Senior Associate Athletic Director Finance & Admin

University of Illinois - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Chicago, IL

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance & Administration at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) plays a pivotal role in overseeing multiple units within the Intercollegiate Athletics department. This position is responsible for the leadership and management of the athletics business office, ensuring the smooth operation of daily activities and personnel management. The Senior Associate Athletic Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Director of Athletics and the Athletics Executive Cabinet, providing insights and guidance on financial operations and strategic planning. This role also involves significant oversight of various athletics units, including facilities, operations, capital projects, information technology, sports equipment and apparel operations, and team travel operations. In addition to administrative duties, the Senior Associate Athletic Director will act as a sport administrator for designated sports programs, collaborating closely with head coaches to support the academic, competitive, and personal development goals of student-athletes. The position requires meticulous management of athletics operating budgets, scholarship funds, and capital debt budgets, including annual financial planning and routine monitoring of accounts. The Senior Associate Athletic Director will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with university policies, NCAA regulations, and other governing entities, while preparing and submitting necessary reports and budget materials. This role demands strong leadership skills, financial acumen, and the ability to foster collaboration across various departments and stakeholders. The Senior Associate Athletic Director will be instrumental in developing and implementing departmental business policies and procedures, ensuring timely invoicing, payment processing, and contract administration. The position also involves delivering presentations on budget and financial matters to university staff and external stakeholders, further emphasizing the importance of effective communication and relationship management in this role.

Responsibilities

• Leadership of the athletics business office, its daily operations, and related personnel.
• Serve as a trusted senior advisor to the Director of Athletics and the Athletics Executive Cabinet regarding the financial operations of the department and other areas of oversight.
• Oversight for the following athletics units: Facilities, Operations and Capital Projects; Information Technology; Sports Equipment and Apparel; Team Travel Operations; and other units and areas as assigned.
• Serve as a sport administrator for assigned sports programs; supervise and partner with head coaches to help advance towards achievement of team and departmental goals; support academic, competitive, and personal development goals of student-athletes.
• Oversight for athletics operating, scholarship, and capital debt budgets, including annual financial planning and routine account monitoring.
• Monitor all sport and support unit budgets; meet routinely with budget managers; maintain accurate financial records; ensure timely submission of required documents; run reports as needed; manage reconciliation of PCard and TCard transactions.
• Management of all department contractual agreements, including athletic contests, facility rentals, contractors, etc.
• Develop and implement departmental business policies and procedures in accordance with applicable university, system, Conference, NCAA and related policies; ensure timely and compliant invoicing, payment, contract administration, and related business functions.
• Collaborate with University Budget Office on preparation and submission of athletics budget materials during annual budget process and ongoing financial matters.
• Prepare and submit routine and annual reporting requirements (e.g. NCAA Financial Report, EADA Report, Clery Act, FOIA, etc.) to the University, University of Illinois System, State, Conference, NCAA and other governing entities.
• Prepare and deliver budget and financial presentations to University and athletics staff and other internal and external stakeholders, as requested.
• Liaison to UI System, University, Conference and other committees and working groups related to business operations and related areas (OBFS, Purchasing, etc).
• Deliver exceptional customer assistance to athletics staff.

Requirements

• Proven experience in financial management and oversight within an athletic department or similar environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple units and personnel effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with various stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of NCAA regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting, and contract management.
• Ability to analyze financial data and provide strategic recommendations.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working in a higher education environment, particularly in athletics administration.
• Familiarity with university budgeting processes and financial systems.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial software and reporting tools.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Dental insurance coverage
• Vision insurance coverage
• Retirement savings plan (401k)
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement for further education
• Flexible scheduling options