ARELIS ROJAS
WESTWOOD,USA
Summary
Highly motivated finance professional with 25+ years of experience in strategic budget management and compliance oversight. Proven expertise in leading cross-departmental teams, improving financial operations, and increasing profitability. Adept at designing robust financial infrastructures that support research, education, and clinical care.
Versatile senior director highly experienced in and areas. Hands-on leadership and management background with a solid track record of success in process optimization and operational restructuring. Seeking a professional position with a growing operation.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director Finance and Strategy
Columbia University
New York, NY
10.2022 - 09.2024
- Managed financial operations across three departments (Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, and Urology) with a combined budget of $115M, ensuring compliance with financial policies
- Led financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning for business and academic missions, enhancing operational efficiency
- Collaborated with leadership to strengthen financial controls and improved department profitability
- Supervised a team of financial analysts, increasing productivity through process optimization
Senior Director Budget and Finance
Department of Pediatrics
11.2015 - 10.2022
- Directed a $170M operational budget, achieving breakeven results for 2018, 2019, and 2021, while reducing deficit spending
- Developed financial models supporting faculty recruitment and large academic projects, leading to the acquisition of $25M in new funding
- Led a finance team of 5 managers and 7 staff, increasing efficiency through restructuring procurement and reporting processes
- Collaborated with department leadership in long-term strategy development, improving financial planning accuracy
Director of Finance
Clinical Trials Office
06.2015 - 11.2015
- Oversaw post-award financial activities for clinical trials, managing $12M+ in funding, and ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements
- Provided comprehensive budget forecasts and analyses, optimizing resource allocation
- Managed budgetary activities of CU Research Pharmacy and Spanish Translation Center, improving financial performance
- Developed policies to ensure compliance with regulatory standards in managing clinical trial finances
Director of Management
Department of Medicine
02.2008 - 06.2015
- Managed a $350M operational budget, producing detailed reports that improved decision-making efficiency for senior management
- Streamlined financial reporting processes, increasing reporting efficiency
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic plans for resource allocation and financial optimization, reducing expenditure variances
- Compiled financial summaries and ad hoc reports for the Faculty Practice Organization, improving profit/loss transparency
Behavioral Health Residential Director of Finance
Federation Employment and Guidance Services
New York, NY
04.2007 - 02.2008
- Managed a $25M budget for the Behavioral Health Residential division, optimizing financial management and program alignment with strategic goals
- Supervised contracts and ensured compliance with regulatory and accrediting standards, improving compliance rates
- Generated monthly variance reports, leading to improvement in fiscal tracking and budget adherence
- Directed HUD funding processes including application, allocation, and monitoring, ensuring 100% regulatory compliance
Education
MBA - Accounting & Finance
American Intercontinental University
Hoffman Estates, IL12.2006
Bachelors - Business Administration
American Intercontinental University
Hoffman Estates, IL06.2005
Skills
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Budget Management and Forecasting
- Cost Allocation and Control
- Compliance and Regulatory Standards
- Financial Modeling
- Contract Management
- Advanced Excel and Financial Software Proficiency
- Leadership and Team Management
- Strategic Thinking
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Problem Solving
- Adaptability
- Time Management
- Analytical Thinking
- Operations Management
Accomplishments
- Implemented a unique financial reporting system and, as a result, increased reporting efficiency.
- Analyzed and reported variances in expenditures, which reduced deficits in unrestricted funds.
- Implemented new profit & loss by physicians in the Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, which led to an increased in clinical effort and revenue generation for under-funded faculty.
- Implemented new comprehensive reports for space management, joint budget with New York Presbyterian Hospital, wRVU's/Productivity, revamped cFTE's report and revised quarterly divisional results.
- Implemented a cost allocation for each off-site practice in the Department.
- Transparency with the mechanism and calculation of the Fund Flow assessments.
- Re-structure the procurement staff to increase efficiencies and streamline the purchasing process. Implemented new and updated procurement policies in the Department of Pediatrics.
- Successfully administered financial budgets with required breakeven results between 2018, 2019, and 2021 in the Department of Pediatrics.
- Assisted leadership in ending a three-year receivership and overseeing the Department's finances with the university's controller office by demonstrating the capacity to meet its long-term financial commitments.
Priorexperience
- Columbia University, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Director of Finance
- Department of Surgery, Business Manager
- Health Sciences Division Business Office, Bookkeeper
- School of Public Health, Bookkeeper
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Senior Clerk
Timeline
Senior Director Finance and Strategy
Columbia University
10.2022 - 09.2024
Senior Director Budget and Finance
Department of Pediatrics
11.2015 - 10.2022
Director of Finance
Clinical Trials Office
06.2015 - 11.2015
Director of Management
Department of Medicine
02.2008 - 06.2015
Behavioral Health Residential Director of Finance
Federation Employment and Guidance Services
04.2007 - 02.2008
MBA - Accounting & Finance
American Intercontinental University
Bachelors - Business Administration
American Intercontinental University
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