Widener University is currently seeking an Associate Director, Financial Planning & Strategic Analysis (FP&SA). Reporting to the Director, Financial Planning & Strategic Analysis, the Associate Director will be responsible for supporting the university’s long-term strategic financial planning, annual operating and capital budget processes, and analytic reviews of the university’s academic programs as well as new strategic programs and initiatives under consideration.
The Associate Director will play a key role in developing the university’s $150 million operational and $10 million annual capital budgets, collaborating with the Director to determine and implement improvements to existing systems and procedures to support effective financial management and decision-making. We seek a leader who views budget through a collaborative lens and will partner throughout the University to deliver exceptional customer service.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):
Essential duties:
Strategic
- Budget Process: Update modeling approach and enhancements to the university budget process grounded in relevant and recent data to support the strategic needs of an agile university.
- Strategic Financial Planning: Analyze complex financial trends and acquire and integrate information to support the preparation of periodic forecasts and long-term outlooks for both operational and capital planning.
- General Ledger & Data/Analytics Reporting Restructuring: Participate and collaborate with internal and external partners on the restructuring of the university’s Chart of Accounts focusing on financial/management reporting needs and needed system improvements.
- Programmatic Analytics: Drive reimagination of the existing financial review to assess school and college performance and marry with other (non-financial) data. Develop models to assess programs, both new and potentially sunsetting.
- Donor-restricted and Discretionary Fund Projections: Assess existing fund balances, develop spending plan for funds while assessing university impact of these plans, and restructure chart of accounts to ensure accurate accounting and stewardship reporting.
- Value-Add Projects: Conceptualize and implement new ideas, approaches and initiatives that will enhance business performance and create strategic efficiencies and cost savings in support of the University’s long-range strategic and financial goals.
Technical
- Support the university's annual budget and multi-year strategic planning process, liaising with major divisions to help develop inputs and refine assumptions. Create and refine analytical models to create an agile, flexible, data-driven scenario planning tools that will enhance the University’s ability to make key decisions and investments.
- Train constituents across the university on budget development and ongoing budget monitoring. Analyze requests for resources and act as liaison with deans, department chairs and division heads.
- Partner with departments and divisions to provide transparent insight into the components of the budget. Prepare budget variance analyses during monthly and annual close processes. Monitor and analyze university performance and achievement of strategic and financial goals.
- Serve as a University-level expert and liaison in the use of querying and reporting tools, including Informer, Colleague, Budget Self-Service, and Excel in order to more efficiently use University data sources. Serve as subject matter expert, provide guidance and train constituents accordingly.
- Create ad hoc reports to further strategic projects and departmental reporting and budget management.
Secondary responsibilities:
- Participate in various university committees.
- Participate in process improvement projects or strategic initiatives as assigned.
- All other duties as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field.
- Five (5) + years’ experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience) in finance, accounting, consulting or related field with deep knowledge of financial modeling, budget methodology, and strategical finance planning. Higher education experience is highly preferred. (A combination of education and experience may be considered).
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance of diversity of staff and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse constituent population.
- Demonstrated experience with complex financial systems, including experience supporting implementation of new processes or procedures to enhance accuracy, efficiency or customer service.
- Demonstrated results of successful implementation of strategic initiatives. Ability to demonstrate strategic approach and ability to conceptualize and implement to drive strategy.
- Creative in ability to think differently in processes and assumptions. Open to new ways of performing accounting operational functions and departmental alignment, arrangement, responsibilities.
- Established record as collaborator in the workplace, within the immediate department and within the larger institution.
- Outstanding communication skills; a team player who can relate to a variety of constituencies. Able to explain complex financial information in understandable terms to financial and non-financial audiences.
- Proven ability to create and foster an inclusive environment that demonstrates the university’s commitment to diversity.
- Demonstrated proficiency in use of Microsoft Office for complex projects and daily use (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Preferred:
- Master's degree highly preferred with a preference for MBA or a master’s in finance, accounting, statistics, business analytics, or related field.
- Seven (7) + years’ progressive experience in higher education or non-profit finance, financial modeling, budget methodology, and strategical finance planning highly preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:
- Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time working on detailed documents. Typical work environment with some ability to navigate campus buildings, walkways and common areas.
- Experience in or exposure to accounting functions is desired.
- This position may be eligible for hybrid work.
- This position may require evening and weekend hours.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.
Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener’s Flexible Work policy.
Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.
EOE M/F/V/D
