Manager, Budget & Financial Planning

Wake Forest University•Winston-Salem, NC

About The Position

Reporting to the Director, the Manager of Budgeting & Financial Planning (“BFP”) is responsible for full-scope management of the operating budget and planning process at WFU. This includes preparing the annual operating budget, current year forecasts, and multi-year planning, developing financial reports and data trend/variance analytics, providing training and support to campus partners, maintaining data integrity, ensuring alignment with GAAP financial reporting, and monitoring compliance with policies and procedures. This position will lead a team of analysts who support budget and planning processes. This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, or related discipline, with at least five to ten years of related and progressively more responsible financial work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
In-depth experience in long-range and or strategic planning is required.
Exercises exceptional discretion in handling confidential information.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community; proven communication skills, both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of fund accounting principles and GAAP, budget preparation, and fiscal controls required.
Must be a self-starter with unquestionable integrity and a strong sense of professional ethics.
Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and is highly adaptable to rapidly changing priorities; excellent time management skills; ability to organize personal workflow.
Ability to work independently; evidence of good judgment and high-level problem-solving skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community; proven communication skills, both orally and in writing.
High level of proficiency in Excel (templates development, pivot tables, macros) and the ability to utilize these skills to meet ad hoc data needs in support of leadership requests for analyses, forecasts, or ongoing reports.
Ability to effectively represent analysis results and/or projections in PowerPoint, Google, and Excel graphs.
Ability to acquire knowledge of new systems in a short time period.

Nice To Haves

Master's in Accounting and/or CPA preferred.
Experience in Higher Education accounting and knowledge of U.S. accounting principles (GAAP) preferred.
Workday Finance and/or Workday Adaptive experience preferred.
Knowledge of and technical proficiency with accounting systems and related applications.
Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling.

Responsibilities

Manages the annual operating budget, forecasting, and multi-year planning in close collaboration with the Director, Budget and Campus Financial Services, the Controller’s Office, and Senior Business Administrators.
Collaborates closely with the Controller’s office to ensure 1:1 alignment of Workday Finance and Adaptive Planning system structures, interim and year-end closings, review and approval of journal entries, compliance with GAAP, and monthly budget versus actual analysis.
Develops financial reports, data trend/variance analysis, and manages the monthly budget versus actuals review and analysis process and deliverables to the Director and AVP of Budget and Financial Planning.
Manages development and implementation of the annual budget calendar and financial planning assumptions, including oversight of the timeline, data submission and related deadlines, and Adaptive Planning system processes, controls, and training.
Manages budgets (sources and uses) for the General University and Central Pool, fringe benefits, investment income, and certain administrative units.
Maintains and monitors the integrity of Adaptive Planning system data including reconciliation of budget data across divisions, funds, cost centers, and accounts.
Manages budget availability for Workday Finance and Workday HCM activity including the approval of transactions, tracking and monitoring of expenses and revenues, and collaboration with campus partners to resolve budget related activity.
Serves as subject matter expert for Workday Adaptive Planning and partners with the Lead Business Systems Analyst in support of testing of Adaptive Planning upgrades/releases and any Workday Finance and/or HCM upgrades/releases that impact Adaptive Planning and/or budget processes, financial planning, and reporting.
Manages the reporting of budget and financial planning information to internal and external constituents.
Manages research and analysis, including peer benchmarking and analysis, KPIs, and historical and industry trends.
Develops, communicates, and trains campus partners on processes and procedures in compliance with budget and governance policies.
Manages day-to-day operations of the budget office.
Manages, trains, and develops staff.
Other duties and projects as assigned.