Finance Manager

Job Posting Title

Finance Manager ----

Hiring Department

Oden Institute ----

Position Open To

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40 ----

FLSA Status

Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest Start Date

Nov 01, 2026 ----

Position Duration

Expected to Continue ----

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS ----

Job Details

The Oden Institute is an organized research unit that fosters interdisciplinary programs in computational sciences and engineering, computational medicine, computational geosciences, mathematical modeling, applied mathematics, data science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and computational visualization.

The University of Texas at Austin is a nationally ranked, tier-one research institution and one of the largest employers in central Texas. UT is located in the heart of Austin, a vibrant city that frequently appears on lists of best cities to live and work. Committed to recruiting and retaining a varied and talented workforce, the university offers competitive salaries and benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education and public service.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays

Please visit our  Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered

Purpose

The Finance Manager oversees the day-to-day financial operations of the Oden Institute, including budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, compliance, procurement, travel, reimbursements, and financial analysis. This position partners closely with Institute leadership to provide accurate financial reports, budget projections, and analysis that support informed decision-making and effective resource management. The Finance Manager ensures responsible stewardship of Institute resources and compliance of financial transactions across university, sponsored, endowment, gift, and other funding sources. As a trusted resource to Institute leadership and staff, this position provides expert guidance, exceptional customer service, effective training, and operational support while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and organizational excellence.

Responsibilities

Supervision

• Supervise finance staff and establish clear expectations for performance, service quality, and accountability.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to strengthen team expertise and service delivery.
• Develop, document, streamline and maintain financial procedures, training materials, and operational guidance to promote consistency and excellence across the finance function.

Subject Matter Expert and Campus Partner

• Serve as the Institute’s subject matter expert on university financial policies, procedures, and best practices related to travel, entertainment reimbursements, procurement, purchasing, and related transactions.
• Serve as a trusted financial resource for staff and Institute leadership; deliver responsive, solutions-oriented guidance that balances operational needs, compliance requirements, and sound financial practices.
• Build productive partnerships with central campus offices, the Research Administration team, and university stakeholders to resolve financial and operational issues and advance institute priorities.
• Provide guidance and training to staff and administrators on travel, procurement, reimbursement, and financial processes; identify opportunities to improve business processes and enhance customer service across the Institute.

Hands-On Financial Processes

• Manage the Institute’s day-to-day financial operations and business processes, including preparation, monitoring, and reconciliation of operating, personnel, and research-related budgets.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, analyses, and projections for Institute leadership; monitor revenues, expenditures, commitments, and fund balances.
• Develop and maintain real-time tracking systems to monitor endowment, gift, discretionary, and other Institute funds  balances, distributions, and investment performance.
• Support leadership with financial modeling and scenario planning; develop management reports and dashboards to support operational and strategic objectives.
• Identify budget variances, financial risks, and funding issues and recommend appropriate solutions; provide recommendations regarding resource utilization and financial planning.

Auditing and Approvals

• Review and approve financial transactions — including procurement, travel, entertainment, and reimbursements — to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and compliance with university policies, sponsor requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Monitor financial activity and identify potential compliance issues, risks, and corrective actions; develop and maintain internal controls and best practices to ensure responsible stewardship of institute resources.
• Coordinate audit responses and provide supporting documentation for financial reviews; collaborate with the Research Administration team to ensure sponsored project expenditures comply with university and sponsor requirements.

Oversight of All Processes and Staff Satisfaction

• Maintain high-level oversight of all financial processes and operations, ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with Institute goals and university standards.
• Foster a service-oriented, collaborative culture focused on staff satisfaction, professional growth, and continuous improvement; promote a work environment where team members feel supported, empowered, and engaged.
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and improve the overall experience for faculty, staff, and Institute stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Management, or Business Administration.
• At least six years of progressively responsible experience in financial administration, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, or related areas.
• Experience preparing financial reports, budgets, forecasts, projections, and related analyses for leadership decision-making.
• Experience interpreting and applying financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and compliance requirements.
• At least four years of supervisory experience, including staff training, coaching, and performance management.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships with staff, leadership, and university partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, effective training, and organizational excellence.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience using financial management systems.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education, research administration, government, or nonprofit financial operations.
• Experience with university fund accounting, restricted funds, endowments, gifts, and sponsored project compliance.
• Familiarity with UT Austin financial systems and processes, such as Workday, DEFINE, FRMS, or related university tools.
• Experience developing dashboards, management reports, financial procedures, and training resources.
• CPA, CMA, CGFM, or other relevant professional certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities