Position Title: Senior Financial Analyst
Department Name: Finance & Administration
Position Reports To: Financial Planning and Analysis Director
FLSA STATUS: Salaried
Salary Range: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00
Benefits: The University's comprehensive benefits program
Days & Hours: This is a fully remote position, scheduled Monday through Friday for 37.5 hours per week. The standard work schedule is 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST, with flexibility based on operational needs. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required during peak periods.
BASIC FUNCTION AND SCOPE OF JOB:
The Senior Financial Analyst serves as a strategic finance partner responsible for translating complex financial and operational data into forward-looking insights that inform institutional decision-making.
This role goes beyond reporting and model maintenance. The Senior Analyst identifies structural drivers of financial performance, develops actionable recommendations, and proactively surfaces emerging risks and opportunities in a dynamic higher education environment.
The position partners closely with Finance leadership to strengthen the institution’s long-term financial sustainability.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Financial Analysis & Insight
- Identify root causes of financial variances and communicate implications to senior leadership.
- Translate trends in enrollment, compensation, and operating performance into strategic financial recommendations.
- Proactively identify structural risks and opportunities impacting institutional sustainability.
- Develop executive-ready financial narratives explaining “what changed” and “what it means.”
Advanced Forecasting & Scenario Modeling
- Own and continuously refine multi-year institutional financial projection models.
- Design scenario analyses (enrollment sensitivity, tuition pricing, compensation modeling, structural adjustments).
- Integrate operational KPIs into financial forecasts to improve leading-indicator accuracy.
- Continuously improve forecasting methodologies in response to business volatility.
Enrollment & Revenue Analytics
- Partner with Enrollment, Academic Affairs, and Institutional Research to translate student enrollment trends into forward-looking revenue projections.
- Analyze student mix shifts (new vs. continuing, program mix, modality, residency, partnership programs) and quantify financial impact.
- Develop and maintain tuition revenue models by cohort, term, and program.
- Conduct sensitivity analyses to model enrollment scenarios and their impact on financial position and liquidity.
Business Partnership
- Serve as a financial advisor to academic and operational leaders.
- Develop actionable recommendations to improve financial performance.
- Support strategic initiatives with financial impact modeling.
- Facilitate data-informed decision-making across departments.
ERP & Data Integration Leadership
- Ensure alignment between ERP financial data and projection models.
- Maintain robust account mapping structures and data integrity.
- Strengthen documentation to reduce institutional knowledge risk.
- Identify opportunities to automate reporting and improve data reliability.
Cash Flow & Liquidity Strategy Support
- Support rolling liquidity forecasts and working capital analysis.
- Model structural impacts of enrollment fluctuations and funding shifts.
- Assist in stress-testing financial assumptions.
The duties described are not intended to be all-inclusive and may include other related responsibilities as assigned to support departmental and organizational objectives.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education requirement:
- Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Business, or Data Analytics required; Master's preferred
- Years of experience:
- 5+ years FP&A or institutional finance experience
- Knowledge of:
- Advanced financial modeling expertise (multi-scenario, sensitivity analysis)
- ERP experience (Banner/Colleague preferred)
- Direct job-related requirements:
- Strong ability to translate data into executive-level insights
- Experience integrating operational and financial data
- Demonstrated ability to influence decision-making
- Skills and abilities:
- Thinks beyond reporting and focuses on identifying underlying drivers of performance.
- Naturally asks “What changed?” and “What does this mean for the institution?”
- Is comfortable working with imperfect data and building structured models from complex inputs.
- Can translate technical financial analysis into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
- Balances attention to detail with big-picture thinking.
- Is proactive in identifying financial risks and opportunities before they become urgent.
- Builds scalable, well-documented models that reduce reliance on institutional memory.
- Is comfortable partnering with Enrollment, Academic, and Administrative leaders.
- Demonstrates sound judgment and discretion in executive-level discussions.
Supplemental Information
To apply: Please go to http://www.ggu.edu/jobs to submit an application, letter of interest, and a resume. In applying for a position, candidates sign a consent authorizing a broader inquiry which may include reference checks, a motor vehicle check, and a third-party background check.
Golden Gate University is an equal employment opportunity employer. We support inclusive excellence and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all. University policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion/creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, gender stereotyping, and gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, taking a protected leave (e.g., family medical or pregnancy leave), or on any other basis protected by applicable laws. The University has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and to maintaining working and learning environments that reinforces these practices. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all demographics.
