How to hire an assistant director of finance

How to hire an assistant director of finance, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant director of finance hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant director of finance job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant director of finance
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant director of finance do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an assistant director of finance, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect assistant director of finance also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of assistant director of finance salaries for various roles:

   Type of Assistant Director Of Finance	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Director Of Finance	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$22-52
   Controller, Vice President	A Controller, Vice President is focused on controlling and directing financial planning and budget management. They supervise the daily operations of the finance department, such as financial reporting, accounts payable, and payroll.	$52-113
   Corporate Controller	A corporate controller is a professional who is responsible for supervising the overall daily accounting operations of an organization. Integral to the financial health of the organization, corporate controllers are required to help the organization with strategic financial decisions through forecasting reports and financial statements... Show more	$47-100

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Payroll
   • Reconciliations
   • Financial Analysis
   • Financial Data
   • Cash Control
   • Cash Management
   • Financial Results
   • Financial Aid Programs
   • Internal Controls
   • Financial Management
   • Shared Services
   • Financial Operations
   • HR

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage FSEOG & FWS programs in the campus.
   • Lead team of individuals responsible for completion of verification, R2T4, and student file audits.
   • Manage a majority of payroll ensuring that there are accurate accruals and necessary deductions.
   • Manage financial reporting in support of CEO/CFO/President with oversight for data integrity and consistency of reporting across enterprise.
   • Complete state and federal reporting which pertain to financial aid such as IPEDS, FISAP, and HLC reports.
   • Prepare journal entries, prepare reconciliations, produce financial productivity reports, and liaise with business managers as lead accounting point-of-contact.

   More assistant director of finance duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant director of finance job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant director of finance salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assistant directors of finance' average salary in mississippi is 39% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant directors of finance earn 58% less than senior-level assistant directors of finance.
   • Certifications. An assistant director of finance with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant director of finance's salary.

   Average assistant director of finance salary

   $71,057yearly

   $34.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant director of finance salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average assistant director of finance salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$94,965	$46
   2	New York	$93,125	$45
   3	Virginia	$90,061	$43
   4	Washington	$88,993	$43
   5	Connecticut	$86,534	$42
   6	Illinois	$84,173	$40
   7	District of Columbia	$82,620	$40
   8	Nevada	$80,894	$39
   9	Maryland	$78,772	$38
   10	Wisconsin	$76,509	$37
   11	Massachusetts	$76,473	$37
   12	Rhode Island	$76,211	$37
   13	Pennsylvania	$73,539	$35
   14	Minnesota	$72,134	$35
   15	Texas	$70,072	$34
   16	Oregon	$68,297	$33
   17	Louisiana	$64,150	$31
   18	Ohio	$63,729	$31
   19	Utah	$63,659	$31
   20	Florida	$63,152	$30

   Average assistant director of finance salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UCI Health	$103,354	$49.69	3
   2	Moody's	$102,168	$49.12	15
   3	Icma-rc	$100,139	$48.14	18
   4	Stanford University	$100,128	$48.14	31
   5	American National Bank Of Texas	$95,867	$46.09	6
   6	New York University	$93,119	$44.77	6
   7	Harvard University	$91,642	$44.06
   8	Marshall University	$86,947	$41.80	4
   9	Suffolk University	$86,685	$41.68
   10	Northwestern Mutual	$85,737	$41.22	420
   11	Commonwealth	$85,220	$40.97
   12	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$85,166	$40.95	14
   13	Columbia University in the City of New York	$85,130	$40.93	21
   14	Boston College	$84,060	$40.41	2
   15	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$83,471	$40.13	3
   16	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$83,383	$40.09	5
   17	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$83,150	$39.98	48
   18	The American Musical and Dramatic Academy	$83,079	$39.94
   19	Georgetown University	$82,747	$39.78	1
   20	Boston Public Schools	$81,568	$39.22

4. Writing an assistant director of finance job description

   An assistant director of finance job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant director of finance job description:

   Assistant director of finance job description example

   Proper Hospitality is seeking a Corporate Assistant Director of Finance to assist in financial oversight of several hotels within our portfolio.
   
   This key role will partner with both the corporate Finance team as well as leaders at the property level to assist with all accounting and financial requirements for each respective property, providing financial support and technical expertise with the goal of maximizing profit and safeguarding hotel assets.
   
   Additionally, this centralized role will focus on managing accounting records and financial reports, providing effective controls, and management of financial accounting and control procedures.
   Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field required
   
   Experience: Minimum 4 years of Hotel or Resort Management Finance experience required. Previous Assistant Controller or Assistant Director of Finance experience or equivalent also required.
   
   Company Overview
   
   Proper Hospitality is made up of a diverse group of passionate individuals who share a common love for hotels and the art of hospitality. Our philosophy is simple: There is a right way to do things and anything less just isn’t proper. We are seeking out the “best of the best” from inside and outside of the industry to work alongside us as we grow a new kind of lifestyle Hospitality Company inspired by a centuries-old tradition. The work is challenging and fast-paced, but rewarding above all.
   
   We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other federal/state protected category.
   
   Proper Hospitality will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local Fair Chance Hiring Ordinances.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find assistant directors of finance for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any assistant directors of finance they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assistant directors of finance with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant director of finance job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant director of finance candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with assistant director of finance candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant director of finance

   Once you've selected the best assistant director of finance candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new assistant director of finance. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an assistant director of finance?