Finance Manager, Wharton Finance & Administration

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

Finance Manager, Wharton Finance & Administration

Job Profile Title

Accountant/Financial Analyst Senior

Job Description Summary

The Finance Manager reports directly to the Associate Director, Research Centers. The Finance Manager will serve as an integral member of the Research Centers Financial Management team at Wharton Finance & Administration, providing centralized, comprehensive, and sophisticated financial analyses for the various Research Centers. The position will have primary responsibility for the operating budget and financial analysis/modeling, working with stakeholders to manage their budgets, allocating school funds, gift and endowment funds appropriately and reporting to the senior leadership on trends, cash positions, financial performance, and cash flow management for the various Research Centers.
This position will be responsible for analyzing current and future cash flows for all Research Centers collaborating closely with Business Managers to ensure quality analysis. The role involves asking pertinent questions to provide valuable insights and identifying and flagging funds ending and deficits to Business Managers, enabling proactive decision-making. This includes providing financial models, spend and trend analysis, budget variance reporting, and prioritizing recommendations for the department’s planning decisions. The position will be knowledgeable and comfortable with complex research funding structures and adept at analyzing data from disparate systems to enable fact-based, timely, and collaborative decisions that enhance the mission of Wharton and its respective Research Centers. In addition to the core responsibilities, this role will collaborate closely with various departments to gain insights and implement streamlined processes for more seamless financial operations.
This position will also collaborate closely with assigned Research Centers, acting as the Business Manager, and working with Financial Operations team on Research Centers business needs.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee operating budget and financial analyses/modeling. Enhance short and longer term financial and operational planning and goals. Develop & maintain revenue and expense budgets, forecasts/projections, updates to quarterly budgets, and annual budget submission using Hyperion, Business Objects/Webi, Ben Financials, Excel, and other financial tools.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of future cash flow by reviewing endowment and gifts income, fee for service, grants, and special purpose funds. Manage outstanding receivables effectively, ensuring timely collections and accurate tracking. Incorporate receivables, endowment income and gift contributions into forward-looking cash evaluations to support financial planning and decision-making while understanding the contract/agreement restrictions with contributions. 
• Continuously liaise with internal team and research centers via timely communication and collaborative team work to deliver quality assessments on current and future financial states, flagging funding concerns and way to optimize finances. 
• Act as the business administrator for 1-2 research centers. Closely collaborate with assigned research centers, understanding the business activities driving the financials and working with financial operations to manage the research center’s business needs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree with 5-7 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Previous budgeting and forecasting experience. Ability to multi-task. Strong accounting skills and knowledge of Penn’s financial systems a plus.

• Previous financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting experience required.
• Advance technical skills required (financial modeling).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential, including professional email writing skills and the ability to enforce policies and guidelines diplomatically but assertively, including with those at higher levels.

Please submit a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$61,046.00 – $98,000.00 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, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check 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.

​

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