Job Details

Administrative and Finance Manager

Position Number: 6605340
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Administrative and Finance Manager

Job Summary

Under minimal supervision, the Administrative & Finance Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and overseeing all administrative, operational, and financial functions of the department within the University of Utah Health Sciences. This role acts as a key liaison between department leadership, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders, ensuring smooth operations, exceptional customer service, and effective resource management. The position provides leadership in budgeting, financial analysis, payroll, and department-wide administrative functions including support for nationally accredited clinical training programs and associated clinics, while also identifying opportunities to improve processes and enhance overall efficiency. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter with strong organizational skills, financial and administrative acumen, and the ability to support and collaborate across multiple teams within and external to the department.

About CSD

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Utah is dedicated to preparing highly competent and compassionate professionals in audiology and speech-language pathology. The speech-language pathology and audiology programs within this department are accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association with speech-language pathology ranked #32 among over 300 programs, and audiology ranked #48 out of 75 programs in the United States. In 2018, Academic Analytics ranked the University of Utah's programs 8th out of 300 programs in the US for research excellence and scholarship. As part of the College of Health, the department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), and a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. These programs provide students with a strong academic foundation, clinical training, and research opportunities in speech, language, and hearing sciences. The department's clinical programs are fully accredited, meeting rigorous quality standards for training future professionals in these fields. Through its mission and goals, the department aims to advance knowledge, provide outstanding training, and offer compassionate and competent clinical services to the community.

Ideal candidate

The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial thinker and change agent, serving as a strategic partner to the Chair and a key advisor to departmental leadership. This individual will identify new opportunities in education, research, and clinical services, introduce innovative lines of business, and apply sophisticated strategies for financial and operational planning. Experience with creating business plans to evaluate new opportunities is essential, ensuring that growth initiatives are both innovative and sustainable. In this capacity, the role will drive growth, improve operations, and help advance the department's mission and long-term success.

Responsibilities
Skills & Competencies:

Demonstrated leadership and ability to manage teams and processes effectively.Strong financial management, budgeting, and analysis skills, including fund/grant accounting.Advanced proficiency in financial and administrative software (e.g., Excel, PeopleSoft, EPM, BI).Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to prioritize competing tasks.Ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable recommendations.Proactive problem-solving skills and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
Administrative & Operational Leadership

Oversee daily administrative operations, including office/programmatic management, payroll, onboarding/offboarding of staff and faculty, and compliance with university policies.
Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure efficiency and consistency.
Manage scheduling, meetings, department events, and communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Maintain departmental records, personnel forms, and activity setup for startup funds and grants.
Provide cross-training and backup support across administrative functions as needed.

Financial Planning & Analysis

Prepare, monitor, and manage departmental budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational and national accreditation goals and grant/funding requirements.
Conduct financial analysis and develop data-driven insights to support department heads, faculty, and senior leadership in decision-making.
Monitor expenditures, payroll allocations, and budget adherence; provide timely recommendations for cost optimization.
Prepare and present financial reports, dashboards, and variance analyses to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Support accounting processes including journal entries, intra-fund transfers, salary cap calculations, and compliance with funding regulations.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance financial and operational efficiency.

Customer Service & Staff Development

Act as the primary point of contact for faculty, staff, and external partners regarding administrative, financial, and HR-related inquiries.
Ensure customer satisfaction by addressing concerns, resolving issues, and providing clear guidance on departmental processes.
Develop and deliver staff training programs to ensure competency in administrative and financial procedures.
Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development initiatives for team members.

Process Improvement & Collaboration

Lead initiatives to streamline administrative and financial workflows, improve accuracy, and enhance reporting capabilities.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including finance and departmental leadership, to align processes and achieve operational goals.
Participate in committees or task forces to establish standards, policies, and continuous improvement initiatives

Problem Solving

Apply judgment and analysis to resolve a wide range of administrative, operational, and financial issues.
Recommend policy, procedure, or system improvements to leadership as appropriate.
Exercise discretion in interpreting complex financial, and operational data to provide guidance and actionable solutions.

Note to applicants:Under UCareer, this position may be classified under Operations Management job family or any other track/job family that may be appropriate to fit the department needs.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically requiredNearly Continuously: Office environment.Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be requiredNearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Four years of progressively more responsible management experience. Background knowledge of hiring department's area of specialization in order to analyze, plan and draw conclusions for recommendations to superiors. Demonstrated leadership skills in planning and directing employees and processes in order to effectively monitor and develop subordinates and to ensure the smooth operation of department. Completion of provided supervisory training within one year of employment may be required.

Master's degree in a related area may be preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences
4 -10 years of progressively responsible experience in administrative management, financial planning, or operations. Experience in higher education, research, or healthcare settings is preferred.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN43211B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary:
Department: 00199 - Communication Sci & Disorders
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $70000 - $90000 DOE
Close Date: 11/1/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/189501