What does an assistant director of finance do?
An assistant director of finance is responsible for overseeing the financial activities of a company, ensuring accuracy and smooth workflow. They are also in charge of implementing company policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed while coordinating with the director. Moreover, an assistant director of finance may perform audits and risk assessments, allocate budgets and schedules, coordinate with different departments to gather necessary data, and create new strategies to optimize the workflow and the performance of the workforce.
Assistant director of finance responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant director of finance resumes:
- 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.
- Correct and verify student ISIR information to prepare for financial aid award.
- Ensure compliance with NSLDS rules and regulations for evaluation and disbursement of funds.
- Participate in the annual compliance audit and assist with FISAP and ip reports in conjunction with the school's CFO.
- Process R2T4 and institutional termination calculations.
- Monitor NSLDS reporting activity and transfer monitoring list.
- Direct staff preparation of audit statutory and GAAP financial statements.
- Match scholarship recipients to donors base on scholarship requirements and prerequisites.
- Provide financial leadership and technical advice, improving working capital performance and assuring all transactions are properly record and GAAP compliant.
- Develop and implement billing practices within all state and federal regulations; compile information for Medicare cost and quarterly balance reports.
Assistant director of finance skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Assistant Directors Of Finance are proficient in Customer Service, Payroll, and Reconciliations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Assistant Directors Of Finance that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 9%
Maintain and manage relationships and communications between University Financial Services and various university entities to ensure excellent customer service is provided.
- Payroll, 8%
Managed a majority of payroll ensuring that there were accurate accruals and necessary deductions.
- Reconciliations, 5%
Prepared journal entries, prepared reconciliations, produced financial productivity reports, and liaised with business managers as lead accounting point-of-contact.
- Financial Analysis, 5%
Managed financial analysis and operational reporting associated with programs for Specialty Services Division spanning over 300 sites nationally.
- Financial Data, 4%
Collected and analyzed financial data on students to determine aid eligibility within federal, donor and/or institutional guidelines.
- Cash Control, 4%
Maintained an effective cash control system with audits and reports according to corporate policies and procedures.
Common skills that an assistant director of finance uses to do their job include "customer service," "payroll," and "reconciliations." You can find details on the most important assistant director of finance responsibilities below.
Math skills. One of the key soft skills for an assistant director of finance to have is math skills. You can see how this relates to what assistant directors of finance do because "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." Additionally, an assistant director of finance resume shows how assistant directors of finance use math skills: "collected and analyzed financial data to find key metrics for quantitative forecasting and modeling. "
Analytical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling assistant director of finance duties is analytical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "to assist executives in making decisions, financial managers need to evaluate data and information that affects their organization." According to an assistant director of finance resume, here's how assistant directors of finance can utilize analytical skills in their job responsibilities: "provided assistance to hospital administration in the compilation of monthly financial reports and operation analysis. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for assistant directors of finance to perform their duties. For an example of how assistant director of finance responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an assistant director of finance: "be the liaison for financial aid department with the communications department to develop all financial aid forms and publications. ".
Detail oriented. assistant director of finance responsibilities often require "detail oriented." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "in preparing and analyzing reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, financial managers must be precise and attentive to their work in order to avoid errors." This resume example shows what assistant directors of finance do with detail oriented on a typical day: "design and maintain detailed spreadsheets regarding confidential financial data. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for an assistant director of finance to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what assistant directors of finance relies on this skill, since "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." How this skill relates to assistant director of finance duties can be seen in an example from an assistant director of finance resume snippet: "assisted in managing organizational cash flow and revenue forecasting. "
The three companies that hire the most assistant director of finances are:
- Ernst & Young61 assistant directors of finance jobs
- Marriott International59 assistant directors of finance jobs
- Highgate Hotels27 assistant directors of finance jobs
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Compare different assistant directors of finance
Assistant director of finance vs. 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between assistant directors of finance and controller, vice president. For instance, assistant director of finance responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "financial aid programs," "shared services," and "hr." Whereas a controller, vice president is skilled in "risk management," "oversight," "cpa," and "sox." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Controllers, vice president earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $162,621. On the other hand, assistant directors of finance are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $103,042.On average, controllers, vice president reach similar levels of education than assistant directors of finance. Controllers, vice president are 0.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Assistant director of finance vs. Corporate controller
A corporate controller is an individual 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. They oversee maintaining accounting records by keeping and storing them in an operable system. Corporate controllers are also required to manage the accounting operations of the organization's subsidiaries.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, assistant director of finance responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "financial aid programs," "shared services," and "hr." Meanwhile, a corporate controller has duties that require skills in areas such as "cpa," "general ledger," "oversight," and "treasury." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Corporate controllers earn a higher average salary than assistant directors of finance. But corporate controllers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $141,530. Additionally, assistant directors of finance earn the highest salaries in the utilities with average pay of $103,042 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Corporate controllers tend to reach similar levels of education than assistant directors of finance. In fact, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant director of finance vs. Finance planning manager
A finance planning manager oversees the budget and finance development processes within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around analyzing financial records, participating in auditing processes, producing reports and forecasts, and coordinating with different company personnel to obtain accurate data. A finance planning manager must also utilize fiscal tools, devise new business strategies and opportunities, and keep abreast of all the company's upcoming projects. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from assistant director of finance resumes include skills like "customer service," "cash control," "financial results," and "financial aid programs," whereas a finance planning manager is more likely to list skills in "financial models," "financial performance," "hyperion," and "balance sheet. "
Finance planning managers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $112,683. Comparatively, assistant directors of finance have the highest earning potential in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $103,042.When it comes to education, finance planning managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to assistant directors of finance. In fact, they're 5.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Assistant director of finance vs. Finance vice president
The vice president of finance is one of the highest-ranking executives in a company. He/She or she works under the chief financial officer, and both have similar duties that are often interchangeable. This executive's primary function is to oversee the company's financial records and project future financial plans and investments. The finance vice president ensures that the company's finances are managed suitably and effectively. This role's responsibilities include leading the team towards achieving the company's financial mission, monitoring the financial performance, preparing and presenting financial reports, and conducting audits on financial expenditures, assets, and liabilities.
Types of assistant director of finance
Updated January 8, 2025
