Job Details

Senior Financial Analyst; Division of Business Services

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

Senior Financial Analyst; Division of Business Services

Job Profile Title

Accountant/Financial Analyst Senior

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), the Senior Financial Analyst is a core member of the Business Services FP&A and Finance organizations. This role is responsible for independently owning and managing budgets for multiple operating units and serving as a senior financial partner to operational leaders across the Division.

The Senior Financial Analyst leads key elements of the monthly and quarterly financial close and reporting processes, including journal entries, variance analysis, and performance monitoring. The position develops operating budgets and forecasts, evaluates existing and proposed programs or investments, and builds financial and analytical models to support strategic and operational decision-making.

This role partners closely with the Business Services Controller's Division to ensure a strong controls environment, execute financial transactions, and maintain appropriate checks and balances for assigned areas of oversight. The Senior Financial Analyst also supports Divisional leadership by producing consolidated financial reporting and analysis for internal and institutional stakeholders, including financial statements, projections, operating and human capital metrics and dashboard, capital expenditure reporting, and ad hoc strategic analyses.

This position plays a key role in advancing continuous improvement within their assigned areas of Business Services. The Senior Financial Analyst is expected to approach core FP&A responsibilities through a transformation lens-identifying process inefficiencies within their areas of support and oversight, helping define scalable financial and operational metrics, and partnering with finance and non-finance leaders to implement improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability, and decision-making.

The position requires regular interaction with finance and operational leaders and demands strong judgment, accountability, and the ability to clearly communicate complex financial information. Successful performance requires advanced proficiency with University financial systems, including Oracle General Ledger, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Business Objects, and Microsoft Office.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary financial business partner to assigned operational units, providing financial leadership through budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, internal controls, continuous improvement of financial and operational processes, capital and technology investment projects, and audit consultation.
• Lead financial and operational analyses that assess performance, identify risks and opportunities, challenge assumptions, and support data-driven business decisions across a diverse portfolio of operations.
• Consolidate, analyze, and report Divisional financial results in support of monthly close, reforecasting, and the annual budget cycle.
• Oversee reporting and variance analysis of human capital activity, including staffing changes and salary modeling; integrate Workday data into budgeting, forecasting, and planning processes.
• Support monthly reporting of operational metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), partnering with departments to ensure data accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement of reporting processes.
• Partner with the Business Services Controller's Division to execute financial transactions, ensure alignment with University policies, and maintain appropriate checks and balances.
• Develop and maintain advanced proficiency in University financial systems and reporting tools, including Business Objects, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Oracle GL, and Microsoft Office.
• Follow established policies and procedures and recommend improvements to strengthen controls, efficiency, and transparency.
• Leverage automation, reporting, and data visualization tools to improve the scalability, usability, and insightfulness of financial and operational reporting for assigned areas.
• Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights that inform decisions, highlight tradeoffs, and support prioritization of resources and initiatives within supported portfolios.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, or financial management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial reporting, data analysis, and financial modeling including strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize complex data sets across multiple business lines.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, internal controls, and financial governance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial and operational information into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated accountability, stewardship, discretion, and confidentiality in managing institutional resources.

Preferred

• Experience with University or large, decentralized financial systems.
• Advanced experience with Oracle GL, Hyperion Planning, Workday, Business Objects, or similar enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated experience using automation, data visualization, or business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI or similar platforms) to enhance financial and operational reporting, performance metrics, and decision-making in a complex environment.

About Business Services

The Division of Business Services (BSD) supports the individual and collective needs of the Penn community by promoting a hospitable, customer-focused campus environment through the delivery of mission-critical services and essential operations. BSD's mission is to provide high-quality service in a fiscally responsible manner.

The Division is currently focused on three major initiatives:

• Revenue growth and retention through improved marketing, expanded services, and new distribution channels
• Driving productivity for the Division and its customers through enhanced use of technology
• Enhancing service offerings through facility upgrades and expansions

Learn more: https://business-services.upenn.edu

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Business Services

Pay Range

$76,000.00 - $92,500.00 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.