Senior Director for Budget and Financial Planning

Job Description:

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance, the Senior Director for Budget and Financial Planning manages Berklee’s operating and capital budgets and long-term financial planning forecasts, and develops, interprets and presents budget and forecast information. The Senior Director also leads the Budget team, including coaching and development and fostering a culture of partnership and high performance. The position also assists the Vice President for Finance and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration with financial updates for the Finance & Budget Committee and college leadership, as well as supporting special projects as needed.

The Senior Director leads Berklee’s budget and forecast process, ensuring balanced operating and capital budgets and assists in balancing sometimes conflicting priorities (affordability, strategic investments, financial sustainability) in the annual budget process.  They drive Berklee’s long term forecast process that reflects the College’s mission and strategic plan in its financial plans.

Operating & Capital Budgets

• Lead the annual operating budget process including engaging with leadership and key budget stakeholders.
• Develop, control, and manage the budget process utilizing Adaptive Insights.
• Recommend budgetary policies and practices.
• Develop and enhance methods and procedures and tools as needed for the preparation of budgets.
• Lead the annual capital budget process, engage with Facilities and other key stakeholders to ensure critical capital projects are funded. 
• Partner with Director of Financial Decision Support to inform cost allocation impact on learning environment operating budgets.
• Work closely with the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, the Vice President for Finance and others to allocate resources to the highest priorities.

Multi-Year Financial Forecast

• Lead multi-year financial modeling for the College using Adaptive Insights.
• Engage with stakeholders and work closely with the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance and the Vice President for Finance to determine key assumptions.
• Forecast includes alternative scenarios with full financial statement output and to illustrate financial implications of assumptions, strategy, investments and initiatives.

Financial Forecasts & Management Reporting

• Prepare monthly revenue and expenditure forecasts as needed. Work with areas of the College to update and revise projections as needed.
• Monitor budget objectives by analyzing variances and initiating corrective actions as necessary.
• With Vice President of Finance and Controller, support quarterly financial reviews with key areas of the college utilizing Workday reports.
• Review actual performance against budget and communicate results with appropriate management.
• Drive development and enhancements of internal management reports in Workday, including job aids to support users.
• Partner with Controller and Vice President of Finance to reflect as needed any major changes or modifications to the financial data structure in Workday.

Analytics & Decision Support

• Support College financial decision making by modeling and creating scenarios to analyze options on key initiatives.
• Partner with Director of Financial Decision Support and Vice President of Finance to analyze new initiatives.
• Assist in the creation of presentations for the Vice President and the Senior Vice President as needed.
• Other analytical support as needed.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Bachelor's degree required. Preferred degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related major.
• MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.
• Higher education experience preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience including a minimum of 7 years of experience in budgeting and managing budget and forecast process.
• Demonstrated experience in operating and capital budget development and analysis of financial information in a college or other similar nonprofit organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to develop and implement strategies regarding budgeting, and financial planning; ability to work with all levels of the College including senior management and trustees.
• Experience with an integrated ERP system required; Workday experience preferred.
• Experience with Adaptive Insights preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to affect and influence change through a collaborative and inclusive style
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with internal and external representatives, at varying levels in the organization.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities in a fluid and results-oriented environment.
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate new issues; creative problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a varied constituency, including senior/executive level administrators.
• Strong commitment to supporting the Berklee’s goal of cultivating a diverse and inclusive community.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple, complex projects on deadline.
• Able to lead a process in a highly collaborative environment to achieve agreed-upon objectives.
• Experience in managing and coaching staff, including delegation of responsibilities and job evaluation.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive data with discretion.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Senior Director for Budget and Financial Planning will supervise the Associate Director for Budget and Financial Planning and the Assistant Director for Financial Planning & Analysis.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The Finance team is currently working remotely. This position will be remote for the foreseeable future.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee : 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:
Staff