Senior Financial Analyst; Division of Business Services

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Senior Financial Analyst; Division of Business Services

Job Profile Title

Accountant/Financial Analyst Senior

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), the Senior Financial Analyst is a core member of the Business Services FP&A and Finance organizations. This role is responsible for independently owning and managing budgets for multiple operating units and serving as a senior financial partner to operational leaders across the Division.

The Senior Financial Analyst leads key elements of the monthly and quarterly financial close and reporting processes, including journal entries, variance analysis, and performance monitoring. The position develops operating budgets and forecasts, evaluates existing and proposed programs or investments, and builds financial and analytical models to support strategic and operational decision-making.

This role partners closely with the Business Services Controller's Division to ensure a strong controls environment, execute financial transactions, and maintain appropriate checks and balances for assigned areas of oversight. The Senior Financial Analyst also supports Divisional leadership by producing consolidated financial reporting and analysis for internal and institutional stakeholders, including financial statements, projections, operating and human capital metrics and dashboard, capital expenditure reporting, and ad hoc strategic analyses.

This position plays a key role in advancing continuous improvement within their assigned areas of Business Services. The Senior Financial Analyst is expected to approach core FP&A responsibilities through a transformation lens-identifying process inefficiencies within their areas of support and oversight, helping define scalable financial and operational metrics, and partnering with finance and non-finance leaders to implement improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability, and decision-making.

The position requires regular interaction with finance and operational leaders and demands strong judgment, accountability, and the ability to clearly communicate complex financial information. Successful performance requires advanced proficiency with University financial systems, including Oracle General Ledger, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Business Objects, and Microsoft Office.

Job Description

Key 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.

• Support monthly reporting of operational metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), partnering with departments to ensure data accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement of reporting 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.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• 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.

Preferred

• Experience with University or large, decentralized financial systems.

• Advanced experience with Oracle GL, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Business Objects, or similar enterprise systems.

• Demonstrated experience using automation, data visualization, or business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI or similar platforms) to enhance financial and operational reporting, performance metrics, and decision-making in a complex environment.

About Business Services

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

Learn more:

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Business Services

Pay Range

$77,330.00 - $92,500.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics) , citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law .

Special Requirements Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community and help create an educational and working environment that best supports the University's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.