Special Advisor, Higher Education Advisory

Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 87,000 - 164,000; Part time

Job summary

Baker Tilly is seeking a part-time Special Advisor for Higher Education to augment consulting teams with senior-level expertise drawn from extensive higher education experience.

The advisor supports business development and client engagements by contributing thought leadership, shaping strategic recommendations, and helping ensure deliverables reflect sound policy and operational insight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; terminal degree preferred.
• At least 10 years in a senior executive role in higher education.
• Proficient with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong writing and communication skills; ability to summarize analysis.
• Willingness to travel to client sites.

Responsibilities

• Serve on client projects and manage client relationships.
• Document and analyze processes, controls, and workflows to identify improvements.
• Research best practices, policies, and organizational design.
• Interview clients to understand processes and suggest improvements.
• Support project managers in day-to-day service delivery.
• Research issues and prepare whitepapers on industry trends.
• Support presentations of conclusions and recommendations with visuals.
• Assist in development of articles, sales proposals and presentations for new business.
• Stay current with firm administrative requirements.

Skills

Senior executive experience

Higher education expertise

Client relationship management

Policy analysis

Ethical standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Terminal degree

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

OverviewBaker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world's leading financial centers - New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

Job Description: Overview The Special Advisor for Higher Education is a part‑time role that augments consulting teams by providing senior‑level expertise and strategic guidance drawn from extensive experience in the higher education sector. The advisor supports both business development and client engagements by contributing thought leadership, shaping strategic recommendations, and helping ensure deliverables reflect sound policy and operational insight. This role may include participating in client presentations, developing thought content, collaborating with engagement teams, and providing expert review of analyses and recommendations. As a trusted subject matter expert, the Special Advisor helps strengthen the quality, credibility, and impact of the firm’s higher education work.

Baker Tilly’s Higher Education practice partners with colleges, universities and higher education systems to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment. Our team provides strategic, operational and financial advisory services that help institutions strengthen sustainability, improve student outcomes and modernise operations. By combining deep sector expertise with data‑driven insights, we support leaders in making informed decisions that position their institutions for long‑term success.

Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers - New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

Responsibilities

• Serve on client projects and assist in management of client relationships.
• Document and analyze processes, internal controls, and workflow in order to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Perform research into best practices, operational polices, and organizational design.
• Interview clients to better understand processes and to recommend improvements.
• Support project managers in day-to-day service delivery.
• Research issues and prepare whitepapers on current industry trends and issues.
• Effectively support and participate in the presentation of conclusions and recommendations using visuals and written content.
• Assist in development of articles, sales proposals and presentations for new business development and client purposes.
• Staying current with firm administrative requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, terminal degree preferred.
• A strong work ethic and willingness to take on a variety of roles and levels of responsibility in a dynamic and entrepreneurial setting.
• Minimum of ten (10) years prior experience in a senior executive role (president, provost, vice president of finance and administration, etc.) in a higher education institution required (public or private colleges and universities, community colleges, technical colleges, or university systems)
• Specific experience with MS Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong writing skills, specifically in regard to summarizing analysis and making recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to continuous learning in order to stay current regarding strategies and regulations, display appropriate ethical knowledge and commitment, and exhibit a sense of urgency and commitment to quality and the timely completion of duties.
• Ability to travel to client sites as needed.

The compensation range for this role is $86,660 to $164,300. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, experience, qualifications, and geographic location.