Strategic Planning & Budget Officer

Strategic Planning & Budget Officer

We are seeking a Strategic Planning & Budget Officer who will support financial strategic planning for complex projects at the division-wide and/or university-wide level. This role supports and collaborates on initiatives related to capital finance as well as reporting and analysis. The role is responsible for partnering with key stakeholders across the university to advance and support the capital needs for the assigned area.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Participate in the development of the assigned area's multi-year capital project financial plan, ensuring alignment between vision and financial resources.
• Become a trusted partner and advisor to senior leadership on topics related to financial analytics and modeling.
• Provide decision support by delivering accurate and timely financial analyses for strategic initiatives, issues and projects of high priority for senior leadership.
• Create financial models, long-range forecasts, operating and capital budgets to solve moderately complex problems and answer nuanced questions.
• Improve and refine existing financial models to accurately forecast key financial and operational metrics against strategic goals.
• Conduct comprehensive benchmark studies on strategic, financial and operational topics to drive improvement and enhance existing processes.
• Assess objectively business and financial processes and establish clear project requirements, scope, and objectives.
• Create high quality presentation materials and memoranda in order to communicate context, findings and recommendations to senior university leadership.
• Work independently to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with projects and project timelines; proactively manage for any potential roadblocks and work with teams/stakeholders to ensure projects stay on track.
• Establishes strong partnerships with key staff in the academic divisions and University Administration.
• Demonstrate respect for process and knowledge and exercise diplomacy in working with sponsors, subject matter experts, stakeholders, team members and leadership.
• Perform other related duties as requested.

The Strategic Planning & Budget Officer manages the development, monitoring, and analysis of division-wide and/or university-wide budgets and long-term financial plans. This role is responsible for partnering with key stakeholders across the university to deliver actionable insights and optimize our financial performance.

In addition to the duties described above:

Strategic Budget Development

• Collaborate in crafting the University's operating and capital budget and five-year financial plan.
• Formulate planning guidelines and conduct thorough analyses of budget documents to prepare for high-level discussions with University leadership.

Mentorship and Guidance

• Provide mentorship to Planning and Budget Office staff, lending your expertise in financial analysis and strategic planning.
• Become a trusted partner and advisor on topics related to financial analytics and modeling.

Financial Reporting

• Possess advanced technical experience in the use of financial software to develop and maintain financial models and automated financial reports.
• Create high quality presentation materials and memoranda to communicate context, findings, and recommendations.
• Possess working knowledge of general accounting principles and practices with an emphasis on university financial accounting.

Financial Insights and Analysis

• Provide insightful financial reporting in collaboration with the University Controller's Office. Analyze operational results, assess budgetary performance, and share data-driven recommendations.
• Demonstrate outstanding analytical skills that allow for interpretation of budgetary, financial and related organizational performance or management information.

Policy Implementation

• Lead the development and implementation of financial policies and standards, ensuring accountability and compliance with policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Five years of related work experience with experience in financial analysis, project management, and/or consulting.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Analytical Skills - Intermediate
• Capital Planning - Intermediate
• Finance Data Benchmarking - Intermediate
• Financial Analysis - Intermediate
• Financial Modeling - Intermediate
• Financial Planning: Intermediate
• Oral and Written Communication - Intermediate
• Project Management - Intermediate
• Presentations - Intermediate
• Stakeholder Engagement - Intermediate

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.