Finance and Business Performance Manager

Cornell University; City of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University is seeking a Finance and Business Performance Manager to act as the financial and business advisor for Cornell Dining and Conference & Event Services. The role oversees planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and performance management across multiple dining locations and CES operations.

The position partners with unit leadership to improve financial sustainability and student-centered service, while ensuring compliance and effective stewardship of resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field plus at least five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in strategic financial planning, business performance analysis and/or navigating and leveraging complex financial databases to report on performance.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex administrative, financial, or operational functions.
• Customer service oriented and demonstrated ability to communicate with a broad range of clients, constituents, leadership and customers.
• Effective interpersonal skills and must possess a strong teamwork philosophy.
• Ability to exercise discretion, resolve problems using creativity and sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, MS Excel, MS Outlook, PowerPoint, database management tools, professional communications tools, etc.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership and operational analysis for Cornell Dining and CES.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and performance management.
• Partner with unit leadership to identify opportunities for revenue growth and operational efficiency.
• Ensure financial integrity and compliance with university policies across units.
• Supervise staff and oversee meal plan administration and financial controls.

Skills

Strategic planning

Business analytics

Data reporting

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA/CPA preferred

Tools

Oracle

MS Excel

MS Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Finance and Business Performance Manager

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad. Campus Life Enterprise Services (CLES) is the primary revenue-generating unit within Student and Campus Life, inclusive of Cornell Dining, Cornell Catering, Housing and Residential Life, Conference and Event Services, The Cornell Store(s), and a dedicated CLES Marketing and Communications team. CLES is a large campus-wide organization, with an annual budget of approximately $230 million and employs over 800 regular (union and non-union) staff members and over 800 contingent and student employees to successfully operate its broad-ranging business operations.

The Finance and Business Performance Manager serves as the financial and business advisor for Cornell Dining and Conference & Event Services (CES), providing strategic financial leadership, operational analysis, and business performance support in partnership with the Director of Enterprise Finance & Administration and unit leadership. This position is responsible for overseeing the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and performance management processes for Cornell Dining, a complex auxiliary enterprise with approximately $90 million in annual revenue and operations spanning approximately 30 dining locations, as well as CES operations with an annual budget of approximately $500,000. The role partners closely with operational leaders to evaluate business performance, identify opportunities for revenue growth and operational efficiency, and support informed decision making that advances both financial sustainability and the student-centered mission of Student and Campus Life.

The Finance and Business Performance Manager serves as a key liaison between unit leadership, the Student and Campus Life Financial Transaction Center (FTC), the Treasurer's Office, University Audit, and other campus stakeholders to ensure financial integrity, compliance with university policies, accurate financial reporting, and effective stewardship of resources. Through ongoing financial analysis, forecasting, business intelligence, and performance monitoring, this position provides operational and business recommendations that support organizational strategy, operational effectiveness, and long-range financial planning. In addition, the position oversees meal plan administration, financial controls, business analytics, and operational reporting while supervising staff and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer service excellence.

Success Factors

• Cultivate strong relationships with key partners using strong customer service skills and managing multiple priorities
• Be forward thinking, collaborative and embrace new challenges while helping to enhance and leverage effective business analytical reporting tools, techniques and procedures
• Demonstrate a high-level of organizational skills that prioritize efficiency, accuracy, and practicality across all organizational processes and procedures while having attention to details
• Use sound ethical judgment and critical time management skills to troubleshoot and accomplish tasks that are urgent, highly sensitive and/or confidential in nature exercising critical thinking and creative problem-solving techniques to advance work efficiently and effectively.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field plus at least five years of relevant experience. Equivalent combination of education and experiences is acceptable.
• Experience in strategic financial planning, business performance analysis and/or navigating and leveraging complex financial databases to report on performance.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex administrative, financial, or operational functions.
• Customer service oriented and demonstrated ability to communicate (both written and verbal) with a broad range of clients, constituents, leadership and customers.
• Effective interpersonal skills and must possess a strong teamwork philosophy
• Ability to exercise discretion, resolve problems using creativity and sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, MS Excel, MS Outlook, PowerPoint, database management tools, professional communications tools, etc. as well as demonstrated experience using advanced spreadsheets and databases.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, CPA, or additional educational certification or experience relevant to the field is strongly preferred
• Prior experience with a retail services business or auxiliary services in a higher-ed environment
• Accounting or financial planning experience using Oracle

University Job Title

Finance Specialist IV

Job Family

Fin/Budget/Planning

Level

G

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$93,745.00 - $114,577.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Non-Union Positions

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective