Senior Director of Strategic Finance and FP&A

SUMMARY:
The Senior Director of Strategic Finance and FP&A is a forward-thinking finance leader who turns data into direction. The role is equal parts hands-on modeling expert, insightful storyteller, and team mentor. Reporting jointly to Finance leadership, the Senior Director translates enrollment trends, program economics, and cohort behavior into clear choices on pricing, resource allocation, and capital strategy. Partnering with executives, the position identifies emerging opportunities, quantifies trade-offs, and keeps the University ahead of covenant, cash-flow, and growth targets. Its guiding purpose is to tighten the link between daily actions and the financial outcomes that sustain South University’s mission.

KEY JOB ELEMENTS:

• Develop and deliver monthly reporting package, including analyzing variances between actuals and forecasts, identifying key drivers and recommending adjustments as necessary.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for financial and operational performance.
• Produce regular reports for senior leadership, highlighting financial performance against key metrics.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and decision-making processes.
• Conduct in-depth financial analysis to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement. Includes strategic analysis and scenario planning.
• Provide actionable insights and data-driven recommendations to senior management based on financial analysis.
• Lead the quarterly forecasting process to provide accurate and timely financial projections.
• Lead the annual budgeting process, working closely with department heads to establish realistic financial targets aligned with business objectives and the University’s strategic plan and long-range plan.
• Provide analysis and business insight to other Finance/Accounting managers and teams to allow for process improvement.
• Partners with senior leadership to evaluate financial performance, assess risks, and align resources with institutional goals.
• Effectively use the University’s business intelligence and data warehouse to improve efficiencies and accuracy of financial models and reporting
• Other duties as assigned
• Travel Requirement: Up to 25%

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics required. MBA or MS Analytics preferred.
• 10+ years progressive FP&A/Strategic Finance experience including 3+ at a director-level in a data-rich environment

• Deep fluency in higher‑ed revenue recognition, Title IV cash‑flow, and student‑lifecycle economics.

• Must have extensive experience in building and maintaining complex models in areas revenue, cash, pricing, business startups and close outs.

• Experience with systems implementation or transformation projects.
• Exceptional analytical abilities for in-depth financial analysis and decision-making.
• Must be an Excel expert
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Superior organizational and problem resolution skills.
• Must be able to do the work as well as mentor and develop a team.

• Unrelenting intellectual curiosity; pushes past the first answer to uncover root drivers.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at all levels of the organization.
• Responsive and positive engagement with students, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work without close supervision and to set one's own priorities and work schedule.
• Calm under pressure; thrives in deadline‑heavy close/budget cycles

ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.

JobFamily

All Positions

PayType

Salary

EducationLevel

Bachelor’s Degree

TravelRequired

True

TravelPercentage

25

TelecommutePercentage

100

HiringMinRate

130000

HiringMaxRate

158000