What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director Financial Planning & Analysis position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
The Director of Financial Planning and Analysis role serves as a key advisor to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and senior leadership on financial performance, trends and risks and supports the University’s mission by providing comprehensive financial analysis, forecasting and decision support. The Director will lead the institution’s financial planning and analysis initiatives to support scenario planning, projections, and multi-year forecasting that inform critical institutional decisions.
Education and Experience
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
The Director of Financial Planning and Analysis role serves as a key advisor to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and senior leadership on financial performance, trends and risks and supports the University’s mission by providing comprehensive financial analysis, forecasting and decision support. The Director will lead the institution’s financial planning and analysis initiatives to support scenario planning, projections, and multi-year forecasting that inform critical institutional decisions.
Education and Experience
- A bachelor’s degree is required with a preference in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field.
- A master’s degree in a relevant field such as business administration, public administration, or another discipline directly related to financial analysis is preferred.
- A minimum of seven years of progressive financial management experience, with demonstrated advancement in scope and complexity.
- Advanced skills in financial modeling, forecasting, and data analysis are required, as is deep knowledge of budgeting methodologies and financial systems.
- Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
- Experience in higher education of a complex nonprofit organization is highly desirable, though strong candidates from other complex institutional environments will be considered.
- Prior experience supervising or mentoring staff is preferred.
- Strong financial modeling and forecasting abilities are foundational, including proficiency with pivot tables, macros and complex formulas.
- Experience designing and implementing executive dashboards using business intelligence tools. Familiarity with AI-powered analytics is highly desirable.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities to identify trends, variances, and anomalies in financial data, with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
- Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and the ability to read and interpret financial statements deeply, understanding how different business decisions flow through the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
- The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences, including board members with varying levels of financial expertise. They should be adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift rapidly, and they must maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in all financial matters.
- Commitment to fostering ethical conduct, accountability, and transparency across all University operations.
- Design, build, and maintain the OCFO’s suite of financial planning models, including multi-year forecasts, scenario analyses, and sensitivity and stress tests that assess the financial impact of strategic decisions.
- Ensure models are technically rigorous, well-documented, and structured so that outputs can be readily understood and acted upon by senior leadership and the Board.
- Design, develop, and maintain executive dashboards and recurring financial reports that provide real-time visibility into key financial metrics, institutional health measures, and progress against strategic goals.
- Establish and track key performance indicators, conduct variance analyses, and produce well-structured reporting that enables senior leadership to monitor financial performance and identify emerging issues.
- Serve as the integrating financial intelligence function across the University’s finance functions.
- Partner with finance teams to consolidate the financial data, align assumptions, and build institution-wide models that reflect the University’s financial position and trajectory.
- Ensure that outputs from these partnerships feed seamlessly into forecasting, scenario planning, and senior leadership reporting.
- Lead the financial benchmarking program, analyzing the University’s financial position, ratios, and trends relative to peer institutions using IPEDS, NACUBO, and rating agency frameworks.
- Identify areas of strength and vulnerability, and produce clear comparative analyses that inform strategic planning.
- Manage ad hoc analytical projects as directed by senior leadership.
- Lead efforts to enhance financial planning processes and systems, implementing best practices and technology solutions to improve efficiency and analytical capabilities.
- Refine reporting tools based on feedback and evolving governance needs.
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.