The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

The Senior Director provides strategic financial and operational leadership for Clinical Affairs and USF Health, supporting the financial management, accountability, and performance of clinical operations within a complex academic healthcare environment. This role provides executive-level financial analysis, guidance, and decision support on complex organizational matters; supports strategic planning, growth initiatives, and evolving operational needs; and partners with clinical and administrative leaders to align financial and operational priorities. The Senior Director helps ensure long-term financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and accountability while advancing USF Health’s mission and strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Duties

Oversee the organization’s general accounting functions, including the general ledger, account
reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
Prepare and review monthly financial statements and management reports, analyze financial results
and variances and communicate key findings to leadership.
Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and maintain effective accounting policies,
procedures, internal controls, and segregation of duties.
Oversee accounts payable and purchasing functions, including invoice processing, vendor
management, payment approvals, procurement controls, and related reconciliations.
Serve as the primary finance contact for the annual external financial statement audit, coordinating
schedules, supporting documentation, reconciliations, and auditor requests.
Oversee preparation and filing of the organization’s annual Form 990 and coordinate with external tax
advisors as needed to ensure compliance with applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
Lead and develop accounting and AP/purchasing personnel, establish performance expectations,
and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Provides strategic leadership and guidance to individuals and groups. Coaches and develops staff to enhance functional and leadership skills and expertise. Accountable for planning and evaluating; performance, staff training, development, and recruitment, and contributes to pay recommendations, subject to policies. Allocates finances and human resources to meet university strategic goals. Reports to an AVP or VP.
Problems faced are both strategic and operational, and often complex without clear precedent. Solutions require investigation and analysis to develop multiple and/or innovative approaches, requiring a high degree of innovation and creativity. Develops, implements, and maintains plans, programs, projects, or systems that meet major college, division, or university goals.
Requires ability to negotiate and compromise with multiple levels of stakeholders across the institution to influence decisions impacting the college or department. Typically negotiates and compromises to influence internal and external parties to accept concepts, practices, and approaches of the functional area(s).
Contributes to the strategic and operational plans of the overall functional area. Decisions have a direct and significant impact on college, division, or major functional area and indirect impact on related areas. Broad authority/responsibility to formulate, approve and implement policies within departmental responsibilities. Responsibility to formulate and recommend policies affecting division and to participate in cross-functional policy development.
Requires broad knowledge and expertise in principles, practices and theories in subject area. Accountability, advocacy, coaching/mentoring, collaboration, communication, emotional intelligence, execution, facilitative decision making, fair and legal management, financial management, humility, integrity, judgment, political savvy, problem solving, role model, strategic thinking, talent selection, transparency

Working Conditions

Environment – Typical indoor environment/office setting.
Physical Requirements – climbing, standing, stooping, and/or typing; Ability to lift up to 20lbs as
needed.
Travel – Ability to travel to other USF campuses and/or other locations as requested.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization or MBA from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of seven years related exempt experience, including five years of managerial experience. Experience leading a team, project, program or function or a bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience.
Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is
conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an
alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration
required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the
advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
Preferred Qualifications
Professional experience in healthcare finance and accounting, including financial reporting and
general accounting functions.
Experience overseeing month-end and year-end financial close processes.
CPA certification preferred.
Experience working with external auditors and supporting financial audit processes.
Management experience within a finance or accounting function.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including strong Excel skills.
Experience with financial systems or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Not-for-profit experience preferred.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.