Description

The Opportunity:

As the Director of Financial Reporting and Analysis Services, you step into a senior finance leadership role where you drive the system-wide strategy, governance, and continual advancement of Washington State University’s financial reporting, analytics, and forecasting functions. Reporting to the Executive Director/Controller, you deliver forward-looking financial insight that helps executive leadership anticipate trends, forecast outcomes, and make informed decisions that support long-term financial sustainability. You oversee the preparation of accurate, timely quarterly and annual financial statements, conduct comprehensive analysis of financial performance, and lead proactive, scenario based forecasting to surface risks and opportunities. Your work informs executive leadership, the Board of Regents, credit rating agencies, and state oversight entities, demanding exceptional technical expertise, analytical rigor, and sound professional judgment.

A major part of your impact comes from leading transformational change in how the University leverages data and technology to strengthen financial insight and decision support. You serve as a strategic advisor to senior finance leadership, advancing the use of Workday and related systems to shift the institution from compliance-focused reporting to integrated, automated, insight driven analytics, including dashboards and self service tools. You lead complex analyses, develop key performance metrics, and sponsor cross functional initiatives that enhance forecasting accuracy, reporting efficiency, and the overall maturity of financial analytics. You also build strong partnerships across campuses and with external stakeholders, while leading and developing a high performing team that champions accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or other related fields and six (6) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, including at least three (3) years of managerial experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Education and experience can be tailored to fit the specific organizational entity/directorial assignment.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial reporting and analysis principles and practices including preparation of quarterly and annual financial reports, and management of external audits, and compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or modernizing financial reporting and analytics solutions, including leveraging a university ERP system (such as Workday) and related reporting tools.
• Proven ability to lead and manage financial reporting and analysis functions within a complex organization.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including strategic and critical thinking, sound judgement, accountability, integrity, humility, and the ability to lead through change.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries; exercise discretion and tact; manage sensitive and confidential information; and effectively lead.
• Proven ability to build, maintain, and sustain strong and effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, governing bodies, auditors, and governmental agencies.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in accounting roles within higher education, including at least six (6) years of managerial experience.
• Professional licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), with prior experience in public accounting or public-sector environment.
• Experience leading or supporting organizational change initiatives related to financial reporting, forecasting, analytics transformation, or process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain high performing teams.