financial transactions related to capital planning and facilities operations.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance and Administration, the Finance Manager will provide financial oversight and analysis of capital projects. This includes monitoring budgets, developing forecasts, conducting expense reviews and reconciliations, and ensuring alignment with university policies, funding requirements, and institutional priorities. This role collaborates closely with project managers, capital planning staff, central finance offices, and other campus partners to ensure complete, accurate, and timely financial information. In addition, the position may serve as a critical primary or backup for key departmental functions, including payroll, cost center management, and billing activities.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, service-focused finance professional with experience in project accounting, capital project finance, and accounting reconciliations, preferably within a higher education or large institutional environment. They bring a proactive and analytical approach to financial management and are comfortable working across functional areas to resolve complex financial issues.

The successful candidate balances hands-on transactional and analytical work with a broader oversight perspective, demonstrating the ability to interpret financial data, identify risks or discrepancies, and recommend practical solutions within established policies. They communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, support collaborative decision-making, and are committed to continuous improvement in financial processes and internal controls.

Workplace Requirements

This position is a hybrid role with an on-campus presence required. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. This position is classified as essential and may require on-site or remote work to support critical operations during emergencies, such as severe weather events. The role requires the ability to traverse campus to attend meetings, both on- and off-campus, and to enter a variety of campus facilities as needed.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary is $110, 400 to $112, 000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 4 years or more of related experience in fiannacial management project accounting, capital project finance, and accounting reconciliations or related
  
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted.

Skills:

• Proficiency in financial reporting, forecasting, and data analysis
• Strong analytical mindset with proven ability in critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply university financial policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• In-depth understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
• Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Advanced professional communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and management
• Proven ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, and to build effective cross-functional teams through collaboration

Preferences

• Master's degree or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or another business-related field
• Experience working in an academic or similarly mission-driven setting, specifically higher education and/or an institutional environment
• Experience with project accounting

Essential Functions

• Works closely with the Senior Director of Finance and Administration and the Project Management team to develop and manage budgets, with a primary focus on capital projects
• Provides and/or coordinates advice on budget management, financial controls, and policies/procedures; provides formal and informal training for departmental staff working with financial information
• Performs analytical, financial, and control functions; develops financial reconciliations; prepares, reviews, and approves journal entries and transactions
• Reviews construction cost models and uploads approved models into the department's financial system
• Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
• Engages in continuous analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations and implements solutions to achieve efficiencies and improve internal controls
• Establishes and maintains a regular meeting cadence and convenes ad hoc meetings with key departmental stakeholders to review project status, financial performance, funding, and closeout activities
• Collaborates effectively with on-campus business partners and external stakeholders, demonstrating a positive and service-oriented mindset
• Supports billing activities for Capital Planning and other decentralized departmental functions
• Serves as a critical lead on payroll processes for non-exempt hourly employees, working with team members in the department and university central payroll to provide guidance, implement processes, and build controls that ensure financial integrity and compliance with labor regulations
• May lead, train, evaluate, and provide guidance to less experienced staff
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https: //knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.