Senior Manager of Capital Programs, Resource Allocation, and Analysis

Department: Office of Budget and Planning
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

A well-qualified candidate within this department or unit has been identified and will be considered for the position alongside other qualified candidates identified through a competitive recruitment process. The University reserves its right to give priority consideration to internal qualified candidates

Job Summary
The Senior Manager of Capital Programs, Resource Allocation, and Analysis plays a pivotal role in conducting comprehensive financial analysis and executing special projects to support strategic decision-making within the University. This position takes on critical responsibilities, including managing the Quarterly Forecast Process, University Contingency, and Crosswalk Funds to GAAP process. It serves as the liaison for capital programs and projects, focusing on budgetary compliance, GAAP responsibilities, accurate and compliant forecasting, efficient resource allocation across various units, and leading the resource planning process. This role provides high-level insights and recommendations to inform budgetary and planning processes, ensuring that strategic, well-informed decisions are made to enhance organizational efficiency and align resources with strategic objectives.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Budget and Planning, the role involves providing critical financial insights and conducting in-depth financial reviews focusing on facilities and information technology capital, university fringe benefits, and other units as assigned. As capital budget lead, this role oversees all capital project approvals, cash flows, and processes. The Senior Manager will work closely with financial teams in Facilities, IT, Accounting, and other stakeholders across many schools and administrative units that complete capital projects. In addition, they will participate in all capital approval process meetings, including Resource Planning and Capital Facilities Workgroup, and will participate in the University's Central Bank program.

In addition, Senior Manager responsibilities include generating financial overviews for academic and/or administrative units, conducting specific financial analyses, reviewing budget and forecast information, and making recommendations for resource allocation. The position collaborates closely with stakeholders across the University to develop and review financial information and needs, ensuring alignment with university-wide standards and goals.

Additionally, the Senior Manager of Capital, Resource Allocation, and Analysis participates in strategic meetings and contributes to enhancing the University's financial performance and reputation. This position is designed to provide expertise and leadership without direct managerial responsibilities.

This hybrid role is aligned with current university workforce strategies.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Serves as capital budget lead by overseeing all capital project reviews, approvals, cash flows, and other processes. Works closely with financial teams in Facilities, IT, Accounting, and other schools and units that perform capital projects to understand capital needs, ensure submission and alignment with capital processes and approvals, and ensure repayments via any internal loan or other chargeback mechanisms
• Manages the quarterly forecast process, university contingency, and crosswalk funds to GAAP process.
• Participates in strategic meetings with University leadership to present financial information, analysis, and project solutions, engaging in initiative-specific financial analysis, and contributing to resource allocation analysis and recommendations.
• Responsible for supervising and managing the annual budget process for a portfolio of schools and units.
• Provides training and support to related university units or program participants. Assists in the development of staff members in their analytical skills and leads the development and training of staff in capital-related matters. Participates in internal meetings as needed.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with stakeholders across the University to serve as an information resource, trusted advisor, and gate keeper for approvals.
• Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling & reporting & ultimately quality of financial information & analyses provided to management for planning, evaluating & controlling operations.
• Processes & presents associated data & information through the application of sophisticated database, graphic & spreadsheet tools.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business or finance and 10 years of budget and financial analysis experience, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience in which comparable skills are developed.
• Working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database and graphical presentation software. Experience with enterprise financial systems preferred.
• Experience working with senior or executive-level leaders
• Strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong working relationships and interact effectively with staff at all levels.
• An understanding of higher education issues and policy-setting procedures.
• Substantial experience in resource planning, allocation and analysis
• Substantial experience in managing capital project financials, cash flows, and review processes

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Experience with word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking skills, and an interest in analyzing data and information.
• Ability to work in an environment where teamwork is valued highly.
• Interest solving problems

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• 5+ years of experience working with capital project financials and cash flows
• Previous experience in financial, planning, and analysis role in a corporate or higher education setting
• Experience with modern enterprise financial systems preferred
• Experience developing and maintaining strong working relationships in a decentralized environment.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Verbal and written presentation skills.
• Collaboration and team-building skills

Target hiring range for this position will be between $120,000 - $155,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.