Director of Finance

Date Posted: Jan 23, 2025

Requisition ID: 455400

Location:

Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a diverse range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion—we make it our goal to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace with a workforce that is representative of Indiana's population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.

About the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE):

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) collaborates with multiple partners to facilitate Indiana’s goal to implement the HOPE (Hoosier Opportunities and Possibilities through Education) Agenda aimed at raising Indiana’s college attainment rate, from short-term credentials through graduate degrees. To achieve that goal, the Commission’s focus is to become a top 10 state in terms of the college-going rate, completions, graduate retention, service to key adult populations, and utilization of credit for prior learning. The ultimate vision of the HOPE Agenda is to be a top 10 state in terms of economic and social mobility and prosperity and a top 10 state to grow, start, or locate a business based upon the strength of human capital. Our multifaceted approach includes significantly improving and conveying the value of college education, managing the state’s significant need-based financial aid, and expanding academic programs and partnerships, amongst other strategic initiatives. Learn even more about us at www.in.gov/che

Role Overview:

The Director of Finance holds a leadership position within the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, reporting to the Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions, with responsibilities including financial management, budget development and implementation, project cost control activities, and policy analyses regarding higher education finance issues in Indiana. In this role, the incumbent will play a critical role in partnering with senior leadership in strategic decision-making and operations including budget development, monthly budget reporting, fiscal forecasting, and analyses.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum of five years previous experience with financial operations. At least seven years of previous experience in financial operations preferred.

• Demonstrated experience using technical products to perform day-to-day fiscal operational activities. Demonstrated experience using Peoplesoft or similar product strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret state and federal statutes and administrative code.

  This position will supervise two full-time employees/positions.

  Salary Statement:

  The salary for this position traditionally starts at a range of $75,000.00 - $115,000.00 and is commensurate with education or work experience.

About This Position:

The Director of Finance holds a leadership position within the agency, reporting to the Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions, with responsibilities including financial management, budget development and implementation, and policy analyses regarding higher education finance issues in Indiana. These policies include outcome- based performance for public institutions, capital project review, tuition and fee matters, and other financial issues. This position leads the agency in the adoption of technical products to improve operational efficiency and transparent funds management practices in alignment with larger state initiatives. In this role, the incumbent will play a critical role in partnering with senior leadership in strategic decision-making and operations including budget development, monthly budget reporting, fiscal forecasting, and analyses. This role will be expected to present to internal and/or external stakeholders in both private and public settings.

Currently, this position is hybrid with Commission employees reporting to the Central Office in Indianapolis a minimum of three days per week, including Tuesdays and Thursdays. This hybrid flexibility is subject to change on July 1, 2025, when all State of Indiana employees are expected to return to the office five days per week.

Key outcomes for this role include:

• Develop, maintain, and implement departmental spending plans and project budgets in collaboration with the Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions.

• Completing monthly budget-to-actual report. • Provide federal and private grant oversight as it pertains to budgeting and adhering to compliance requirements.

• Provide fiscal analysis and organizational support for annual or biannual agency fiscal deliverables.

• Responsible for all aspects of agency project cost control activities.

• Create, monitor, and report on agency key performance indicators (KPIs).

• Support the functions of the Financial Operations team, including leading team adoption of technical products that optimize efficiency, deliver mission, and support state-wide transparency initiatives.

A Day in the Life:

• Create monthly budget-to-actuals reports and analyses for financial meetings; create ad-hoc reports as requested.

• Oversee federal and private grants compliance, including the agency’s Carl D. Perkins Grant portfolio ($30M) in support of career and technical education.

• Perform activities related to agency project cost controls including but not limited to budget development, monitoring expenditures to actuals, cost variance analysis, tracking changes, and performing project close-out financial activities.

• Assist Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions in the organization, analysis of data, and presentation of the Commission’s biennial Recommended Budget.

• Assist Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions in the organization, analysis of data, and presentation of the biennial Tuition and Fee Recommendation.

• Assist Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions in the organization, analysis of data, and presentation of Capital Project requests from public postsecondary institutions.

• Support the Senior Associate Commissioner for Business Solutions and Business Intelligence team in the organization and analysis of annual outcomebased performance funding (OBPF) data.

• Provide fiscal analysis for policies and legislation pertaining to the Commission.

• Support the Controller in oversight of day-to-day activities; responsible for developing, monitoring and reporting on key fiscal performance indicators (KPIs).

• Complete annual surveys including, but not limited to, the SHEEO SHEF report and Grapevine Report.

• Supervise and support supervise and support the Grants Compliance Coordinator (1 FTE) and Office Coordinator (1 FTE).

What You'll Need for Success:

• Minimum of five years previous experience with financial operations. At least seven years of previous experience in financial operations preferred.

• Demonstrated experience using technical products to perform day-to-day fiscal operational activities. Demonstrated experience using Peoplesoft or similar product strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret state and federal statutes and administrative code.

• Demonstrated ability in using Microsoft Excel to organize, analyze, and visualize fiscal datasets. Demonstrated experience with large, complex fiscal datasets preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with multiple entities and agencies (federal, state, and nonprofit) to ensure accounting standards and procedures are maintained and reported correctly.

• Demonstrated success in using public accounting principles and standards.

• Demonstrated experience with grant and dedicated funding

• Demonstrated ability using a personal computer and other office tools.

• Experience using Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams preferred.

• Knowledge of higher education and Indiana’s postsecondary education system preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and customers.

  Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

  The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities

• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid new parent leave

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

  Equal Employment Opportunity:

  The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.

  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.

  The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.

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