Director, Financial Planning and Strategic Analysis

Widener University is currently seeking a Director of Financial Planning & Strategic Analysis. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, the 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 Director will play a key role in developing the university’s operational and annual capital budgets, collaborating with the AVP 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:

• Support the planning and execution of the university’s annual budget process, including the development and communication of university parameters and planning assumptions. Assist in the preparation of materials for the Finance Committee and Board of Trustees meetings including the creation of support narratives and PowerPoint slides.
• Support the university's multi-year strategic planning process, liaising with major divisions and revenue producing units to help develop inputs and refine assumptions. Analyze complex financial and operational trends to develop integrated forecasts and long-term financial outlooks supporting both operating and capital plans. Lead revenue modeling, scenario planning, and sensitivity analyses to anticipate impacts of enrollment, funding, and policy changes, and to inform strategic and resource allocation decisions. Support continued enhancements of the existing financial model to create an agile, flexible, data-driven scenario planning tool 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. Monitor and analyze university performance and achievement of strategic and financial goals.
• Oversee the development and management of salary budgets and long-range financial forecasts, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and fiscal sustainability. Lead the position approval and funding process, partnering with HR and leadership to evaluate staffing needs, resource availability, and long-term affordability.
• Drive the reimagining of performance assessment frameworks, integrating financial, academic, and operational data to provide a holistic view of effectiveness. Develop models and insights to evaluate programs, investments, and opportunities for innovation or optimization.
• 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.
• 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. Work with University-level Senior IT leadership to create ad hoc reports to further strategic projects and departmental reporting and budget management. Provide proactive guidance and training in use of these tools to the Widener community at large.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Participate in various university committees.
• Participate in process improvement projects or strategic initiatives as assigned.
• All other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President, Financial Planning & Strategic Analysis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Master’s Degree and 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.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of diversity of staff and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
• Demonstrated experience with complex financial systems, including experience supporting implementation of new processes or procedures to enhance accuracy, efficiency or customer service.
• Proven history as a strategic thinker. 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.

Preferred:

• Master's degree with a preference for MBA or a Master’s in Finance, 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 computer for long periods of time working on detailed documents. Typical work environment with some ability to navigate campus buildings, walkways and common areas.
• General hours for the position are Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm but additional evening and weekend hours may be required. This position is eligible for a hybrid on-campus/remote work schedule.

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.