Director of Financial Operations

The Director of Financial Operations (the “Director”) is a key member of the Finance and Accounting leadership team, responsible for driving operational excellence, efficiency, and transparency across the Institute’s financial systems and processes. This role oversees procurement and vendor management, financial systems and ERP administration, cross-functional business process improvement, and board reporting that integrates financial data across the Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) teams. The Director is deeply involved in understanding the flow of financial data, end-to-end business workflows, and the use of technology to enhance productivity, efficiency, and reporting across the Finance and Accounting teams. The Director partners closely with leaders across the organization to ensure that financial operations effectively support strategic goals and the Institute’s mission.Key Responsibilities of the position are detailed below.Leadership & Strategy • Serve as a strategic partner to the CFO and other members of the Finance leadership team (Controller and Lead, FP&A) to strengthen financial infrastructure, systems, and reporting capabilities. • Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Inform the development and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and controls to ensure system alignment, operational efficiency, and compliance Procurement & Vendor Management • Oversee procurement and vendor management processes, ensuring transparency, competitiveness, and alignment with Institute goals. • Implement best practices in sourcing, contracting, and vendor performance management. • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to optimize cost efficiency and manage supplier relationships. Financial Systems, Data & Technology • Lead the administration, optimization, and integration of the Institute’s financial systems and ERP platform. • Manage the system selection process and implementation, as needed, to ensure business needs are fulfilled. • Develop a deep understanding of the flow of financial data and how it moves through systems and business processes to ensure data integrity and accuracy. • Partner with IT and departments to identify, implement, and maintain technologies that enhance financial reporting, workflow efficiency, and team productivity. • Ensure financial data structures and reporting tools support timely, accurate, and actionable insights for decision-making. Cross-Functional Business Processes • Analyze and map business workflows across Finance, Accounting, and other departments to identify opportunities for automation and process improvement. • Drive initiatives that streamline financial operations and strengthen collaboration between teams. • Serve as a liaison between Finance and other functional areas to align business processes with financial objectives and compliance standards. Reporting & Governance • Oversee the preparation of board and executive management reports that consolidate financial information from Accounting and FP&A. • Enhance and streamline reporting tools and processes to improve data visualization, accuracy, and timeliness. • Work with the Lead, Financial Planning, Analysis, and Investments to develop and refine operational and financial metrics to support data-driven decision-making. Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred. • 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations, including financial systems or process improvement leadership. • Strong understanding of financial data flow, systems integration, and the interdependencies between business processes and technology. • Experience managing ERP systems (e.g., Workday, Oracle, NetSuite, SAP) strongly preferred. • Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and driving operational improvements through technology. • Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. • Excellent communication and collaboration abilities across technical and non-technical audiences. • Proven leadership experience with a focus on developing people and improving processes. • Strong understanding of financial systems, data governance, internal controls, and compliance frameworks. • Commitment to operational excellence, integrity, and organizational mission. To ApplySubmit the requested documents to careers@stowers.org or to Administration Department, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.Requested Documents • Current Resume • Cover Letter