Director, Finance and Planning

University of Pennsylvania; United (PA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Time away from work

Job summary

The Director, Finance and Planning at the University of Pennsylvania serves as the primary financial advisor and budget owner for the Student Support portfolio. The role leads budget development, forecasting, and multiyear planning, translating program priorities into sustainable financial plans across the portfolio.

Collaborating with portfolio leadership and Budget/Operations teams, the director oversees budget entry and financial recommendations, while mentoring Associate Directors and staff

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Significant experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis within a complex organization is preferred.
• Strong analytical judgment and the ability to translate financial information into strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
• Familiarity with university financial systems, policies, and fund accounting; strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budget development, budget entry, forecasting, and multiyear financial planning for the Student Support portfolio.
• Serve as the primary financial advisor to portfolio leadership on resource needs and financial sustainability.
• Monitor financial performance, analyze variances and risks, and recommend corrective actions.
• Evaluate staffing, programs, commitments, and funding requests via financial modeling and scenario analysis.
• Coordinate monthly and year-end financial reviews and resolve significant budget issues.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Associate Directors and Budget/Operations staff; represent the organization on financial initiatives.
• Support special projects and institutional analyses related to financial planning.

Skills

Financial planning

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Analytical judgment

Strategic recommendations

Education

Bachelor of Science

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

Director, Finance and Planning

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city ofPhiladelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urbancampus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, andrecreational activities. With its historical significance andlandmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety ofatmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home forwork and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includesexcellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and theirfamilies, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety ofprofessional development opportunities, supportive work and familybenefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources,and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director, Finance and Planning

Job Profile Title

Director C, Business and Finance

Job Description Summary

The Director, Finance and Planning serves as the primary financialadvisor and budget owner for the Student Support portfolio. Theposition is responsible for the development, submission,forecasting, monitoring, and ongoing management of the portfolio'soperating budget and for translating programmatic and strategicpriorities into sustainable financial plans.

The Director works closely with portfolio leadership and Budget andOperations colleagues to assess resource requirements, evaluatefinancial alternatives, monitor financial performance, andrecommend strategies for the effective use of University resources.While Associate Directors and Business Administrators supportfinancial operations and provide underlying budget information, theDirector retains primary responsibility for budget development,forecasting assumptions, budget entry, and financialrecommendations for the assigned portfolio.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead annual budget development, budget entry, forecasting, andmultiyear financial planning for the assigned Student Supportportfolio.
• Serve as the primary financial advisor to portfolio leadershipon resource needs, affordability, funding strategies, and financialsustainability.
• Monitor financial performance, analyze variances and emergingrisks, and develop recommendations for corrective action orresource reallocation.
• Evaluate staffing, programmatic initiatives, commitments, andother funding requests through financial modeling and scenarioanalysis.
• Coordinate monthly and year-end financial reviews and ensureappropriate resolution of significant financial issues. Serve as anescalation point for complex budgetary and financial matters withinthe portfolio.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and oversight to AssociateDirectors and other Budget and Operations staff and represent theorganization on institutional financial initiatives.
• Support special projects, institutional analyses, and otherfinancial planning initiatives as assigned.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science and 7 to 10 years of experience orequivalent combination of education and experience isrequired.
• Preferred qualifications include significant experience infinancial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysiswithin a complex organization, preferably in higher education.
• The successful candidate should demonstrate strong analyticaljudgment, the ability to translate financial information intostrategic recommendations, and experience advising senior leaderson resource allocation and financial sustainability.
• Familiarity with University financial systems, policies, andfund accounting is highly desirable, along with strongcommunication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered forthis position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you toupload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$110,907.00 - $150,000.00 Annual Rate

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state, or local law.