Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Quote
Timeline
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S.R. Thompson

S.R. Thompson

Director Of Finance, Budget & Procurement
Battle Creek,MI

Summary

Highly collaborative Director of Finance promoting more than 15 years of progressive experience and proficiency in identifying and analyzing trends and partnering with other departmental leaders. Action-oriented individual with experience tracking actual business results against plans, including acquisitions. Offering exceptional issue resolution and staff training skills.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience
2
2
Certificates

Work History

Director of Finance, Budget & Procurement

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL
02.2022 - Current
  • Leads initiatives to optimize resource utilization and achieve strategic objectives of $36 million division in one of world's leading research institutions of higher education. This includes managing all aspects of unit’s financial operations - accounting, financial analysis and reporting, budgeting, sourcing and procurement.
  • Supervise, train, develop, mentor and manage day-to-day operations of 4-person finance team.
  • On a monthly basis, review unit-wide financial transactions. Use this data to forecast trends and recommend performance improvements based on financial risk analyses.
  • Creates financial models for establishing financial analytics and forecasts. Responsible for regular, internal financial reporting to the Managing Director and Vice Provost of division.
  • Partnered with IT leadership to optimize daily accounting and procurement operations by maximizing CRM and project management platform usage. This reduced financial processing and analysis time by more than 6 hours per week.
  • Mitigated risk and increase operational efficiency by implementing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) internal control standards and safeguards for the procurement of university assets.
  • Developed and maintained new accounting policies, procedures and controls in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  • Ensured compliance with the business operating procedures outlined in the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) including audit principles related to separation of cash management and investment responsibilities and maintenance of proper documentation and authorization for all activities and transactions.
  • Supervised accurate, efficient, and compliant completion of monthly financial reporting packages for the 4 academic and 5 ancillary departments within the division.
  • Formulated strategic plans and supported tactical initiatives to monitor and ensure the completion of building and facility maintenance, upgrades and capital renovation projects.
  • Analyze and model academic program financial data including historical vs. current enrollment data, program costs, and various other academic program variables to determine program break-even benchmarks and profitability goals.
  • Ensures the successful management of contract administration, resolution of post-award issues, execution of amendments, monitoring of supplier performance, and receipt or deployment of contract deliverables.
  • Provide strategy and oversight for developing new pricing models and re-pricing existing programs, increasing the projected gross revenue by 7% from fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
  • Proactively made recommendations to the Managing Director and Vice Provost of the division regarding cost saving/profit generating opportunities and profit improvement strategies, developing creative strategies for improved services and cost reduction resulting in a divisional profit margin increase from 10% in fiscal year 2022 to 15% in fiscal year 2023 and a projected 17% in fiscal 2024.

Teaching Assistant (TA)

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
Chicago, IL
05.2018 - Current
  • Presented wide range of information to MBA students using hands-on instructional techniques for effective comprehension.
  • Provided instructional support to students unable to attend regular classes.
  • Assisted in maintaining engaging and rigorous dialog amidst minimum of 50 students per section in BUSN 30000 (Principles of Financial Accounting) and BUSN 30001 (Cost Analysis and Internal Controls).
  • Maintained weekly office hours to communicate one-on-one with students as needed.
  • Executed all grading activities on behalf of professor; providing constructive feedback to students based on examination, quiz and homework submissions received.

Senior Contract Administrator

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
Chicago, IL
07.2018 - 02.2022
  • Negotiated and administered various contractual arrangements and proposals for more than 30 business school academic & administrative departments, using both manual and automated processing.
  • Assessed risks inherent in contract changes and potential impacts, informing management in detail of concerns to avoid liabilities.
  • Drafted, reviewed and revised contracts for accuracy and completeness.
  • Served as key liaison between internal stakeholders, and external suppliers; tracked contract milestones and updated stakeholders to facilitate project progress.
  • Facilitated communication between involved parties to ensure timely contact execution and project completion.
  • Developed integrated strategies, standard operating procedures, sustainable cost improvement processes and transparent cost reporting templates for CFO and senior leadership.
  • Improved productivity 15% by coaching team members on process and procedure efficiency.

Adjunct Accounting Professor

South Suburban College
South Holland, IL
01.2012 - 12.2018
  • Provided challenging course work, innovative projects and stimulating exercises while utilizing active learning techniques and hands-on approach.
  • Organized, prepared and revised/updated course materials. Facilitated relevant in-class discussions to assist with concept mastering.
  • Taught accounting concepts at various levels, offering detailed instruction and assessment.
  • Compiled, administered and graded examinations to assess student learning and identify individuals likely to need assistance.
  • Utilized appropriate computer technology to enhance student-learning process. Guided students through process of obtaining thorough understanding of fundamental Financial Accounting principles.
  • Participated in student and faculty events to highlight program offerings, engage students and increase profile on campus.

Grant and Contract Administrator

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
Chicago, IL
05.2015 - 07.2018
  • Oversaw restricted fund accounting for University of Chicago Booth School of Business. This included management of all financial and administrative aspects of $12M research portfolio.
  • Served as primary point contact for collaborating sites and institutions for all restricted funding finance, budget, procurement & reporting related matters.
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply and convey federal, state and sponsor regulations verbally and in writing to faculty, staff and senior university leadership.
  • Prepared monthly forecasts and “burn rate” projections, quarterly financial statements, and all agency required financial reports for 32 Principal Investigators.
  • Collaborated with Principal Investigators and University Human Resources to ensure hiring and appointment of all restricted project personnel aligned with project budget and effort allocations.
  • Provided guidance on cost allowability and allocability for all restricted funds. Ensure appropriateness of all general ledger and budget reallocation transactions. Independently resolved complex issues, including unallowable and unsustainable expensing behaviors.
  • Devised, implemented and executed federal grant application and reporting training for new research fellows and investigators. This included preparation of written and verbal presentation, sample proposals and job aids to depict university processes and sponsor policies that must be complied with.
  • Created customized expenditure tracking workbook that enabled precise expense and cash flow projections; resulted in all sponsored awards being reconciled within $300 or less of their annual project budget.

Post-Award Accountant

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL
07.2014 - 05.2015
  • Created and managed post-award accounting functions for portfolio of 750 restricted fund accounts valued in excess of $350 million.
  • Prepared monthly budget vs. actual and profit-and-loss statements for senior leadership (Dean & Dean’s equivalent) of 5 university divisions of the University.
  • Successfully engaged in interdepartmental collaborations to ensure projects are executed in accordance with all University, federal & sponsor guidelines.
  • Negotiated budget and payment terms with prospective sponsors and grantors.
  • Ensured fiscal compliance with sponsor approved budget and budget justification for all financial activity.
  • Provided guidance and expertise in interpreting complex federal policies (CFR, OMB Circulars & Uniform Guidance) and relevant university policies for project personnel and investigators.

Internal Audit Consultant

CAAN Academy Of Nursing
Matteson, IL
10.2011 - 10.2013
  • Liaised with students, senior leadership, and grant writing personnel to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
  • Reviewed and edited funding proposals to ensure grantor requirements were met.
  • Monitored and assisted with execution of sub-grants and consulting agreements.
  • Prepared presentations to explain revisions, enhancements and process improvements of organization's systems and programs.
  • Investigated discrepancies discovered during auditing process.
  • Created monthly forecast templates and resource management allocations for approved projects.
  • Guided departments in developing remediation plans based on audit findings and recommendations.
  • Documented recommendations to improve internal controls.
  • Trained newly hired employees on company processes, procedures and deadlines.

Education

Master of Science - Accountancy

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

Skills

    Financial analysis and reporting

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Affiliations

  • American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Active Member, 2023
  • National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Active Member, 2023
  • Central Association of College and University Business Officers (CACUBO), Active Member, 2023

Quote

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Timeline

Director of Finance, Budget & Procurement

University Of Chicago
02.2022 - Current

Certified Professional Contract Manager, University of California, Irvine

07-2018

Senior Contract Administrator

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
07.2018 - 02.2022

Teaching Assistant (TA)

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
05.2018 - Current

Paralegal, DePaul University

07-2017

Grant and Contract Administrator

University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business
05.2015 - 07.2018

Post-Award Accountant

University Of Chicago
07.2014 - 05.2015

Adjunct Accounting Professor

South Suburban College
01.2012 - 12.2018

Internal Audit Consultant

CAAN Academy Of Nursing
10.2011 - 10.2013

Master of Science - Accountancy

Purdue University

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S.R. ThompsonDirector Of Finance, Budget & Procurement