Careers

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

Washington University in St. Louis seeks a strategic and collaborative leader for the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance â“ Planning & Budgets (AVC, PB). Reporting to the Executive Vice Chancellor and CFO, the AVC, PB will lead the office that oversees budgeting, financial planning and analysis. Responsibilities include managing the Central Fiscal Unit (CFU) budget, assisting in the preparation of Danforth Campus Schoolsâ™ budgets and forecasts, consolidating all operating budgets and forecasts, allocating central costs known as prorations to the schools, coordinating Danforth Campus capital plans and consolidating all capital projects to create the university plan. The AVC, PB also prepares financial presentations and various financial models and analysis for the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor.

The AVC, PB works with the Provost Office and Undergraduate Admissions/Financial Aid on admitting the first year class and forecasting undergraduate enrollment and net tuition income. They work closely with the CFO and senior leaders across the university to analyze complex factors that influence the universityâ™s financial stability. They also serve as an important thought partner to the CFO and other senior leaders by providing strategic recommendations and supporting analytics related to the universityâ™s finances and central resources, including modeling of the campusâ™s long-term strategic plans and financial impacts.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leader

• The AVC PB is responsible for the leadership and supervision of the budget, financial planning and analysis team.  Oversees the selection, training, development and evaluation of 16 staff members, consisting of 8 direct reports, and 8 indirect reports.
• Supports the Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and CFO along with other university leaders through various ongoing and special projects. Provides analysis and recommendations to assist senior leadership and the Board of Trustees on making decisions critical to our mission.
• AVC PB establishes and maintains strong collaborative relationships within the financial services organization and across the university. AVC PB is relied upon for their financial expertise to participate on various committees and projects and to interact with senior leaders and board members. The AVC PB prepares materials for various board meetings and at times is required to present materials to the Finance Committee (FC) of the board of trustees.

Budget Management

• Responsible for forecasts and budgets for the CFU. Includes setting guidelines to develop high level forecasts, developing individual department budgets and preparing quarterly variance explanations. The budgets will be used to develop the annual prorations budget which is the allocations to the schools for CFU services and is the method used to fund the majority of CFU expenditures. Provides support for individual CFU departments for organizational and budget challenges. Responsible for providing central guidelines to all schools, assisting the Danforth Schools in developing annual budgets and forecasts and preparing variance explanations. Includes fall planning meetings with the Provost and CFO.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Prepares complex financial models and uses the outcomes to make recommendations to senior leadership, Coordinates the capital plan for the Danforth Campus and a consolidated capital plan for the University. Plan includes all capital projects including funding needs for IT projects. Working with the office of the treasurer, financing sources are assigned to the capital plan projects and this is used to determine future debt issuances. These materials are presented to the FC for approval of debt issuances. Develop plan for central resources and uses including capital projects and operating needs. Supporting Universityâ™s Strategic plan by developing funding models and consolidated financing plan. Assist and coordinate surveys with the Provost Office (Institutional Research) for federal government (IPEDS), US News & World Ranking, data sharing groups with other universities and various world rankings.

Undergraduate Enrollment & Financial Aid

• Works closely with the Provost Office and Undergraduate Admissions/Financial Aid to execute the plan to admit the first year class and transfer students. Includes number of admits needed and financial aid awards to meet our enrollment targets, student quality, financial and other university goals.   Projects total undergraduate enrollment and net tuition income by school. Model and provide plan for new enrollment and financial aid initiatives such as the Pell initiative, no-loan program, student support funding, and the Gateway to Success allowing the University to implement a Need Blind policy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters of Accounting or MBA.
• CPA.
• Experience and understanding of an academic environment.
• Knowledge of Workday Finance, HCM and Adapative Planning.
• Extensive knowledge of University /Fund accounting.
• Experience working with and reporting to senior leadership, including a Board of Directors or the equivalent.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong managerial and communication skills.  Must have the ability to work effectively with groups and individuals representing all levels of the University.  Strong ability to communicate and negotiate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Excellent analytical abilities including the demonstrated use of complex financial models and analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate complex findings and recommendations in a clear and concise manner.
• Creative approaches to understanding broad strategic issues as well as the tactical approaches to implementation.
• Facilitate the budgeting process for the Danforth Schools and Central Fiscal Unit creating accurate budgets to aid decision making by senior management and the Board of Trustees.
• Proven ability to develop innovative approaches to complex issues.
• Demonstrable leadership, supervisory experience and skills, with the ability to foster an effective work environment that encourages teamwork and employee growth.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain positive, successful working relationships among a diverse group of people.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelorâ™s degree with a concentration in accounting, finance or other relevant area.
• Ten years of progressive accounting/finance experience at a university, or comparably complex organization.

Grade

G00

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO/AA Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the Universityâ™s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment â“ fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Instructions

When you are ready to apply, creating an account only takes a minute. Your account creates a candidate home page which we will use to communicate with you and allows you to apply for jobs and view your application statuses. The first page of the application offers two âœQuick Apply❠options. Quick Apply allows you to either use a previous application or create a new application using a resume to populate the work experience and education sections of your job application. If using a resume to populate your application, check to ensure the application fields populated accurately. You may skip the âœQuick Apply❠page by clicking âœNext❠at the bottom of the page. Documents may be uploaded in the My Experience section of the application. You also have the option to apply with a LinkedIn feature, which allows you to apply by using your LinkedIn profile to populate some of the job application fields.

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