DIRECTOR, HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR FINANCE - NEW BUSINESS & RETENTION (REMOTE)

Compass Group•REMOTE, IL

12d•$150,000 - $180,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Higher Education Sector Finance - New Business & Retention leads the financial strategy and execution of new business and client retention offers across the Compass Higher Education Sector. The role shapes financial and commercial approaches to high-value, complex opportunities and renewals, ensuring offers are competitive, strategically structured, client-focused, and aligned with long-term financial objectives. As a strategic partner to sector, sales, retention, and operations leadership, the Director oversees pricing strategy, contract structuring, investment evaluation, and financial risk assessment across the new business and retention pipeline. The role provides executive-level guidance on offer economics and ensures financial models, assumptions, and proposals support growth, client retention, and sustainable profitability. The Director also establishes best practices in financial modeling, benchmarking, and offer development, driving consistency, rigor, and alignment across new business and retention processes. The position is remote and involves travel of up to 15–20% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
7–10+ years of progressive finance experience, with exposure to pricing, deal modeling, new business development, client retention, or contract renewals.
Proven ability to influence senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, build alignment, and drive decisions without direct authority.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modeling.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly.
Willingness to travel up to 15–20% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Higher Education, foodservice, hospitality, outsourcing, or support services industries is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead offer-level financial strategy for high-value and complex Higher Education new business and retention opportunities, shaping pricing, investment structures, contract terms, and financial positioning.
Partner with sector, sales, retention, and operations leadership to define offer strategy, balancing competitiveness, client value, profitability, and risk.
Establish and recommend pricing strategies, guarantee structures, capital investment recommendations, and financial frameworks for new and retention offers.
Evaluate offer economics, margins, cash flow, and return profiles against internal performance thresholds and strategic objectives.
Provide financial oversight of labor models, operating assumptions, enrollment projections, participation rates, and meal plan economics.
Lead financial risk assessment and mitigation strategies, including scenario modeling and sensitivity analysis.
Oversee development and validation of financial models and proformas for new business and retention offers.
Review and interpret RFP and renewal requirements, contract terms, client financials, and campus operating environments to identify risks, opportunities, and structural considerations.
Support contract negotiations with financial guidance on pricing, guarantees, investments, and commercial terms.
Present financial strategies, offer structures, investment recommendations, and key risks to senior leadership during proposal, retention, and approval reviews.
Evaluate auxiliary revenue opportunities, capital projects, and long-term investment strategies associated with client partnerships.
Influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leaders to support sound financial decisions, consistent offer practices, and alignment on new business and retention strategies.
Promote accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement through partnership, financial insights, and constructive challenge.
Drive standardization and continuous improvement of financial modeling tools, benchmarking methodologies, and offer processes.
Collaborate with operations, culinary, marketing, finance, sales, retention, and sector leadership to align financial strategy with service delivery and client expectations.
Provide insight into market trends, enrollment dynamics, competitive positioning, client priorities, and benchmarking data.
Serve as a key financial advisor to Higher Education leadership and partner with executive leadership on capital allocation, investment prioritization, and long-term growth initiatives.