Associate Director - Area Management Center

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

The Office of the Provost, Finance & Administration is seeking a highly collaborative and analytically minded Financial Management Analyst III (Working Title: Associate Director, Area Management Center) to join our team. In this role, you will support the financial management, research administration, and compliance activities that help advance Duke's academic, research, and strategic priorities.

Reporting to the Director of Financial Business Services, you will provide oversight and guidance across a complex management center that includes 8 schools, 10 institutes and centers, and more than 20 support units, auxiliary services, and strategic initiatives. You will work closely with finance leaders, research administrators, business managers, and senior academic leadership to support sound financial stewardship, effective grants administration, and compliance with university and sponsor requirements.

This role offers an opportunity to influence financial strategy across a diverse portfolio of academic and research units. You will analyze complex financial data, support budgeting and planning processes, oversee research administration activities, monitor sponsored project financial performance, and serve as a trusted advisor on financial and compliance matters.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree is required in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of six years of experience in financial management, research administration, grants management, sponsored projects administration, financial analysis and reporting, budgeting, or financial modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to apply financial management principles within a research or grants administration environment.
• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with pre-award and post-award research administration activities.
• Experience supporting sponsored projects management, grants administration, and research compliance.
• Familiarity with Duke financial systems, policies, and procedures.
• Experience providing financial oversight across multiple programs, departments, or organizational units.
• Advanced knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting methodologies.
• CPA, MBA, CRA, or other research administration certification preferred.
• Experience supervising staff and managing performance.
• Advanced proficiency with SAP, Microsoft Excel, and financial reporting tools such as Analysis for Office.

Other Requirements

• Strong customer service and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, large volumes of data, and competing deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to present complex financial and research administration information to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

This position is hybrid eligible and requires working onsite at Duke University offices in Durham, North Carolina, 2–3 days per week. Employees should be able to work effectively from home on remote workdays using available technology and must reside in a Duke-approved state.

Be Bold.

Position Description:

Lead budget development and financial planning activities (20%)

• Coordinate and support annual budgets, fall and spring projections, multi-year financial planning, and capital planning processes for assigned schools, institutes, and administrative units.
• Analyze financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts, identify trends, and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Prepare and present financial analyses and budget materials for senior Provost Office leadership.
• Advise finance leaders, business managers, and research administrators on budget compliance, financial policies, and resource management.
• Review financial performance, variance explanations, overdrafts, and expense controls while helping units resolve financial challenges.

Provide financial management and oversight of Provost resources (20%)

• Track and monitor endowment, university, and research-related funding sources that support strategic priorities.
• Coordinate allocation and distribution of funding while ensuring timely reconciliations and reporting.
• Support fiscal year-end close activities and ensure compliance with University accounting policies.
• Review complex financial transactions and partner with central administration to resolve accounting issues.
• Prepare and distribute financial reports to support management decision-making.
• Monitor sponsored research activity and identify financial, operational, or compliance issues requiring resolution.

Serve as an advisor on accounting structures, systems, and financial operations (20%)

• Provide guidance on university accounting structures, fund flows, reporting requirements, and financial management practices.
• Develop and implement accounting structures for new programs, strategic initiatives, reorganizations, and consolidated operations.
• Train finance and research administration professionals on Duke financial systems, reporting tools, budget processes, and sponsored research administration.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for management center units regarding financial systems and reporting.
• Participate in special projects involving process improvements, financial reporting enhancements, compliance initiatives, research administration operations, and system implementations.

Support management center policy compliance and internal controls (20%)

• Review and approve journal entries, vouchers, travel expenditures, and other transactions in accordance with University and Provost Office requirements.
• Manage financial system security access and coordinate with central administrative offices regarding access requests and workflow structures.
• Monitor policy exception requests and maintain appropriate documentation.
• Evaluate internal controls related to research administration and sponsored activity.
• Partner with unit leadership and central offices to identify areas of financial risk and support corrective action plans.

Provide research and international financial oversight (20%)

• Support financial oversight activities for campus research units and international initiatives within the Provost management center.
• Partner with research administration, Office of Global Affairs, faculty leaders, and central administrative offices to ensure compliance and effective financial management.
• Provide consultation regarding proposal budgets, award management, cost allowability, financial monitoring, payroll considerations, subawards, and award closeout activities.
• Monitor sponsored project portfolios and identify emerging compliance, operational, or financial risks.
• Develop and monitor operating budgets for campus research units and assess monthly, quarterly, and annual financial performance.
• Assist with the development of recharge center billing rates and conduct financial trend analyses.
• Coordinate annual reviews of recharge centers and validate methodologies, reporting accuracy, and cost allocations.

Choose Duke.

The Office of the Provost supports Duke University's academic mission by providing financial leadership, operational oversight, and strategic guidance to schools, institutes, centers, and administrative units across the university. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of higher education finance, research administration, strategic planning, and compliance while partnering with senior leaders across a broad and diverse portfolio.

Join one of the world's leading research universities and contribute to initiatives that support groundbreaking research, academic excellence, and global engagement. You'll collaborate with exceptional colleagues, influence financial and research administration practices across the Provost management center, and help ensure responsible stewardship of university resources.