Associate Director of Financial Planning, Budget and Strategy - California Institute of Integral Studies

POSITION SUMMARY

This position oversees the institution's financial planning and analysis (FP&A) functions, serving as both a
strategic partner to executive leadership and a hands-on financial practitioner. This role stewards the
university's operating and capital budgets, guides resource allocation to support mission-aligned
priorities, and delivers forward-looking analyses that inform decision-making across academic and
administrative units. This is a hands-on role that designs and drives CIIS's financial planning framework;
leads annual and multi-year budgeting; develops operating and capital forecasts; builds and refines Key
Performance Indicators(KPIs); and delivers succinct, actionable analyses that enable data-driven decisions
aligned to CIIS priorities. This Senior Manager also fosters financial literacy, accountability, and technology
adoption throughout the organization. There will be direct supervisory responsibility over other
personnel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budget cycle and monthly/quarterly reforecasting; ensure alignment of unit plans with institutional goals.
• Gather, validate, and consolidate budgetary and resource requirements; prepare trended requirements and multi-year operating forecasts (sources/uses, contribution margin, headcount, and salary modeling).
• Create, maintain, and publish KPIs, metrics, and benchmarks across entities, programs, and departments; develop dashboards for executive and Board reporting.
• Produce clear budget vs. actual variance analyses (monthly/quarterly/annual) with drivers, insights, and recommendations.

Strategic Analysis & Decision Support

• Perform complex modeling and scenario analysis (tuition/revenue, enrollment sensitivity, program P&Ls, pricing, grants/gifts/endowments, user fees, and capital projects).
• Exceptional analytical skills with demonstrated ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and present insights through clear, well-designed charts, dashboards, and visual reports.
• Write business plans and financial cases for strategic initiatives; quantify ROI and risk; recommend allocation approaches.
• Provide concise executive briefings and "one-page" decision memos; facilitate tough, data grounded discussions.

Partnering, Training & Governance

• Serve as primary financial partner to budget managers: proactive outreach, office hours, and responsive support.
• Design and deliver training on forecasting, reports, and enterprise systems to strengthen financial literacy.
• Draft and socialize budget/financial policies, practices, and controls; advise on implications of proposed policies.

Reporting & Board Support

• Prepare accurate management reports for leadership and as needed for the Board of Trustees and committees.
• Create analytical studies and background materials on campus-wide resource topics and permanent budget management.

Data, Systems & Process Improvement

• Improve financial data flows and reporting processes; champion automation and integration between enterprise systems for centralized, reliable data.
• Define critical data elements, institute quality checks/audits, and maintain historical and consolidated datasets.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with policies and procedures.
• Maintain compliance with all state and federal laws and regulatory requirements.
• Engage in and with the CIIS Community events, programs, and other activities as available and appropriate (if remote, participate in virtual hosted activities).
• Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND/ OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in financial planning & analysis, budgeting, and/or strategic finance (higher education or mission-driven nonprofit experience a plus).
• Demonstrated experience leading organization-wide budget cycles and developing multi-year forecasts and KPIs.
• Alternate pathway: Candidates with 10 years (or 15 years without a bachelor's) of directly related experience in strategic planning/financial analysis/accounting will be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, MSF) and/or professional certification (e.g., CPA, CMA) preferred.
• Expertise with Higher Education Enterprise Systems, such as Ellucian Colleague and Syntellis Axiom (or comparable ERP/EPM suites).
• Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to communicate complex, technical information to non-finance audiences; excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to respectfully challenge the status quo, influence senior leaders, facilitate candid debate, and drive consensus.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment; high attention to detail.
• Experience designing financial training and job aids for budget managers.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

This position requires attention to detail, ability to work under deadline pressure, oral and written communication, and keyboarding for significant portions of the workday.

LOCATION/SCHEDULE

On-campus position with some flexibility. Based on experience, performance, and familiarity with Ellucian Colleague, a hybrid schedule may be considered. This is a full-time role (40 hours per week), and occasional evening or weekend hours may be required depending on operational needs.

WAGES AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $100,000 - $130,000.

NOTES TO CANDIDATE

• Working Conditions - Duties are primarily performed in an office environment at a desk or computer terminal, typically Monday through Friday.
• Background Check - Due to the sensitivity and requirements of this position, you should expect to undergo and be cleared of an employment background/criminal check, if extended an offer for employment. You may also be asked to provide proof of educational degree(s), licenses, or credentials pertinent to the position. If your job requires driving on behalf of CIIS you will be required to provide proof of a valid driver's license.
• Visa Sponsorship - Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer.
• Relocation Assistance - This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

At the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), we are dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, guided by our Seven Commitments. We value the diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities within our community and strive to create and maintain environments that are inclusive, equitable, accessible, and welcoming for all.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we are committed to providing an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for all individuals, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This commitment extends to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and other terms and conditions of employment.

CIIS actively seeks to recruit and retain individuals who bring a broad range of cultural backgrounds, languages, and life experiences that enhance our institutional mission and values.