Associate Director, Endowment Management

Associate Director, Endowment Management

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Endowment Management at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education.

Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties) :

Job Purpose This Associate Director, Endowment Management will lead Treasury’s Endowment & Gift Management Team which consists of endowment accounting / administration, planned gift administration, and stock donations.

This position will prepare financial statements for the Wayne State University Foundation (the Foundation), serve as a key process partner for the Development Office and the Foundation and manage related day-to-day operations, process improvement, implementation, and the management of staff.

This role reports to the Assistant Vice President of Treasury.

Essential Functions

• Prepares detailed, accurate, and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual investment journal entries, reports, statements, and reconciliations.
• Reconciles investment manager and custody statements.
• Records financial transactions into the University's accounting system, including quarterly endowment distributions, quarterly unitization processes, and the transfers of funds between accounts.
• Lead the endowment related audit work, draft the Foundation’s financial statements, and support the University’s audit.
• Performs cash flow analysis to determine the appropriate amount of fund liquidity necessary to meet the short-term obligations of the endowment.
• Documents investment accounting processes and procedures.
• Creates and updates tools and resources for end users.
• Advises on endowment policy issues.
• Manages multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Keeps current and compliant with best business practices and changes in relevant regulations, laws, and accounting pronouncements as they occur.
• Provides leadership and day-to-day supervision to assigned professional staff. Coaches, counsels, and trains staff. Answers questions and resolves problems as needed.
• Supervises the administration, accounting, and reporting for planned gifts and trusts and provides back up support. Consult, analyze, and review proposed planned gifts.
• Perform other related duties as assigned. (Including but not limited to, process improvements, system implementation, cross-team support).
• Analyzes and reports on the endowment and other restricted gifts to campus constituencies.
• Prepares (or reviews) annual surveys (, NACUBO) and other annual and ad hoc requests for investment data, including requests from the Development Office, Schools / Colleges / Divisions.
• Prepares (or reviews) tax, regulatory, agency, University, donor, and ad hoc reports.
• Cross-trains in Treasury, including cash management and debt operations.

WORK CONTEXT Job Reports to : Vice President / AVP / Dean.Leadership Accountability : Implements operating plans.Supervisory Accountability : Supervises professionals and non-managers.

Organizational Accountability : Manages sub-unit of a department. Financial Accountability : Approves expenditures. Customer Accountability : Interfaces with officials and executives.

Freedom to Act : Subject to general input from supervisor.

Qualifications :

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education

• Bachelor's degree.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

Experience

• Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience).
• Minimum five years of accounting experience in progressively responsible roles. Experience in accounting for complex investment portfolios.
• Proficiency required in Microsoft Office products, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and accounting software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Operational

• Solid knowledge of GAAP, GASB, endowment investment accounting, and fund accounting.
• Knowledge of planned gift accounting.
• Endowment unitization process and activities.
• Proven ability to apply broad conceptual judgment, initiative, and ability to deal with complex accounting issues.
• Ability to extract, interpret, and leverage data including but not limited to developing spreadsheets and using databases for analysis and operational support.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and articulate complex information to multiple audiences.

Collaboration, Leadership & Management.

• Foster and build strong relationships with the University stakeholders.
• Work with a diverse workforce.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and emphatically in interactions with others in all forms of communication.
• Provide strategy-driven, peer-to-peer leadership to colleagues within Treasury and across the University.
• Lead and move projects forward effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer service.
• Ability to train, mentor, and develop staff.
• Successfully navigates the complex structure of a decentralized University.
• Commitment to continuous process improvement.

School / College / Division :

H82 - Fiscal Operations

Primary department :

H8203 - Cash Management & Investments

Employment type :

• Regular Employee
• Job type : Full Time
• Job category : Staff / Administrative

Funding / salary information :

Compensation type : Annual Salary

Working conditions :

• Office Environment.-Weekend and evening hours based on business needs required. -Limited out-of-state travel to conferences and training required.
• Ability to travel across campus.

Job openings :

• Number of openings : 1
• Reposted position : No

Background check requirements :

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work.

If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.