Berklee College of Music
Director of Financial Decision Support
Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Job Description:
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Financial Decision Support will lead the development and implementation of Berklee’s financial management reporting, financial data analytics, including the cost and revenue allocation model, and related institutional financial reports/analytics needs. With the rapidly changing higher education landscape, Berklee is committed to enhanced revenue and cost analytics to support data-driven resource planning and financial transparency. The Director will use a collaborative and consultative approach to work effectively across leadership and stakeholder groups to identify and understand institutional structure, key questions to answer and assess data source systems. The Director will maintain and produce management and financial reporting and analysis including KPI’s to monitor and assess financial performance on a regular basis.
The Director will also lead financial modeling and analysis of key initiatives through pro-forma development. Berklee has many initiatives and new proposals/projects that require financial analysis at any point in time, including facility related deals, international programming/facility deals and partnerships to expand global presence, new degree proposals or other such proposals to further Berklee’s mission and impact. The Director will drive the proforma creation to inform strategic and operational decisions by Berklee leadership on key initiatives in the areas of resource planning, allocation, and management.
The Director of Financial Decision Support serves as an integral member of the Finance leadership team and will work closely with the Controller, Senior Director for Budget and Financial Planning, Associate Director for Budget and Financial Planning, the Sr. Financial Systems Manager, as well as other team members in understanding Berklee’s financial operations, reports, and operational and capital budgets. The position will have broad expertise with current best practices in analytics and reporting and an awareness of emerging issues in this function within finance in Higher Education and at Berklee.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director will lead efforts in updating a cost and revenue allocation model for Berklee to apportion revenues and direct and indirect costs by determined outputs such as segments or learning environments (Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Berklee NYC, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia), programs (Dance, Musical Theater, Songwriting, Music Business, Music Production and Engineering, etc.) and potentially more granular output such as departments or courses.
The position will work with external consultants who will be engaged for updating the resource allocation model, including documentation of assumptions and definitions, categorization of revenues and costs including direct and indirect costs and determining model outputs.
The Director will also assess data source systems including data quality and availability.
The model update will include processing data, confirming methodology and business rules, validating model assumptions and refining based on stakeholder feedback as needed.
The Director will develop and produce management and financial reporting and analysis including segment analysis (e.g., by learning environment and total Berklee) and program margin analysis using the resource allocation model and other tools.
Partner with Finance, Budgeting, and Accounting to integrate cost and revenue allocation framework into budget and accounting processes.
The position will also develop KPI’s around instruction and administrative activity costs to better monitor and assess our institutional cost drivers.
Financial analysis and decision support:
The Director will drive pro-forma development to support financial analysis of key new initiatives. Berklee typically has several new initiative proposals/projects at any point in time including facility related deals, international programming/facility deals and partnerships to expand global presence, new degree proposals or other such proposals to further Berklee’s mission.
The Director will drive the proforma creation to inform strategic and operational decisions by Berklee leadership on key initiatives in the areas of resource planning, allocation, and management.
The position will support other College financial decision making as needed by modeling and creating scenarios to analyze options.
Assist in the creation of presentations for the Finance leadership and Berklee leadership as needed, including Board Committee reports/updates.
MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field and minimum of 8 years’ experience in financial management (or equivalent combination of education & experience) including accounting, budgeting, analysis and reporting, and data analytics and reporting for a higher education institution, OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
Bachelor's degree required. Preferred degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related major.
MBA or CPA highly desirable.
Higher education experience preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices in budgeting, strategic planning, data/information analysis, forecasting, reporting, and assessment.
Demonstrated knowledge of strategic and financial planning/modeling principles, methods, and practices.
Experience in assessment of overhead allocation and profitability analysis and/or activity based costing or other cost allocation models highly desirable.
Experience in synthesizing large amounts of complex detailed materials for presentation and review to varying audiences.
Experience in identifying appropriate data sources, extracting and manipulating data from multiple and diverse database sources by designing, refining, and running complex data queries.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Advanced knowledge of all Microsoft Office products.
Experience with an integrated ERP System required; Workday experience preferred.
Experience with Adaptive Insights preferred.
Experience with analytical tools, such as PowerBI or Tableau, required.
Proven ability to affect and influence change through a collaborative and inclusive style.
Proven ability to build strong relationships with internal and external representatives, at varying levels in the organization.
Excellent emotional intelligence, communication, and presentation skills.
Ability to juggle competing priorities in a fluid and results-oriented environment.
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate new issues; creative problem solving.
Demonstrated ability to work with a varied constituency, including senior/executive level administrators.
Strong commitment to supporting the Berklee’s goal of cultivating a diverse and inclusive community.
Excellent planning and organizational skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple, complex projects on deadline.
Able to lead a process in a highly collaborative environment to achieve agreed-upon objectives.
Proven ability to handle sensitive data with discretion.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at
hroperations@Berklee.edu
or call 617-747-2375.
Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Staff
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Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Financial Decision Support will lead the development and implementation of Berklee’s financial management reporting, financial data analytics, including the cost and revenue allocation model, and related institutional financial reports/analytics needs. With the rapidly changing higher education landscape, Berklee is committed to enhanced revenue and cost analytics to support data-driven resource planning and financial transparency. The Director will use a collaborative and consultative approach to work effectively across leadership and stakeholder groups to identify and understand institutional structure, key questions to answer and assess data source systems. The Director will maintain and produce management and financial reporting and analysis including KPI’s to monitor and assess financial performance on a regular basis.
The Director will also lead financial modeling and analysis of key initiatives through pro-forma development. Berklee has many initiatives and new proposals/projects that require financial analysis at any point in time, including facility related deals, international programming/facility deals and partnerships to expand global presence, new degree proposals or other such proposals to further Berklee’s mission and impact. The Director will drive the proforma creation to inform strategic and operational decisions by Berklee leadership on key initiatives in the areas of resource planning, allocation, and management.
The Director of Financial Decision Support serves as an integral member of the Finance leadership team and will work closely with the Controller, Senior Director for Budget and Financial Planning, Associate Director for Budget and Financial Planning, the Sr. Financial Systems Manager, as well as other team members in understanding Berklee’s financial operations, reports, and operational and capital budgets. The position will have broad expertise with current best practices in analytics and reporting and an awareness of emerging issues in this function within finance in Higher Education and at Berklee.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director will lead efforts in updating a cost and revenue allocation model for Berklee to apportion revenues and direct and indirect costs by determined outputs such as segments or learning environments (Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Berklee NYC, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia), programs (Dance, Musical Theater, Songwriting, Music Business, Music Production and Engineering, etc.) and potentially more granular output such as departments or courses.
The position will work with external consultants who will be engaged for updating the resource allocation model, including documentation of assumptions and definitions, categorization of revenues and costs including direct and indirect costs and determining model outputs.
The Director will also assess data source systems including data quality and availability.
The model update will include processing data, confirming methodology and business rules, validating model assumptions and refining based on stakeholder feedback as needed.
The Director will develop and produce management and financial reporting and analysis including segment analysis (e.g., by learning environment and total Berklee) and program margin analysis using the resource allocation model and other tools.
Partner with Finance, Budgeting, and Accounting to integrate cost and revenue allocation framework into budget and accounting processes.
The position will also develop KPI’s around instruction and administrative activity costs to better monitor and assess our institutional cost drivers.
Financial analysis and decision support:
The Director will drive pro-forma development to support financial analysis of key new initiatives. Berklee typically has several new initiative proposals/projects at any point in time including facility related deals, international programming/facility deals and partnerships to expand global presence, new degree proposals or other such proposals to further Berklee’s mission.
The Director will drive the proforma creation to inform strategic and operational decisions by Berklee leadership on key initiatives in the areas of resource planning, allocation, and management.
The position will support other College financial decision making as needed by modeling and creating scenarios to analyze options.
Assist in the creation of presentations for the Finance leadership and Berklee leadership as needed, including Board Committee reports/updates.
MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field and minimum of 8 years’ experience in financial management (or equivalent combination of education & experience) including accounting, budgeting, analysis and reporting, and data analytics and reporting for a higher education institution, OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
Bachelor's degree required. Preferred degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related major.
MBA or CPA highly desirable.
Higher education experience preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices in budgeting, strategic planning, data/information analysis, forecasting, reporting, and assessment.
Demonstrated knowledge of strategic and financial planning/modeling principles, methods, and practices.
Experience in assessment of overhead allocation and profitability analysis and/or activity based costing or other cost allocation models highly desirable.
Experience in synthesizing large amounts of complex detailed materials for presentation and review to varying audiences.
Experience in identifying appropriate data sources, extracting and manipulating data from multiple and diverse database sources by designing, refining, and running complex data queries.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Advanced knowledge of all Microsoft Office products.
Experience with an integrated ERP System required; Workday experience preferred.
Experience with Adaptive Insights preferred.
Experience with analytical tools, such as PowerBI or Tableau, required.
Proven ability to affect and influence change through a collaborative and inclusive style.
Proven ability to build strong relationships with internal and external representatives, at varying levels in the organization.
Excellent emotional intelligence, communication, and presentation skills.
Ability to juggle competing priorities in a fluid and results-oriented environment.
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to navigate new issues; creative problem solving.
Demonstrated ability to work with a varied constituency, including senior/executive level administrators.
Strong commitment to supporting the Berklee’s goal of cultivating a diverse and inclusive community.
Excellent planning and organizational skills, including the ability to successfully manage multiple, complex projects on deadline.
Able to lead a process in a highly collaborative environment to achieve agreed-upon objectives.
Proven ability to handle sensitive data with discretion.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at
hroperations@Berklee.edu
or call 617-747-2375.
Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Staff
#J-18808-Ljbffr