Executive Director of Financial Strategy, Analytics & Systems

Basic Function

The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person's dignity.

Representative Duties

• Budget and Financial Planning
  • Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the University's annual operating and capital budgets.
    • Oversees institutional forecasting, financial modeling, and multi-year budget planning.
    • Maintains budget performance and analyzes financial results, trends, risks, and opportunities.
    • Develops financial projections and scenario analyses to support planning and decision-making.
    • Provides budget guidance and support to University leaders and budget managers.
    • Evaluates the financial impact of proposed initiatives, programs, organizational changes, and resource requests.
    • Supports the Vice President for Finance & Administration in budget development and control, financial planning, and resource allocation activities.
• Analytics and Decision Support
  • Develops dashboards, key performance indicators, and analytical tools that support decision-making.
    • Conducts complex financial and operational analyses to support institutional planning and performance improvement.
    • Identifies trends and develops analyses to support strategic and operational initiatives.
    • Collaborates with University leaders to develop reporting solutions and analytical resources that support organizational effectiveness.
• Business Systems Administration
  • Provides leadership for the administration, governance, and continuous improvement of administrative business systems, including ERP, budgeting, financial reporting, workflow, and related applications.
    • Promotes data integrity, reporting consistency, and effective business process management.
    • Develops and maintains procedures and documentation related to business systems and reporting processes.
• Institutional Planning and Resource Management
  • Supports University planning initiatives through financial analysis, forecasting, and resource planning.
    • Collaborates with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, University Advancement, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, and other administrative units to assess resource requirements and operational impacts.
    • Affords assistance in evaluating operational effectiveness and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Leadership and Administration
  • Provides leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development for assigned staff.
    • Establishes goals, priorities, and performance expectations for assigned areas of responsibility.
    • Develops collaborative relationships across the University and promotes a high level of customer service.
    • Represents the division on committees and working groups as assigned.
    • Supports internal and external audits and ensures compliance with University policies and applicable regulations.

Knowledge Of

• Principles and practices of accounting, financial planning, forecasting, and financial management.
• Financial analysis, modeling, performance measurement, and institutional resource planning.
• Business intelligence, data analytics, dashboard development, and management reporting.
• Administrative business systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, reporting tools, and workflow technologies.
• Business process improvement, process mapping, and operational effectiveness methodologies.
• Internal controls, risk management principles, and financial compliance requirements.
• Higher education finance, budgeting, and administrative operations.
• Strategic planning and organizational effectiveness principles.
• Project management principles and change management practices.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and reporting requirements affecting higher education business operations.

Ability To

• Develop and administer complex budgets, financial forecasts, and multi-year financial plans.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate complex financial, operational, and analytical information to diverse audiences.
• Develop financial models, scenario analyses, and data-driven recommendations to support decision-making.
• Lead the implementation, optimization, and governance of administrative business systems and reporting solutions.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiencies and implement effective solutions.
• Manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborate effectively with executive leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Lead, motivate, develop, and evaluate professional staff.
• Exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive matters with discretion.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including the preparation and presentation of reports, analyses, and recommendations.
• Build collaborative relationships and foster a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Adapt to changing organizational priorities and lead change initiatives effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

• Any combination equivalent to: Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Higher Education Administration, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related field; and ten years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial planning, analytics, finance, accounting, institutional planning, business operations, or business systems administration; and five years of supervisory or management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education administration.
• Experience leading institutional budgeting and financial planning processes.
• Experience with ERP systems, business intelligence platforms, enterprise reporting tools, and financial systems.
• Experience leading business process improvement, system implementation, or organizational change initiatives.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, CFA, or other relevant professional credential.