Senior Business Partner, Finance

Position Summary:

The Finance Business Partner will play a pivotal role in connecting strategy, operations, and finance to ensure that institutional resources are aligned with outcomes and deliver maximum value. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance & Accounting, with a direct link to the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Team, this role is uniquely positioned to influence decision-making across the institution. At the intersection of functional leadership, FP&A, the Controller’s office, and the Transformation Office, the Finance Business Partner serves as a strategic advisor who translates operational priorities into actionable financial models and insights. By combining expertise in accounting, finance, and higher education operations, the Finance Business Partner empowers executives and functional leaders to make data-informed, value-driven decisions. Acting as both translator and connector, this role ensures that financial strategies reflect operational realities and that operational decisions are grounded in sound financial analysis. 

Role and Responsibilities:

• Partner with function leaders to review and analyze budget-to-actuals, monthly spends, FTE allocations, and resource utilization. 

• Identify and communicate reforecasts, variances, pulls, pushes, saves, and misses in operating budgets. 

• Translate operational strategies and resource needs into inputs for FP&A models, ensuring accuracy and alignment. 

• Collaborate with the Controller’s office to ensure accurate reporting and alignment between actuals and forecasts. 

• Work with the Transformation Office (Operational Effectiveness team) to ensure financial resources are aligned with institutional outcomes and value creation. 

• Provide scenario analysis to evaluate options, prioritizing those that deliver the greatest impact and efficiency. 

• Support decision-making for new initiatives, staffing models, and investments by connecting financial implications with expected outcomes. 

• Support and facilitate monthly budget review conversations with executives and functional leaders. 

• Establish repeatable processes for variance analysis, reforecasting, and FTE modeling. 

• Document and communicate agreed-upon financial assumptions to ensure alignment between historical reporting (Controller) and forward-looking projections (FP&A). 

• Provide financial literacy coaching to operational leaders on budgets, forecasts, and financial concepts. 

• Develop simple tools/templates for functions to manage their operating resources. 

• Serve as a trusted partner and “single source of truth” for budget owners and executives. 

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (Master’s or CPA preferred). 

• 5+ years of progressive experience in finance, accounting, or business operations, ideally within higher education. 

• Strong understanding of budget management, forecasting, and FTE/staffing models. 

• Experience working cross-functionally with operations, finance, and transformation/strategy teams. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence and build trust with executives and functional leaders. 

• Proficiency in financial systems (e.g., Sage Intacct, Anaplan, Banner/Ellucian, Workiva) preferred. 

• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills, with an ability to connect operational activities to financial outcomes. 

All new hires are required to attend New Collaborator Orientation (NCO) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The College will cover travel, lodging, and other accommodations.

Nightingale’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected both in our learners and collaborators because we believe the best outcomes for learners from underserved and diverse populations are achieved through collaborators with similar backgrounds and cultures. Nightingale Education Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Our Mission (not just words on the wall, we live it, love it, and daily contribute to it): With the primary focus on higher learning in healthcare professions, Nightingale Education Group contributes to elevating education, health, and employment systems through facilitation of academic achievement, personal growth, and professional development of its learners, alumni, and collaborators, while serving diverse communities.

At Nightingale Education Group, our Innovative Education model helps transform rural health landscapes through our blended-distance learning platform. Every person involved with Nightingale Education Group helps to change the lives of our learners, our communities, and ultimately the world by adding to the quality of healthcare. We are proud to have graduated nearly 5,000 nurses serving communities in need. We are serious about our outcomes and have a little bit of fun getting there.

The professional and personal development of our learners and our collaborators is our company’s foundation. Not only do we develop strategies that promote a positive work-life integration, but we also create an environment that invites you to become an expert in your field, be it through higher education or professional development. Put simply, we elevate employment, elevate health, and elevate education. We’re so happy that you’ve found us!

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen.