Director Financial Planning & Analysis

Director Financial Planning & Analysis
Syracuse University | Office of the Chief Financial Officer | Syracuse, NY | Full-Time, Exempt

Pay Range: $123,000 - $150,000 (Staff Level S6)

Position Overview
The Director of Financial Planning and Analysis serves as a key advisor to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and senior leadership on financial performance, trends, and risks, and supports the University's mission by providing comprehensive financial analysis, forecasting, and decision support. The Director will lead the institution's financial planning and analysis initiatives to support scenario planning, projections, and multi-year forecasting that inform critical institutional decisions.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain the OCFO's suite of financial planning models, including multi-year forecasts, scenario analyses, and sensitivity and stress tests that assess the financial impact of strategic decisions.
• Ensure models are technically rigorous, well-documented, and structured so outputs can be readily understood and acted upon by senior leadership and the Board.
• Design, develop, and maintain executive dashboards and recurring financial reports that provide real-time visibility into key financial metrics, institutional health measures, and progress against strategic goals.
• Establish and track key performance indicators, conduct variance analyses, and produce well-structured reporting that enables senior leadership to monitor financial performance and identify emerging issues.
• Serve as the integrating financial intelligence function across the University's finance functions, partnering with finance teams to consolidate data, align assumptions, and build institution-wide models.
• Lead the financial benchmarking program, analyzing the University's financial position, ratios, and trends relative to peer institutions using IPEDS, NACUBO, and rating agency frameworks.
• Manage ad hoc analytical projects as directed by senior leadership and lead efforts to enhance financial planning processes and systems.

Education and Experience

• A bachelor's degree is required, with a preference in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field; a master's degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• A minimum of seven years of progressive financial management experience, with demonstrated advancement in scope and complexity.
• Advanced skills in financial modeling, forecasting, and data analysis, plus deep knowledge of budgeting methodologies and financial systems.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Experience in higher education or a complex nonprofit organization is highly desirable; prior experience supervising or mentoring staff is preferred.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong financial modeling and forecasting abilities, including proficiency with pivot tables, macros, and complex formulas.
• Experience designing and implementing executive dashboards using business intelligence tools; familiarity with AI-powered analytics is highly desirable.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and the ability to read and interpret financial statements deeply.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences, including board members.
• Highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, with a commitment to accountability and transparency across University operations.

Hours: Standard University business hours, 8:30am-5:00pm (academic year) / 8:00am-4:30pm (summer). Hours may vary based on operational needs. This position is based on campus and requires regular in-person presence; remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.

About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university located in the geographic heart of New York State, with over 150 years of history, more than 200 majors across 13 schools and colleges, over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students, and more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries. For more information, visit syracuse.edu.

EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Syracuse University also maintains a strong commitment to supporting and hiring veterans and to fostering a respectful and welcoming community.