Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes

Job Profile Title

Executive Director A, Business and Finance

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director, University Financial Policies & Processes is a senior financial leadership role responsible for strengthening financial management and performance across the University.
Working across Penn's decentralized academic and administrative environment, the Executive Director leads University-wide efforts to improve and communicate financial policies and governance, financial training and end-user support, and financial systems and processes.

A primary focus of the role is to make it easier for University leaders and financial staff to manage resources effectively and responsibly. The Executive Director establishes and maintains clear and accessible financial policies; strengthens training and capabilities across the financial community; and works with schools, centers, the Division of Finance, ISC, and other partners to identify and implement improvements to financial processes and systems. The role also builds strong connections with the University's distributed financial community to understand needs, improve services, share effective practices, and support consistent financial stewardship across the institution.

The Executive Director partners with departments across the Division of Finance to identify opportunities for business process improvement and innovation. The role facilitates implementation of selected improvements, helping to enhance divisional efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

The Executive Director leads the University's long-term financial systems and process transformation strategy, working in close partnership with ISC on the modernization and eventual replacement of the University's financial ERP. The Executive Director will engage schools, centers, and the distributed financial community throughout the process to shape priorities and requirements, simplify and standardize financial processes where appropriate, and ensure institutional needs are reflected in the future solution. The role will also lead business readiness and change management efforts to build understanding, prepare the University for new ways of working, and support successful adoption.

The Executive Director will lead, manage, and develop a team responsible for financial policies and University-wide financial training, establishing clear priorities and accountability while fostering a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• University Financial Policy & Governance: Lead the University-wide financial policy framework, including development, review, approval, communication, and ongoing governance. Ensure financial policies are clear, accessible, current, and promote consistent compliance, accountability, and effective financial practices across the University. 15%
• Financial Training & Capability Development: Lead a comprehensive University-wide financial training strategy spanning financial systems and the University's major financial processes and responsibilities. Strengthen the capabilities of the distributed financial community through role-based training, professional development, cross-training, communication, and ongoing engagement. 20%
• University Financial Community Engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. Maintain strong partnerships and feedback loops with the University's decentralized financial community to identify needs, strengthen support, and advance financial excellence. Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, accountability, and financial stewardship. Work with other EVP divisions and campus teams to consider opportunities for policy and training consistency across campus. 10%
• Identify and lead opportunities for business process improvement and innovation across the Division of Finance. Facilitate discovery, design, and implementation of selected improvements to increase efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and promote continuous improvement. 20%
• Financial Systems, Process Improvement & ERP Transformation: Lead financial systems strategy, process improvement, and the University’s multi-year ERP transformation in partnership with ISC. Engage schools, centers, and the distributed financial community to shape priorities and requirements, simplify and standardize processes, and ensure institutional needs are reflected in future solutions. Lead business readiness and change management efforts to support successful adoption. 20%
• Team Leadership & Management: Lead, manage, and develop a team responsible for policies and University-wide financial training. Establish priorities, accountability, and a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement. 10%
• Perform additional duties as assigned. 5%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years in Financial Management or related field.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budgeting and fiscal management. Strong financial, analytical, and modeling skills.
• Experience with the University of Pennsylvania financial systems preferred. Advanced user skills with Excel and other Microsoft programs
• Enterprise-minded leader who combines deep financial and operational knowledge with an ability to make complex environments more understandable, consistent, and effective.
• Equally comfortable developing long-range transformation strategies, working through detailed financial policies and processes, engaging with technology teams, and listening to the day-to-day needs of financial practitioners across the University.
• Strong service orientation while maintaining high standards for financial stewardship, compliance, and accountability. Effective convener and translator, connecting policy, people, process, data, and technology, and will recognize that sustainable financial excellence depends not only on strong central controls, but also on equipping the University's distributed financial community with the knowledge, tools, systems, and information needed to succeed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$167,379.00 - $200,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay