Assistant Director, Business & Financial Planning

Payroll Title: FINANCIAL ANL SUPV 2

Job Code: 7123

Job Open Date: 2/27/26

Application Review Begins: 3/16/26

Department Code (Name): CENT (Housing, Dining, & Auxiliary Enterprises)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99 Non represented

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Grade: MSP/24

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $97,200 - $139,600/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $97,200 to $182,000/year.

Work Location: De La Guerra Complex - Building 1501

Working Days and Hours: M-F, 8:00-5:00

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid

Special Instructions: For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises houses 10,000 students, faculty and family residents on campus, provides support services for 9,300 students residing in the communities adjacent to the campus, serves 21,000 customers daily in its retail and board dining programs, manages the UCSB Campus Store and University Center, hosts 150,000 guests annually for conferences and meetings, manages a major events center (Events Center), and oversees the administration of transportation, parking and fleet services. HDAE employs 600+ full-time employees and 1,800 student employees. HDAE maintains a physical plant of more than 3 million square feet of buildings and 250 acres of grounds and landscaping.

Benefits of Belonging

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Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under the general direction of the Director of Business & Financial Planning, the Assistant Director leads the team of financial support functions for key service departments within Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE). Acts as the principal financial services officer for HDAE, providing both routine accounting services, ad hoc cost/benefit and feasibility analysis. Utilizing wide-ranging experience, uses professional concepts and organizational objectives to resolve complex issues with organization-wide impact in creative and effective ways. Works on complex issues with little or no precedent where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgement in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Is considered a subject matter expert. Oversees HDAE Vault Operations and the campus Access Card program. Directly supervises three career staff, indirectly supervises two career staff and approximately 10 student workers. Distributes and develops work assignments and makes recommendations on personnel related actions. Ensures accountability and provides direction according to policy and departmental goals and objectives. Leads, directs, initiates, designs, and provides analytical studies, summary reports, and background materials to department executives and managers on proposed organization or university policies. These policies may impact resources, staff salary funding, organization-wide budget management, budget, accounting process, and best practices for financial and other resources Responsible for providing budget management and analytical support for highly complex budget, financial, and resource projects dealing directly with department managers and/or outside constituents for HDAE management of HDAE MOU's and assessments with various campus departments.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in related area and /or equivalent experience / training.
• 4-6 years of extensive experience with financial policies, practices and systems, budgeting and reporting techniques, accounting and bookkeeping.
• 1-3 years of supervisory/leadership experience
• Extensive knowledge of finance policies, practices and systems, budgeting and reporting techniques, accounting and bookkeeping
• Solid understanding of financial and resource planning concepts as well as how to control organizational budgeting.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
• Ability to act as a strategic business leader for Department managers and stakeholders
• Ability to prepare and present materials to internal and external constituents
• Advanced skills in the use of spreadsheet and database software.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting resources
• Leadership skills to provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to professional and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience with analyzing, revising, and developing processes to establish and maintain strong internal controls.
• 3+ years experience with UC's accounting, purchasing, travel and entertainment policies
• 3+ years experience with UCSB's online financial systems

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegation or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

Supervision - 50%

Responsible for the recruitment and selection of unit career and student staff. Provides training, coaching, development, evaluation, and direction of work conducted by the team performing day-to-day accounting and financial functions. Manages and oversees financial accounting & support operations. Directly supervises three career staff, and indirectly supervises two career staff.

Ensures efficient financial operations. Advises Business & Financial Planning unit and HDAE departments on the interpretation of policies, and resolves problems as subject matter expert. Supervises and oversees accounts payable and procurement operations including oversight of work product and organization of work flow, management of student activity accounts, financial reporting, procurement and payment, student training, summer programs, start up and fiscal close. Documents procedures for financial activities and makes adjustments to ensure operational effectiveness. Interprets related policies and advises staff accordingly. Ensures that the appropriate internal controls are identified, maintained and strengthened to protect department and University resources. Establishes unit and individual goals and objectives and conducts annual performance evaluations. In collaboration with staff, defines individual professional development plans to meet department and employee needs and expectations.

Manages and oversees HDAE Vault operations, providing analysis and knowledge of departmental and campus policies and procedures. Ensures the safekeeping and handling of over $3M per year in cash bags and deposits in the HDAE Vault room. Ensures proper internal controls and separation of duties are followed, and ensures the unit is in compliance with internal audit requirements and university policies.

Oversees all aspects of the Access Card Program including management of the Access Desk, card production, distribution, and financial reconciliation. Assists the Financial Analyst with dispute resolution involving eligibility for card use, and other escalated card issues.

Financial Management - 45%

Financial Oversight and Compliance:

Oversees a complex financial portfolio with a $20M operating budget and $25M in annual expenditures. Acts as the primary authority on cost principles and audit standards, designing internal controls and separation of duties to ensure the timely detection and correction of ledger errors. Conducts financial planning and meets budget goals. Provides effective leadership, management, and quality control over the department's high volume accounting transactions which include accounts payable operations, procurement, reconciliation, financial support and analysis for individual units within HDAE. Designs and implements practices and procedures which validate, assure accuracy, and provide for timely detection and correction of errors in processing and journalizing thousands of transactions against the campus general ledger. Works with all members of the HDAE Business & Financial Planning team, campus Business & Financial Services, and the Office of Budget & Planning. Provides leadership, customer service and suitable separation of duties and internal controls on the approval and payment of a high volume of invoices received annually on low-value, high-value, and vendor blanket purchase contracts. Serves as the department's principal liaison with central accounting staff. Gathers, analyzes, prepares information, and summarizes recommendations for financial and/or resource plans, including annual resource allocation approaches, trended future requirements, operating forecasts, sources and uses. Examples include generating, modifying, and conceiving of new financial or other resource reports, or analyzing and forecasting budgets. Provides analytical support for complex budget, financial, and/or resource analysis.

Major Maintenance Management:

Collaborates with all unit Directors to manage an annual major maintenance budget of $3-5 million. Oversees Financial Analyst responsible for preparing annual and project-specific budgets, tracking expenses, reconciling insurance claims, and delivering monthly management reporting and forecasts. Develops efficient workflow tools, analyzes key performance metrics, and coordinates with utility vendors to manage accounts and business processes.

Strategic Planning & Analysis:

Serves as a key advisor to HDAE leadership on long-term resource allocation and infrastructure optimization. Leads the annual internal budget call and serves as the principal liaison to central accounting. Develops advanced operating forecasts, conceives new financial reporting models, and provides analytical support for complex budget scenarios and emerging business issues.

Operational Leadership:
Provides direction over high-volume accounting operations, including accounts payable, procurement, and payroll validation. Exercises final signature authority and manages interdepartmental recharges and cost transfers. Oversees the professional development of fiscal operations staff, establishing streamlined procedures for invoice processing and travel reimbursements to ensure mission alignment.

HDAE MOU's & Assessments - 5%

Working with the HDAE Director of Business & Financial Planning and other unit directors, manages HDAE MOU's & Assessments for campus services. Ensures MOU's are updated in a timely manner and are in place each year. Partners with various campus departments to coordinate accurate and timely cost transfers. Conducts monthly reviews of all external charges to HDAE.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit:

* UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information - https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information

* University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodations:

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