Senior Financial Analyst; Division of Business Services

About the role

The Division of Business Services (BSD) supports the individual and collective needs of the Penn community by promoting a hospitable, customer-focused campus environment through the delivery of mission-critical services and essential operations. BSD’s mission is to provide high-quality service in a fiscally responsible manner. The Division is currently focused on three major initiatives:

• Revenue growth and retention through improved marketing, expanded services, and new distribution channels
• Driving productivity for the Division and its customers through enhanced use of technology
• Enhancing service offerings through facility upgrades and expansions

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary financial business partner to assigned operational units, providing financial leadership through budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, internal controls, continuous improvement of financial and operational processes, capital and technology investment projects, and audit consultation.

Lead financial and operational analyses that assess performance, identify risks and opportunities, challenge assumptions, and support data-driven business decisions across a diverse portfolio of operations.

Consolidate, analyze, and report Divisional financial results in support of monthly close, reforecasting, and the annual budget cycle.

Oversee reporting and variance analysis of human capital activity, including staffing changes and salary modeling; integrate Workday data into budgeting, forecasting, and planning processes.

Partner with the Business Services Controller’s Division to execute financial transactions, ensure alignment with University policies, and maintain appropriate checks and balances.

Develop and maintain advanced proficiency in University financial systems and reporting tools, including Business Objects, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Oracle GL, and Microsoft Office.

Follow established policies and procedures and recommend improvements to strengthen controls, efficiency, and transparency.

Leverage automation, reporting, and data visualization tools to improve the scalability, usability, and insightfulness of financial and operational reporting for assigned areas.

Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights that inform decisions, highlight tradeoffs, and support prioritization of resources and initiatives within supported portfolios.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, or financial management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial reporting, data analysis, and financial modeling including strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize complex data sets across multiple business lines.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, internal controls, and financial governance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial and operational information into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated accountability, stewardship, discretion, and confidentiality in managing institutional resources.