Associate for Finance Policy & Innovation

DHRM; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is seeking an Associate for Finance Policy & Innovation to support policy, budgeting and data analysis in the FP&I section. Based in downtown Richmond, telework is limited.

You will maintain finance policy records, prepare analyses, and help communicate findings to stakeholders across the higher education system. Responsibilities include reviewing policies, managing large datasets, and producing clear summaries to inform budget decisions

Qualifications

• Experience analyzing public budgets and producing clear, actionable summaries.
• Advanced spreadsheet expertise for large data set management.
• Strong analytical skills to identify correlations and develop data-based hypotheses.
• Experience researching and drafting quantitative and qualitative summaries with policy implications.
• Ability to present financial data clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Capable of independent work on deadline-driven projects in sensitive environments.
• Knowledge of higher education issues including enrollment, finance, affordability, and workforce alignment.
• Experience interpreting and evaluating statistical information.

Responsibilities

• Maintain finance policy records, datasets and resources for policy assessments.
• Review agency Fact Packs and institutional equipment program requisitions.
• Report and verify data to SHEF and SREB.
• Prepare research and policy analyses for ad hoc reports and stakeholder presentations.
• Assist in budget summaries and annual expenditure reporting for institutions.
• Support state and campus-level planning and performance standards.

Skills

Budget analysis

Advanced spreadsheet skills

Data analysis and interpretation

Research & reporting

Data visualization

Independent, deadline-driven work

Higher education policy knowledge

Statistical literacy

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

OneDrive

Teams

AI/machine learning tools

SPSS

Stata

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Title: Associate for Finance Policy & Innovation

State Role Title:Policy Planning Spec II

Hiring Range: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00

Pay Band: 5

Agency: State Council of Higher Educ

Location:JAMES MONROE BUILDING

Agency Website:https://www.schev.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

About SCHEV

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for the nation’s preeminent system of postsecondary education. Among its primary responsibilities are: the development of a statewide strategic plan for higher education; the facilitation of collaboration among postsecondary institutions that enhances academic quality and operational efficiency; and the development of system-level recommendations on budgetary and policy matters.

The Council and its staff play multiple, statutory roles in financial, budgetary and policy matters related to Virginia higher education, including: (i) developing policies, formulae and guidelines for the fair and equitable distribution and use of public funds among the public institutions of higher education; (ii) providing periodic updates of base-adequacy funding guidelines; and (iii) calculating each public institution's basic operations and instruction funding need for each year of each biennium and making that calculation available to the Governor, the General Assembly and the public colleges and universities. To fulfill these duties and expectations, SCHEV requires expertise in not only finance, accounting, budgeting and policymaking, but also in the management of higher-education-related financial information and data.

SCHEV aspires to be a great place to work. It is an environment of public servants committed to developing an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education in Virginia. We value honesty, quality, diversity, inclusion, growth-orientation, personal well-being, equity, transparency and accountability. And we seek team players that will advance these values through their work and engagement.

About the Position

This position is an ongoing role in SCHEV’s Finance Policy and Innovation (FP&I) section, reporting to the Director of Finance Policy and Innovation, or designee. The position presents an opportunity to work alongside FP&I’s professional staff in a collegial atmosphere, while adding unique skills and abilities to the section’s capabilities and expanding its capacity to work with higher education data and policy. SCHEV’s offices are located in downtown Richmond, VA; limited teleworking is possible but not guaranteed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain finance policy records, datasets and other resources used in making policy assessments and recommendations and then shared with external stakeholders.
• Assist with the review and revision of the agency Fact Packs.
• Review guidelines and process institutional equipment program requisitions.
• Report and verify data to SHEF and SREB.
• Prepare research and policy analyses to be included in ad hoc reports and presentations to stakeholders.
• Assist in the production of budget summaries.
• Report yearly expenditures for institutions.
• Support fiscal and operational planning and performance at the state and campus/institutional levels, including six-year plans, a biennial planning process for institutions and state government, and the institutional performance standards.

Special Requirements

Occasional intraday travel will be required. Overnight travel, while infrequent, is likely.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience analyzing public budgets and producing clear, actionable summary documents.
• Advanced spreadsheet expertise, including managing and analyzing large data sets.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify correlations, perform temporal and peer comparisons, and develop hypotheses based on data patterns.
• Experience conducting research and drafting quantitative and qualitative summaries, along with recommendations to support policy decisions.
• Skilled at presenting financial data clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work independently on deadline driven projects within politically sensitive environments.
• Knowledge of higher education issues including enrollment, finance, affordability, academic programs, workforce alignment, and emerging sector challenges.
• Experienced in interpreting and evaluating statistical information.

Additional Considerations

• Experience demonstrating knowledge of public budget management or administration.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite required, as well as experience desired in cloud services (SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams) and AI machine learning tools.
• Experience in using Statistics Software such as SPSS, Stata and data visualization tools like Tableau or Power B1.
• Knowledge of institutional reporting requirements is strongly desired.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and/or of access to reliable transportation for travel to job-related activities.

VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Advertised: 21 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: 09 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time