Finance Manager - Real Estate Development

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

1d•$109,900 - $170,400•Remote

About The Position

The Finance Manager serves as WGU's lead financial advisor responsible for project financial planning, funding strategy, capital planning, cash flow forecasting, financial governance, and executive financial reporting for our campus development. This role develops and maintains project financial models, evaluates funding alternatives, assesses financial risk, and provides decision support to ensure sound financial stewardship throughout the project lifecycle.

Requirements

Advanced financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills.
Strong executive communication and presentation skills.
Knowledge of project finance, capital planning, and development economics.
Ability to evaluate financial implications of business decisions and align recommendations to project objectives.
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Real Estate, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in real estate finance, development finance, corporate finance, project finance, investment analysis, or related disciplines.
Demonstrated expertise in financial modeling, pro forma development, capital planning, funding strategies, cash flow forecasting, and financial analysis.
Experience evaluating debt financing, bond financing, incentives, grants, tax credits, and other capital sources.
Experience supporting large-scale commercial, institutional, mixed-use, hospitality, higher education, corporate headquarters, or comparable complex developments.
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and update project financial models and pro forma throughout the project lifecycle.
Prepare financial analysis to support strategic decisions, project alternatives, and major investments.
Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis across key variables including cost, schedule, inflation, interest rates, and operating assumptions.
Evaluate financial impacts of scope changes, schedule delays, and strategic alternatives.
Develop and maintain the project funding strategy and capital plan.
Evaluate and recommend capital structure alternatives and funding approaches.
Support financing activities and related due diligence, including debt, bond, incentive, and grant opportunities.
Develop recommendations regarding capital allocation and funding requirements.
Develop and maintain project cash flow forecasts.
Monitor projected funding requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Evaluate impacts of schedule, cost, and scope changes on financial performance and funding needs.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning processes.
Prepare executive-level financial reports, analyses, and presentations.
Maintain financial governance procedures, reporting standards, and supporting documentation.
Present financial recommendations to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
Support board, executive, and governance reporting requirements and monitor compliance with financial approvals.
Identify and assess financial risks associated with project delivery, operations, and market conditions.
Develop mitigation strategies and monitor key assumptions throughout the project lifecycle.
Support project-wide risk management efforts and governance processes.
Partner with Development, Project Controls, and Cost Management to evaluate forecasts, alternatives, and major project decisions.
Coordinate with Development Accounting to reconcile forecasts with actual expenditures and accounting records.
Support Construction and Procurement on financial evaluation of commitments and execution decisions.
Provide financial analysis and recommendations to executive leadership.