The Planning andBudgeting Advisoris responsible forprovidingstrategic financial advice,facilitatingbudget planning, and ensuring the alignment of financial resources with the university’sobjectives. This role supports decision-making by deliveringaccuratefinancial analysis, forecasting, and budgetary guidance to various administrative and operational units. The advisor collaborates closely with theCampus and communitydepartment manager, management, and finance teams tooptimizeresource allocation and manage operational expenditures (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX).
Responsibilities
- Provide financial forecasting, analysis, and reporting to support strategic decision-makingfor Campus and communitydepartment.
- Ensure alignment of budgetary plans withCampus and Communitygoals and priorities.
- Strong understanding of budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting processes.
- Prepare detailed financial reports, variance analyses, and cost assessments for both OPEX and CAPEX.
- Ensure effective management of operational expenditures byidentifyingpotential efficiencies and cost reductions.
- Monitor budget performance and provide regular updates on financial status, risks, and opportunities.
- Analyze financial trends andidentifycost-saving opportunities while ensuring resource optimization.
- Work closely with Campus and community units to gather budget inputs and provide guidance on financial planning processes.
- Adviseleadership on budget policies, financial planning strategies, and funding requirements.
- Recommendappropriate adjustmentsto budgets and resource allocation in response to operational needs or external factors.
- Assistin financial scenario planning and risk management for strategic projects and initiatives.
- Proficiencyin financial modeling, variance analysis, and cost control methods.
- Capability toidentifycost-saving opportunities and efficiencies within budgetary constraints.
- Ability to align financial planning with the university’s strategic goals and priorities.
- Expertisein long-term financial scenario planning, risk assessment, and contingency planning.
- Ability to analyze complex financial data, interpret trends, and provide recommendations tooptimizeresource allocation.
- Bachelor’s degree inFinance, Accounting, Economics, ora relatedfield.Professional certifications such as Advanced Financial Management are advantageous and desirable. Advancedproficiencyin financial software and tools (e.g., ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or PeopleSoft).
- 5 years of experience in budgeting, financial planning, or advisory roles, preferably within a higher education or non-profit setting.
- Proven experiencein managing and reporting on both operational (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) budgets.
- Experience working in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment with exposure to large-scale budget management.
- Strong command of Microsoft Excel for financial modelling, data analysis, and forecasting.
- Familiarity with business intelligence tools and financial reporting software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).