Director - Finance, KRI LLC

About the Opportunity Job Summary: The Kostas Research Institute (Kostas), the applied research arm of Northeastern University focused on DoD-related S&T R&D, seeks a dynamic and experienced Director of Finance to support its mission across multiple sites including Burlington MA, Arlington VA, and Brunswick ME. Kostas is affiliated with the independent 501(c)3 KRI at Northeastern University, LLC (KRI), a wholly owned special-purpose subsidiary of the University, with ambitious plans to grow top-line revenue to and beyond $500 million annually. This role requires an extremely experienced finance professional who combines a record of professional success in financial management, grant administration, budget oversight, and Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal contract compliance. The Director of Finance will provide strategic financial leadership and operational oversight for all financial matters across the Institute and its affiliated entity, ensuring efficient management of research and operational budgets in compliance with federal sponsor requirements, University policies, and industry best practices. The Director of Finance will report to the Director of the Kostas Research Institute and CEO of the KRI, LLC. Working closely with the Institute's Executive Leadership and the Program Management Office, the Director of Finance will support Kostas' mission to discover and translate new knowledge through S&T R&D programs for US government mission-driven agencies, allied governments, and corporate customers. The position requires implementing an orderly and trackable business environment with best-in-class practices; providing oversight for effective financial and sponsored award management; executing all aspects of budgeting, financial transactions, analysis, and control; and collaborating with colleagues across Northeastern University Research Enterprise Services (NU-RES), the Office of the Provost, and external partner organizations. Minimum Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's degree required Master's degree or relevant professional certification (e.g., CPA, CPM, CMA) strongly preferred in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience in financial planning and administration, project management, or grant management in complex organizations Experience working in a research university or research institution strongly preferred Experience managing federal (particularly DoD) and/or institutional research budgets Demonstrated experience with DoD organizations, funding mechanisms, and contract compliance preferred Proven experience supervising financial analysts or similar positions Knowledge & Skills: Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel required Knowledge of university financial systems (Banner, Cognos, Workday, Concur, SharePoint, Argos, Archibus, Tableau, IntelliBUY, etc.) a plus Strong understanding of federal research compliance requirements, particularly DoD regulations Demonstrated ability to develop and execute financial planning and budgeting processes Proven ability to lead finance and administrative staff, collaborate across departments, and make effective decisions Experience with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and general ledger management Effective communication and analytical skills with ability to focus on strategic objectives while executing day-to-day operational activities Strong analytical and project management skills with ability to sort out complex financial information Excellent strategic leadership and team building skills Demonstrated strong commitment to exceeding client/customer expectations Ability to multi-task and work independently as well as in teams, with a strong "bias for action" Ability to adapt quickly to address new priorities in a fast-paced and unstructured environment with an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset Security: Willingness and ability to obtain a DoD security clearance preferred Active DoD secret clearance or above strongly preferred Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities: Develop multi-year operational and research budgets supporting the Institute's growth trajectory Create and maintain budgetary policies and procedures ensuring compliance with University policies, federal funding requirements, and DoD and other federal regulations Conduct regular "budget vs. actual" analyses to inform Institute leadership and support strategic decision-making Recommend, develop, and implement processes, procedures, and budget structures to support effective and efficient financial operations Provide pre- and post-award administration of grants and external funding related to budgetary issues Conduct regular "budget vs. actual" analyses and other reporting to inform Institute leadership and support strategic decision-making Identify short and long-range budgetary issues (operational or research) and recommend solutions Oversee Financial Analyst who will be responsible for day-to-day operational, financial, and administrative tasks Support contract development and oversight with external partner organizations, academic institutions, and corporate customers Support development of forecasting models for all research initiatives and programs including operational management/support Ensure proper usage of funds (including internal funds and externally sponsored research), monitor open salary lines, revenue sources, and movement between budget categories Ensure efficient deployment of financial resources through data-driven analysis and modeling Track research efforts reporting and compliance issues to ensure all are addressed in partnership with NU-RES Position Type Temporary Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Pay Rate: 70.00 Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.    Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.

Salary : $500