Director of Fiscal Services

Job Description

The University of Washington Tacoma is an anchor institution that is deeply invested in its local communities and in student success. As one of three campuses of a world-class university, UW Tacoma is dedicated to interdisciplinary and innovative teaching and scholarship and to engaging the community in mutually beneficial partnerships. UW Tacoma’s commitment to access and diversity is central to an environment where students, staff, faculty and South Sound residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth. More information about UW Tacoma and its strategic plan can be found here (

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW Tacoma has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Fiscal Services to join their team.

Under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Planning & Budget, the Director of Fiscal Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for institutional fiscal services. This includes centralized and shared service operations such as fiscal systems management and training, accounting, budgeting and financial reporting, procurement, and policy and compliance services.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring the financial health of UW Tacoma. The Director supports the Shared Environment Team and divisional leadership in a variety of financial planning and budgeting functions and will lead efforts to stabilize and optimize the Workday Finance and Adaptive Planning systems.

The Director works with minimal supervision, manages multiple internal and external deadlines, and must assess priorities to complete work in a timely and accurate manner. The role requires strong decision-making and analytical skills, particularly in the preparation of financial projections that inform campus expenditure allocations and staffing decisions. The Director ensures compliance with University, Federal, State, Local, and Private funding policies and provides data used in internal and external publications—where accuracy is essential.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Operational Leadership

• Provide administrative leadership and operational oversight for Budget, Accounting, Purchasing, Student Accounts Receivable, and Business Affairs.

• Manage the acquisition and lifecycle of capital assets, ensuring proper recording, amortization, and disposal.

• Develop departmental strategic plans based on emerging financial and technological opportunities.

• Administer and manage all business and fiscal services of the campus, including policy and procedure development to ensure compliance within the Workday Finance system requirements.

• Direct the operations and staffing of the Fiscal Services Department.

• Collaborate with campus executive staff to ensure institutional needs are met.

• Provide strategic guidance to campus leaders to improve fiscal processes.

• Promote an environment aligned with UW Tacoma’s mission and vision, emphasizing student-centered services and teaching excellence.

• Coordinates institutional audits and confidential investigations with departments and internal and external auditors, including State, Federal and foundation auditors. Assists the Director in the campus liaison role for audits, assists departmental staff through the audit process from beginning to end.

• Meets with units undergoing audits or investigations to provide guidance on responding to auditor requests; meets with auditors to clarify process and goals; ensures auditors abide by agreed-upon scope of work.

Budget, Strategic Planning, and Reporting

• Provide fiscal oversight of budgets and financial activity throughout the year.

• Partner with the Associate Vice Chancellor to align campus finance with strategic planning tools (e.g., academic plan, technology plans, campus master plan).

• Develop, oversee, and interpret financial reports to support campus-level policy decisions and asset stewardship.

• Monitor revenue and reserve accounts to ensure appropriate reserve balances.

• Recommend and develop financial models and planning tools to support sound fiscal decision-making.

• Analyze changes in funding based on legislative actions, enrollment trends, economic outlooks, and other external factors.

• Lead campus-wide training initiatives to improve financial literacy among budget owners and support staff.

Collaboration & Institutional Engagement

• Serve as backup for other Fiscal Services Department activities and assist with annual records preparation for archival.

• In the event of an institutional emergency, may be required to remain on-site or report to work to support campus continuity and recovery operations.

• Represent UW Tacoma on national and statewide committees as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of relevant experience to include supervisory-level accounting and/or budget experience, including budget development, expenditure monitoring, and fund reconciliation within a state agency or institution of higher education

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated progressive supervisory responsibility, including oversight of full-time classified and/or professional staff.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Technical & Professional Skills

• Demonstrated leadership in fiscal analysis, forecasting, budgeting, finance, or management.

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, internal controls, budgeting, fund accounting, and GAAP.

• Experience working with complex fund structures, detailed budgets, and extensive chart of accounts.

• Proficiency in financial data monitoring, reporting, and query development.

• Experience with financial systems such as Workday Finance and Adaptive Planning.

• Familiarity with statistical methods, including quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with a commitment to candor, openness, inclusiveness, and honesty.

• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information to audiences with varying levels of financial literacy.

• Ability to build constructive, respectful, and collaborative working relationships.

• Demonstrated personal responsibility, professionalism, and alignment with the mission and goals of the campus.

• Adaptability and flexibility in response to changing business needs and priorities.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.

• Experience preparing presentation and decision-support materials (e.g., PowerPoint, graphics, reports).

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$92,364.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$136,596.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer ( . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at or .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law ( .

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.