Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume 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 the way we treat each other and 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 Wiess School of Natural Sciences is seeking a Manager of Finance to coordinate and manage the day-to day financial operations of the school. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely entry, submission, review, and execution of financial transactions and for supervising the Dean's Office finance specialist staff. While this position provides operational oversight and financial management and guidance, final budgetary and strategic financial decision rest with senior leadership. This position will play a key supporting role in the development and management of both the school's annual and long-term budget plans, working in close collaboration with senior leadership and departmental staff to ensure alignment with institutional goals and priorities.

The Manager of Finance provides oversight for the financial operations of the school, including university, gift, endowment, and research funds. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring expenditures, submitting and verifying balances and cost transfers, producing various financial reports, and direct or indirect management of various fiscal processes; ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

The Manager also collaborates on financial planning initiatives and contributes to forecasting, reporting, and analysis to support strategic decision-making. Additionally, the position manages special projects with school-wide financial implications and maintains the school's internal accounting system, ensuring alignment with university systems such as iO.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate for the Finance Manager position will be a detail-oriented and a proactive finance professional with a strong background in transactional finance, analyzing budgets, and financial reporting. The candidate will bring hands-on experience in the processing and knowledge of financial transactions, that may include but is not limited to budget and cost transfers. The candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage and support a team, while fostering a collaborative and service-oriented work environment. They will be comfortable balancing independent transactional responsibilities with oversight duties, including reviewing for accuracy, providing training and guidance, and helping streamline financial workflows.

A strong command of Microsoft Excel, including the use of pivot tables, formulas, and data analysis tools is essential as the role requires interpreting and organizing complex financial data to support reporting and decision making. Chosen candidate will have excellent organizational and communication skills, a working knowledge of university financial systems (such as iO), and a commitment to continual improvement.

The Individual will be able to thrive in a collaborative setting, working close with senior leadership, academic departments, and administrative units to support the financial health and operational efficiency of the School.

Workplace Requirements

On-campus position: This role is primarily on-site, with duties performed in person at GRB 100E Dean's Suite on the Rice University campus. However, one remote workday per week may be permitted, subject to departmental needs and supervisor approval. Per Rice Policy 440, work arrangements are subject to change.

Hiring Range: The hiring salary range for this exempt (salaried) position is $106, 488 to $112, 000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 4+ years of related experience .
  • 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.
• 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.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and familiarity with other business support resources
• Strong analytical mindset with proven ability in critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.In-depth understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
• Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written, and visual formats.
• Proven ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds, skills levels, and to build effective cross-functional teams through collaboration.

Preferences:

• Experience with Rice University financial system
• Rice and/or higher education experience
• Experience managing staff

Essential Functions:

• Works closely with the Assistant Dean of Business Operations to develop and manage the school budget
• Performs analytical, finance, and control functions; multi-dimensional reconciliations and related analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves transactions and higher-level dollar value transactions
• Monitors financial transactions for the Dean's office and the departments.
• Creates and submits financial transactions for the Dean's office and when needed for the departments.
• Reviews and approves expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers.
• Confirms that transactions for the Dean's office and the academic departments and programs post correctly.
• Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
• Runs monthly financial reports for the school and academic departments, identifies errors, and takes action to correct errors.
• Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains a broader organizational and university perspective in decision-making
• Works closely with school departments, centers, and programs
• Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
• Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing and analyzes results
• Collaborates with leadership and supports the unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives
• Represents the organization to client groups and external partners; serves as a subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or other subject matter expertise
• Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes
• Serves as approval for expenditures and transactions, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures as well as specific guidelines on restricted funds
• Develops and maintains procedures, policies, and systems for the finance administrative area.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Oversees labor distribution process for the Dean's office, departments and centers within the School of Natural Science
• Acts as the subject matter expert for the academic departments regarding the interpretation, implementation, and compliance with Rice's financial and operational policies and regulations
• Recommends actions and/or resolves complex financial operational issues within the school.
• Works closely with the budget office, the controller's office, and research and cost accounting
• Provides guidance on balances and fund expenditures such as payroll, travel, and purchases, including advice regarding compliance with relevant guidelines
• Works closely with department administrators and finance staff within the School of Natural Sciences

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 Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@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.