Job Description

The Finance Manager serves as WGU's lead financial advisor responsible for project financial planning, funding strategy, capital planning, cash flow forecasting, financial governance, and executive financial reporting for our campus development. This role develops and maintains project financial models, evaluates funding alternatives, assesses financial risk, and provides decision support to ensure sound financial stewardship throughout the project lifecycle.

Primary Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Develop, maintain, and update project financial models and pro forma throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare financial analysis to support strategic decisions, project alternatives, and major investments.
• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis across key variables including cost, schedule, inflation, interest rates, and operating assumptions.
• Evaluate financial impacts of scope changes, schedule delays, and strategic alternatives.

Funding Strategy and Capital Planning

• Develop and maintain the project funding strategy and capital plan.
• Evaluate and recommend capital structure alternatives and funding approaches.
• Support financing activities and related due diligence, including debt, bond, incentive, and grant opportunities.
• Develop recommendations regarding capital allocation and funding requirements.

Cash Flow Management and Forecasting

• Develop and maintain project cash flow forecasts.
• Monitor projected funding requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate impacts of schedule, cost, and scope changes on financial performance and funding needs.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning processes.

Financial Governance and Reporting

• Prepare executive-level financial reports, analyses, and presentations.
• Maintain financial governance procedures, reporting standards, and supporting documentation.
• Present financial recommendations to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Support board, executive, and governance reporting requirements and monitor compliance with financial approvals.

Financial Risk Management

• Identify and assess financial risks associated with project delivery, operations, and market conditions.
• Develop mitigation strategies and monitor key assumptions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project-wide risk management efforts and governance processes.

Collaboration

• Partner with Development, Project Controls, and Cost Management to evaluate forecasts, alternatives, and major project decisions.
• Coordinate with Development Accounting to reconcile forecasts with actual expenditures and accounting records.
• Support Construction and Procurement on financial evaluation of commitments and execution decisions.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to executive leadership.