Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes

University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 167,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking an Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes, a senior financial leadership role charged with strengthening financial management and governance across the University. You will lead policy, training, and financial systems transformations in a complex, decentralized environment.

You will drive end-to-end improvements in financial policies, training, and stakeholder engagement, partnering with ISC and schools to simplify processes,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years in Financial Management or related field.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Solid budgeting, fiscal management, and financial modeling abilities.
• Experience with the University of Pennsylvania financial systems preferred; advanced Excel and Microsoft tools.
• Enterprise-minded leader who simplifies complex environments and drives transformation.
• Ability to collaborate with technology teams and distributed financial staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University-wide financial policy framework including governance, communication, and ongoing compliance.
• Direct a comprehensive University-wide financial training strategy across major processes and systems.
• Engage senior leadership and the distributed financial community to identify needs and improve services; promote financial stewardship.
• Identify and lead opportunities for business process improvement across the Division of Finance.
• Oversee financial systems strategy and ERP transformation in partnership with ISC; ensure alignment with campus needs.
• Manage and develop a team responsible for policies and university-wide financial training.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Financial acumen

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes

Job Profile Title

Executive Director A, Business and Finance

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes is a senior financial leadership role responsible for strengthening financial management and performance across the University.
Working across Penn's decentralized academic and administrative environment, the Executive Director leads University-wide efforts to improve and communicate financial policies and governance, financial training and end-user support, and financial systems and processes.
A primary focus of the role is to make it easier for University leaders and financial staff to manage resources effectively and responsibly. The Executive Director establishes and maintains clear and accessible financial policies; strengthens training and capabilities across the financial community; and works with schools, centers, the Division of Finance, ISC, and other partners to identify and implement improvements to financial processes and systems. The role also builds strong connections with the University's distributed financial community to understand needs, improve services, share effective practices, and support consistent financial stewardship across the institution.
The Executive Director partners with departments across the Division of Finance to identify opportunities for business process improvement and innovation. The role facilitates implementation of selected improvements, helping to enhance divisional efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
The Executive Director leads the University's long-term financial systems and process transformation strategy, working in close partnership with ISC on the modernization and eventual replacement of the University's financial ERP. The Executive Director will engage schools, centers, and the distributed financial community throughout the process to shape priorities and requirements, simplify and standardize financial processes where appropriate, and ensure institutional needs are reflected in the future solution. The role will also lead business readiness and change management efforts to build understanding, prepare the University for new ways of working, and support successful adoption.
The Executive Director will lead, manage, and develop a team responsible for financial policies and University-wide financial training, establishing clear priorities and accountability while fostering a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities

• University Financial Policy & Governance: Lead the University-wide financial policy framework, including development, review, approval, communication, and ongoing governance. Ensure financial policies are clear, accessible, current, and promote consistent compliance, accountability, and effective financial practices across the University. 15%
• Financial Training & Capability Development: Lead a comprehensive University-wide financial training strategy spanning financial systems and the University's major financial processes and responsibilities. Strengthen the capabilities of the distributed financial community through role-based training, professional development, cross-training, communication, and ongoing engagement. 20%
• University Financial Community Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. Maintain strong partnerships and feedback loops with the University's decentralized financial community to identify needs, strengthen support, and advance financial excellence. Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, accountability, and financial stewardship. Work with other EVP divisions and campus teams to consider opportunities for policy and training consistency across campus. 10%
• Identify and lead opportunities for business process improvement and innovation across the Division of Finance. Facilitate discovery, design, and implementation of selected improvements to increase efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and promote continuous improvement. 20%
• Financial Systems, Process Improvement & ERP Transformation: Lead financial systems strategy, process improvement, and the University’s multi-year ERP transformation in partnership with ISC. Engage schools, centers, and the distributed financial community to shape priorities and requirements, simplify and standardize processes, and ensure institutional needs are reflected in future solutions. Lead business readiness and change management efforts to support successful adoption. 20%
• Team Leadership & Management: Lead, manage, and develop a team responsible for policies and University-wide financial training. Establish priorities, accountability, and a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement. 10%
• Perform additional duties as assigned. 5%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years in Financial Management or related field.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budgeting and fiscal management. Strong financial, analytical, and modeling skills.
• Experience with the University of Pennsylvania financial systems preferred. Advanced user skills with Excel and other Microsoft programs
• Enterprise-minded leader who combines deep financial and operational knowledge with an ability to make complex environments more understandable, consistent, and effective.
• Equally comfortable developing long-range transformation strategies, working through detailed financial policies and processes, engaging with technology teams, and listening to the day-to-day needs of financial practitioners across the University.
• Strong service orientation while maintaining high standards for financial stewardship, compliance, and accountability. Effective convener and translator, connecting policy, people, process, data, and technology, and will recognize that sustainable financial excellence depends not only on strong central controls, but also on equipping the University's distributed financial community with the knowledge, tools, systems, and information needed to succeed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$167,379.00 - $200,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

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), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and