Associate Vice President - Financial Planning, Data, and Analysis

Lesley University • Cambridge, MA

7d

About The Position

Lesley University is seeking an experienced financial leader to join our team as the Associate Vice President of Financial Planning, Data, and Analysis (AVP). This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic thinker and change agent to serve as the architect of financial models in collaboration with the CFO, playing a key role in shaping the university’s financial future. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the AVP will be responsible for developing and managing financial models, leading the university’s annual budget process, and overseeing financial analysis and key metric reporting. The AVP will collaborate with university leadership to ensure the institution’s financial health through data-driven decision-making, revenue and expense analysis, and the development of financial reporting improvements. This role will also serve as the primary liaison for the university’s financial systems, ensuring system integrity and seamless integration with financial platforms. Key responsibilities include leading the budget preparation process, providing timely financial reports to senior leadership, evaluating program sustainability, and identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies. Additionally, the AVP will work closely with the Associate VP of Finance/Controller to support financial close processes and prepare for audits and external reviews.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or data analytics
• 10+ years of financial experience, with a minimum of five years in a leadership role
• Strong technical and professional accounting skills, with expertise in financial modeling and data analysis
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data mining, with experience using Workday Adaptive and Colleague preferred
• Familiarity with ERP systems, budgeting, and forecasting tools
• Ability to independently lead projects accurately and on time is required
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to engage with all levels of university leadership
• A track record of driving financial and operational change, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing improvements
• A collaborative mindset and ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution

Nice To Haves

• MBA preferred
• Experience using Workday Adaptive and Colleague preferred

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing financial models
• Leading the university’s annual budget process
• Overseeing financial analysis and key metric reporting
• Collaborating with university leadership to ensure the institution’s financial health through data-driven decision-making, revenue and expense analysis, and the development of financial reporting improvements
• Serving as the primary liaison for the university’s financial systems, ensuring system integrity and seamless integration with financial platforms
• Leading the budget preparation process
• Providing timely financial reports to senior leadership
• Evaluating program sustainability
• Identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies
• Working closely with the Associate VP of Finance/Controller to support financial close processes and prepare for audits and external reviews

Benefits

• We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• In addition, we offer significant paid time off, a generous retirement plan, and tuition programs that enable employees and their dependents to expand their knowledge and skills.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees