Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation

University of Vermont; Burlington (VT); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Vermont is seeking an Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation to enhance institutional financial strategy. This role involves advanced financial modeling, advising executive leadership, and analyzing complex financial data.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree and extensive experience in higher education finance. The anticipated pay range is between $160,000 and $195,000, with a hybrid work schedule available.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in higher education finance or related roles.
• Ability to assess operations and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Experience with large financial datasets and budget systems.

Responsibilities

• Shape institutional financial strategy through advanced modeling and analysis.
• Analyze institutional financial performance and support senior leadership decision-making.
• Translate complex financial data into actionable insights.

Skills

Advanced financial modeling

Strategic finance

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law.

Finalists for positions at UVM may be subject to a criminal background check.

For classified staff positions, actual hiring pay dependent on current competitor market conditions, comparable campus peer(s) at time of hire, and candidate’s experience level and length.

Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation

Position Details

• Advertising/Posting Title: Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation
• Posting Summary: The Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation reports to the Vice President for Finance, Administration & Human Resources (VPFAHR) and serves as a senior leader responsible for shaping institutional financial strategy through advanced financial modeling and analysis and interpretation of complex institutional data. Working in partnership with academic and administrative units across campus, the Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation develops and recommends financial strategies that inform resource allocation, revenue generation, operational efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability. This role translates complex financial and operational data into actionable insights for executive leadership and plays a key role in analyzing institutional financial performance, auxiliary operations, academic unit financial structures, and emerging financial risks. The position operates in a highly complex environment where financial problems are often undefined, cross‑functional, and require careful navigation of competing institutional priorities. The Executive Director for Financial Strategy and Innovation is responsible for building credible scenarios, stress‑testing assumptions, evaluating trade‑offs, identifying financial risks, and developing data‑informed recommendations that directly support senior leadership decision‑making. This role does not manage transactional finance, accounting operations, or budget execution functions. Instead, it provides enterprise‑level financial insight, modeling, and advisory support to advance institutional priorities and financial sustainability. The position operates with a high degree of autonomy and regularly engages with senior leadership across academic and administrative units to influence financial decision‑making and institutional planning.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education finance, institutional budgeting, financial planning and analysis, strategic finance, or related financial leadership roles.
• Ability to understand and assess the efficacy of operations within individual academic or administrative units to identify, communicate, and model potential cost‑savings opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience developing, maintaining, and applying advanced financial models to support institutional or enterprise‑level planning and decision‑making.
• Significant experience interpreting complex financial, operational, and organizational data and translating analysis into strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
• Deep understanding of higher education financial structures, including resource allocation models, responsibility‑centered management or incentive‑based budget models, and major revenue and expenditure drivers.
• Experience working with large, complex financial datasets and budget systems to support forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial decision‑making.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with senior executives and influence financial decision‑making in a complex, decentralized organization.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and evolving financial environments.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly and credibly to non‑financial executive audiences.

Desirable Qualifications

No specific desirable qualifications provided.

Compensation

Anticipated Pay Range: $160,000-195,000

Special Conditions

A probationary period may be required. This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy. Background check required for this position.

FLSA: Exempt

Union Position: No

Position Information

• Position Title: Fiscal Ops & Bus Mgmt PC5 X
• Posting Number: S6142PO
• Department: VP Finance & Administration/11000
• Position Number: 00027890
• Percent of Full‑Time: 1.0
• Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE: 37.5
• Term (months per year): 12
• Job Location: Burlington, Vermont, United States
• Job Open Date: 06/16/2026

Posting Details

Position will be posted for a minimum of one week, after which it is subject to removal without notice.