Conference & Event Services (CES) delivers exceptional service, resources, and support to events on the University of Denver (DU) campus. While upholding the University's integrity, values, and inclusive engagement, CES cultivates strategic relationships with its internal DU partners to ensure the success of outreach to local, national, and global organizations. CES provides services to clients for the exploration, discussion, and enactment of issues and topics germane to a variety of important areas that include civic, political, non-profit, educational, and business.
Position Summary
The Assistant Director, Business & Operations provides overall support and leadership regarding financial management, business and administrative operations, and human resource administrative functions. This position manages day-to-day accounting transactions and provides strategic budget planning and guidance. The Assistant Director supervises the Senior Manager, Business Processes, and serves as the CES liaison to Human Resources, Risk Management, the Planning and Budget Office, as well as the Controller’s Office. The Assistant Director reports directly to the Executive Director of CES with a dotted reporting line to the Planning and Budget Office and to the Controller’s Office. This is a benefited position expected to work approximately 37.5 hours per week, with a flexible/hybrid work schedule where applicable.
Essential Functions
Financial
- Leads budget forecasting and day-to-day budget management for CES collaborating with the Controller’s Office.
- Co-Leads the future year budget development process with the ED and collaborates with the Budget & Planning Office.
- Assists the ED with planning strategic funding and general business operations.
- Analyses of salaries, departmental salaries and expenses, and other areas as directed by the ED.
- Oversees systems for auditing personnel expenditures, ensuring departments remain within budgetary limits or allotments.
- Conducts standard financial management responsibilities:
- Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: purchasing card review and approval, accuracy of payroll, position control, invoicing, journal entries, recognize revenue, expense management, direct pays, contracts, purchase orders, invoices, pricing,
- Momentus and Banner reports, batch reports, deposits, maintain holding funds with quarterly deferral recognition reports, hiring paperwork, merit, gainshare, and seasonal audits
- Interprets and/or modifies policies and procedures to facilitate and ensure the application of sound business practices that align with DU policies and procedures.
- Generates monthly reports to ensure proper use and allocation of funds and communicate results of monthly analysis with the ED.
- Resolves unprecedented problems that require research and review of policy and procedures.
Supervision & Leadership
- Supervises the Senior Manager, Business Processes as the team develops and implements centralized systems of support for the DU campus related to Crimson Connect and Momentus.
- Point person for financial leadership to resolve issues that impact every department on campus in multiple software systems- venue management, registration, and calendar.
- Facilitates connection with the team on a regular basis for coaching and training on new systems and workflow as we brainstorm department and campus needs.
- Cultivates relationships internally and across campus for buy-in on important system changes.
- Resolves complex problems quickly as they arise, leading by example.
Data Analysis, Decision Support and Strategic Planning
- Leads the long-and short-term financial goals and planning for the department.
- Analyzes moderately complex business operations and financial statements and provide analysis to enable leadership to make recommendations for approval.
- Ensures that data and reports are accurate and complete as well as provide interpretation, visualization, analysis, and recommendations based on the data as appropriate.
- Compiles analysis into reports and presentations, usually to be presented by the Executive Director.
Contract Management
- Manages vendor contracts including preparation of documents for contract review process.
- Co-leads SLA and MOU contracting with the ED with annual review and updates with cross campus stakeholders.
- Drafts RFP as necessary and track materials relevant to vendor relationships - contracts, invoices, insurance, etc.
- Supervises staff to ensure on-time processing and payment of invoices and compliance with contract terms.
Human Resources Support
- Leads human resources related transactions for all CES staff, including hiring, separations, and permanent and temporary position changes.
- Partners with the hiring manager to manage staff hiring processes in CES, ensuring compliance with university and unit policies.
- Assists the ED with creating and implementing hiring procedures for CES.
- Assists the ED with the execution of the annual merit process and serves as DU liaison for yearly performance management processes.
- Communicate changes in policy to all CES staff; attend quarterly meetings and training.
Department Support
- Assists the ED to ensure high levels of departmental performance, achievement of goals and ensure the quality of results.
- Processes general ledger entries related to human resources, finance, events, and other transactions as needed or directed.
- Onboards new staff members with budgetary and HR responsibilities.
- Actively participates in quarterly senior staff meetings as well as weekly staff meetings prepared with budget analyses and visuals to keep the team on track for the fiscal year.
- Expertly takes systems and improves them as needed for efficiency.
- Collaborates with all staff on effective problem solving.
- Other duties as assigned by the ED.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Comprehensive understanding of accounting and budgeting practices.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft software applications, especially basic uses of pivot tables and formulas like IF and VLOOKUP.
- Ability to dig around in data effectively communicating findings to peers and senior management understanding there are various levels of comfort.
- Highly detail-oriented, yet also able to connect individual decisions to larger strategic efforts.
- Troubleshoot and prioritize many different pieces of information and different processes.
- Define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and implement solutions.
- Work independently and take the initiative to solve problems and resolve issues on an ongoing basis.
- Excellent time management, interpersonal, customer service, and oral/written communication skills.
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
- 7-10 years of relevant professional experience in business or administration including financial management
- Supervisory experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field
- 10+ years of financial experience
- 2-3 years of budgeting in an academic environment
- Knowledge of University software such as Banner, Concur, Kronos, and MYFAB
- Momentus (Formally Ungerboeck) software familiarity
- Experience in Higher Education
Working Environment
- Standard office environment.
- Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
- Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
- Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.
Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) July 22, 2026.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.
All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.