Department
PME Dean's Administration
About the Department
The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) is the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering, and integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. UChicago PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are enhanced through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, and the broad excellence of scholarship and education on campus. In the next phase of growth as a School, PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean and COO, the Senior Financial Systems Audit and Analytics Architect leads the design, integration, and optimization of financial information systems and controls. This role develops dashboards, conducts financial audits, and creates predictive models to support PME’s long-term strategy. The position partners across finance, IT, and research administration and plays a key part in UChicago’s Oracle ERP implementation. As a strategic financial advisor, the Architect informs budgeting, forecasting, and investment decisions for all funding streams. The role leads reporting and operational efficiency efforts in collaboration with Finance, Treasury, and Risk. It also promotes best financial practices throughout the university. The Architect ensures compliance, strengthens fiscal health, and drives process transformation. Bridging complex financial analysis, audit oversight, and systems transformation, the Architect optimizes revenue recovery, strengthens compliance, and enhances data-driven decision-making for leadership across the University.
This is a hybrid position that involves occasional on-site meetings and extensive collaboration with stakeholders and leaders from URA, school/division operations, and the University’s central administration
Responsibilities
- Architects, enhances, and maintains advanced financial reporting systems, dashboards, and analytic tools to maximize accuracy, accessibility, and insight for decision-makers. Conducts detailed financial audits including unbilled and unpaid receivables, collaborating across departments to resolve discrepancies and strengthen controls.
- Designs, creates, and implements new integrative reports and analyses on an ad hoc basis to support evolving and time-sensitive needs.
- Champions ethical and responsible AI integration in financial management processes and report design.
- Expands audit analytics to proactively identify and mitigate risk, strengthen compliance, and safeguard financial integrity, building scalable solutions for School-wide and campus-wide use.
- Leads process automation and optimization projects, collaborating with PME and University-wide teams to align Oracle and related data architectures.
- Builds and maintains predictive financial models, working closely with leadership to forecast resource needs and guide investment strategies.
- Performs comprehensive audits, including sponsored awards, receivables, unbilled and unpaid; resolves discrepancies, and implements improvements to strengthen financial controls.
- Develops and deliver unit-wide grant activity and portfolio analyses, identifying trends, risks, and strategic opportunities.
- Holistically reviews and organizes COA and POETAF segment naming conventions to ensure common use of secondary segments across entities and support robust, coherent campus-wide financial reporting.
- Leads cross-functional initiatives to automate billing and account receivable processes, partnering with central and school-level teams.
- Analyzes faculty and operational unit funding portfolios, including evaluating past funding success, current grant activity, trends and spend rate, and strategic alignment with PME goals; and recommends areas for improvement.
- Advises stakeholders on compliance, risk management, and scenario-planning related to institutional and sponsored funding.
- Supports annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning cycles, actively informing executive-level strategy.
- Fosters collaboration and communication across programs, finance units, and external partners to optimize collections and compliance efforts.
- Initiates and oversees projects focused on system innovation, compliance, and efficiency.
- Serves as an experienced liaison interacting with financial administrators within operational units on financial, budget or accounting matters to prepare, advise and recommend.
- Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses to monitor and manage for expense optimization by identifying market drivers, enhancing strategies, or improving revenue generation.
- Reviews estimated expenditures. Develops expenditure projections and periodic budget variance reports. Prepares forecasts as well as analyses.
- Acts as a resource for team members, solves complex problems. Explains complex and sensitive information.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, information systems, or directly related field; advanced degree.
Experience:
- 5-7 years of progressive experience in financial systems, audit, reporting, and analytics within higher education or research-intensive environments.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Deep Oracle ERP proficiency and financial IT integration expertise.
- Familiar with AI integration in financial tool development.
- Advanced analytical, modeling, and report development skills (Excel, BI tools, SQL).
Preferred Competencies
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage change, and influence at all levels.
- Detailed knowledge of grant management, receivable tracking, and compliance.
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong problem-solving ability, strategic thinking, and process optimization aptitude.
- Familiarity with federal, private, and institutional grant regulations.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Financial Management
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$120,000.00 - $140,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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