Associate Director of Accounting

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Campus Services provides essential services to the Harvard community. The 14 Campus Services departments have approximately 1,800 active employees (70% of staff are represented by eight unions) and a combined annual budget of more than $700 million. These departments provide stewardship, strategic support, and client/customer services in the areas of buildings and facilities, graduate housing, capital projects, sustainability, parking, engineering and utilities, dining, hospitality and events management, and international support.

The Campus Services Finance & Administration Department (CSFA) provides accounting, financial analysis, budgeting and planning, taxes and financial administrative support services to the Campus Services business units and the customers they serve. The organization is comprised of two main functions:
Controller’s Office (Accounting Operations) and Financial Planning and Analysis.

Responsible for the strategic direction of accounting, budgeting and control activities within a school or unit. Enhance the control environment by establishing and monitoring effective processes and systems.

The Associate Director of Accounting reports to and backs up the Controller, serving as a key member of the CSFA team. This role leads and coordinates with university partners including but not limited to Harvard University Housing & Real Estate, the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Controller, CS Financial Planning & Analysis, Tax office, and Information Technology to address complex accounting issues and align stakeholders.

The Associate Director oversees internal controls, tax matters, and compliance with GAAP, University and CS policies, and all relevant regulations while driving process efficiency through technology and automation. The role requires strong leadership, independent judgment, advanced technical accounting and accounting system skills, clear communication, and innovative problem solving.

The Associate Director leads and directs the teams responsible for real estate accounting, real estate tax, and Campus‑wide accounting deliverables, and provides cross‑functional leadership to other accounting areas to ensure continuity, consistency, and excellence across all financial operations.

• Provides strategic direction, coaching, and performance management ensuring a high level of customer service and quality work.
• Regularly reviews team structure and workflows to ensure that activities are value‑added, strategically aligned with organizational priorities, and focused on the highest‑impact work.
• Provides leadership and oversight on complex financial accounting matters and analyses, partnering with key representatives across the university to evaluate and resolve issues efficiently and within tight time frames.
• Leads the development and drafting of Campus Services–wide accounting and internal control communications.
• Leads a team responsible for the full spectrum of accounting operations, including but not limited to: monthly, quarterly, and annual close for a large and complex portfolio; accurate and timely daily transactional processing (e.g., journal entries, invoicing, and billing); fixed asset administration (capitalization guidance, analysis and impairment, disposals, monthly accounting, and bi‑annual physical…