Associate Vice Provost for Financial Operations, Planning, and Analysis
FLSA Status: Exempt
Months Per Year: 12
Employment Status: Full-Time
Work Model: On-site
Seattle
University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic
universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate,
graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for
defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender,
gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic
class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status,
political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle
University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who
learn, live and work at Seattle University.
Seattle University's Core Competencies
Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making positive impact.
Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, purses excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.
Position Description
Seattle University is seeking a skilled and effectual professional as Associate Vice Provost (AVP) for Financial Operations, Planning, and Analysis. This role will serve as the primary financial leader, analyst, and manager for the Office of the Provost and the units reporting to the Provost. The AVP will possess strong analytical and supervisory skills, a deep and demonstrated understanding of financial modeling, and the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights. This position will supervise several budget managers assigned to the schools, colleges, or units within the Office of the Provost. The AVP will work with a team of professionals, primarily within the CFO’s Office, to meet the university's growth plans and related operational needs which involves financial and budget management, data gathering, modeling, analysis and report development using information originating from multiple sources. Growth through new academic programs is a key part of our strategy, and the goal is to transition to responsibility centered management (RCM) for all the units reporting to the Provost, including the schools, colleges, library, student success, global engagement and student and campus life. The AVP reports to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Student Affairs with a dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer. This is a key role in leading the strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and decision-making processes within the Office of the Provost and the broader university.
Financial Management and Supervision (30%)
- Serve as financial leader, ensuring operational support and guidance to Deans, Vice Provosts, other administrators.
- Supervise and develop the budget managers, currently 6 managers, throughout Academic and Student Affairs. This includes the budget managers for the schools or colleges, library, Global Engagement, Student Success, Student and Campus Life. Additionally, this role will supervise the Director of Finance and Operations.
- Lead the operational management of all budgets to ensure these units are appropriately resourced and that they steward those resources responsibly.
- Ensure the distribution and archiving of accurate and regular financial management reports to campus constituents.
Financial Modeling, Analysis, and Reporting (25%)
- Develop and maintain complex and comprehensive financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term strategic planning in all areas reporting to the Provost.
- Conduct variance analysis to assess performance against budgets and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Collaborate with the University Budget Office to update the 5-year financial forecast.
- Assist and contribute to Excel-based enrollment models in collaboration with appropriate academic deans, Vice Provosts, the Director for Enrollment Research and Analytics, and others within the Office of the Provost and the CFO.
- Develop and manage a process for evaluating campus initiatives and investment requests created by the academic deans, Vice Provosts, Provosts and others within the Office of the Provost from an ROI perspective. Roll out the new process in partnership with stakeholders within the Office of the Provost and the CFO.
- When applicable, maintain and analyze financial peer data. Compare data to SU performance and track and benchmark trends.
- Prepare and present regular financial reports and performance dashboards to senior management.
- Identify key financial metrics and trends, providing actionable insights for decision-making.
- Ad-Hoc Analysis: conduct ad-hoc financial analysis as requested by the Provost, providing timely and accurate insights.
- Investigate and resolve financial discrepancies and irregularities.
Budgeting and Forecasting (25%)
- Collaborate with the Finance Budget Officer and Director of University Budgets to analyze and opine on annual budgets and forecasts. This position does not create or directly manage university budgets.
- Maintain strong relationships with the school, college, and department-level budget managers. Lead and guide their activities. Share data and collaboratively develop analytical tools to enhance efficiency and strategic insight of financial activity at the school, college, and department levels within the Office of the Provost.
- Measure budget variances, provide insightful commentary and assist in the development of corrective action plans, if necessary.
Decision Support Collaboration (15%)
- Be a strong partner with the Office of Decision Support to analyze and evaluate the financial impact of Provost initiatives, investments, and projects.
- Provide standardized and longitudinal reporting from the Office of the Provost in support of institutional financial analysis and financial management.
Continuous Improvement (5%)
- Recommend and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial planning and analysis processes within the Office of the Provost and university wide.
- Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis).
- Become a higher education thought leader in FP&A by partnering with national colleagues and participating in national conferences.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field and 7 or more years of progressive financial management, analysis, and planning experience and experience in supervising and developing professional staff.
- Strong and demonstrated proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools, as well as advanced Excel skills.
- Excellent understanding of financial statements, accounting principles, and higher education finance and enrollment management concepts.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
- Effective communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate Degree or professional certification and 10 or more years of progressive financial management, analysis, and planning experience and experience in supervising and developing professional staff.
- Demonstrated progressive financial management experience in higher education.
- Workday Finance or related ERP experience.
- Experience using advanced FP&A tools and/or experience applying to AI to FP&A work.
Application Instructions
Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.
Compensation at a Glance
Salary Range: $155,000 - $175,000
Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents
its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the
time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be
determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected
candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity
considerations, and available market information, and not based on a
candidate’s gender or any other protected status.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck.
Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement
contributions that add to your total compensation package.
Benefits at a Glance
Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution
for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution
and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to
a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/