Strategic Finance Manager

Training Tomorrow's Technicians to Become Skilled, Employable, and Essential

ABOUT US - Big Changes, Better Benefits - Join us today!

 At Cotulla Education, home to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Centura College, Tidewater Tech, and American Lineman College, we are dedicated to transforming lives through hands-on, career-focused education. Our mission is to empower students to achieve their professional dreams in high-demand fields like aviation, healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades. With experienced faculty providing personalized support, our graduates emerge as future leaders ready to make a significant impact in their communities. Join us in shaping the careers of those who will build and maintain our world and embark on a transformative journey towards a fulfilling career. 

Position Purpose

Strategic Finance Manager to support enterprise-wide financial planning, growth initiatives, and capital deployment decisions. This role sits at the intersection of financial modeling, operational performance analysis, and strategic investment evaluation—partnering closely with FP&A leadership, executive stakeholders, and campus teams.

As a key member of the finance organization, you will help shape long-term financial strategy by developing business cases, evaluating unit economics, supporting M&A and expansion initiatives, and providing actionable insights that drive performance. This is a high-visibility role with exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to influence critical growth decisions across a dynamic, multi-site organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Planning & Business Case Support

Support long-range financial planning in collaboration with FP&A leadership and executive stakeholders.

Build and maintain financial models to evaluate unit economics, capital deployment opportunities, and business case scenarios.

Prepare financial inputs and scenario analyses for key initiatives, including new site launches, program expansion, and strategic investments.

M&A & Growth Strategy

Assist in financial diligence and scenario modeling for potential acquisitions and expansion opportunities.

Support post-launch and post-transaction tracking, including performance reporting and variance analysis for new or acquired campuses.

Help prepare investment summaries and decision-support materials for internal leadership reviews.

Executive Partnership & Communication

Partner with campus and central teams to gather inputs, validate assumptions, and ensure accurate forecasting and reporting.

Translate financial analyses into clear takeaways and presentations for leadership meetings and cross-functional discussions.

Support ad hoc analyses and executive requests with speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Performance Monitoring & Optimization

Monitor weekly and monthly financial performance trends, key metrics, and initiative ROI.

Identify risks, opportunities, and operational improvement areas through analytical rigor and structured problem-solving.

Maintain dashboards, reporting templates, and recurring deliverables to improve consistency and transparency across the organization.

Experience / Skills

• 5+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, strategic finance, consulting, investment banking, or a highly analytical business role.

• Strong financial modeling skills and advanced Excel proficiency, including scenario analysis and sensitivity modeling.

• Experience analyzing operating performance and translating findings into actionable insights.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial insights clearly and concisely to executive stakeholders.

• Experience in education, multi-site operations, healthcare, retail, or other distributed operating environments is preferred.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven, and compliance-oriented environment.

• High integrity, strong work ethic, and professionalism.

• Proficiency in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams. CampusNexus experience is a plus.

• Ability and willingness to travel locally and/or overnight for business purposes as needed.

Schedule

Remote, Full-Time Role: Standard business hours, Monday through Friday

What We Offer   

The anticipated annual salary for this role is $170,000- $180,000. However, actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including the candidate's skills, experience, and geographic location. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:    

• 401(k) and Matching: Secure your future with our competitive retirement savings plan.  
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Enjoy Health, Dental, and Vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy.  
• Life Insurance: Peace of mind with life insurance options.  
• Parental Leave: Support for new parents during important life transitions.  
• Paid Time Off: Recharge with paid time off to promote work-life balance.  
• Retirement Plan: Additional options to help you save for retirement.  
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to resources for personal and professional support.  
• Tuition Reimbursement: Invest in your future with financial support for further education.

Cotulla Education is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes to the success of our company and are dedicated to fostering a culture of respect, equity, and inclusion.