Director, Financial Planning and Analysis

Description

DEPARTMENT: Professional Services 

REPORTS TO: Chief Financial Officer 

LOCATION: Chicago, IL 

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: [EXEMPT]  

THE ORGANIZATION 

Through clinical services, education, and research, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation’s leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing children and adolescents, couples, families, and individuals. When you join The Family Institute, you are joining a team of over 230 collaborators comprised of clinicians, educators, researchers, therapists-in-training, partners, and administrators across three service sites. We are a strong, independent organization focused on advancing the world of behavioral health.    

Learn more about our culture. 

THE ROLE 

The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is a strategic finance leader responsible for driving financial insight, forecasting accuracy, and data-driven decision-making across the organization. Factoring the complexity and regulations of the education, healthcare, and non-profit industries, this role will partner closely with the executive team and operational leadership to optimize financial performance, support growth initiatives, and ensure long-term sustainability. The Director of FP&A will drive financial analyses in collaboration with the CFO and serve as a thought partner to envision new ways of working. They will embrace TFI’s core values, mission, and vision every day to build stronger teams to meet mission. 

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Lead the annual budgeting, long-range planning, and rolling forecast processes  
2. Develop and maintain financial models to support strategic initiatives, operating performance, and targeted capital investments 
3. Provide clear, actionable financial analysis and recommendations to executive leadership 
4. Analyze key drivers of revenue, expense, margin, and cash flow, with a strong understanding of the academic and clinical business models 
5. Oversee monthly variance analysis and performance reporting, translating complex financial data into concise executive-level insights 
6. Partner with academic, clinical and other administrative leaders to support decision-making and improve financial outcomes 
7. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and data dashboards aligned with organizational goals 
8. Ensure consistency, accuracy, and integrity of financial data across budget and reporting systems and applications 
9. Lead, mentor, and develop the FP&A team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement 
10. Support enterprise initiatives related to cost management, operational efficiency, and value-based care strategies 
11. Apply AI and/or automation tools that streamline or improve processes, efficiency and quality. 
12. Demonstrate an ongoing investment in professional development and in keeping updated on technical knowledge and skills relating to finance and accounting 
13. Perform other duties as assigned by manager for business necessity 

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS  
Knowledge and Skills 

1. General knowledge of accounting and budgeting systems, preference for experience with NetSuite, and Workday Adaptive Planning 
2. Proficient in MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, preference for experience with PowerBI 
3. Responsible use of AI 
4. Strong attention to detail 
5. Communication skills to include interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills 
6. Problem-solving and analytical skills 
7. Excellent interpersonal skills; customer service oriented 
8. Ability to work independently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced team environment with minimum supervision 
9. Ability to work efficiently and accurately with details and fluctuating work volumes 
10. Previous experience in a healthcare and/or Higher Education setting preferred 

MINIMUM HIRING SPECIFICATIONS 

1. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field  
2. 5-7 years of finance or accounting experience 
3. Preferred previous management experience 

Requirements

 PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS 

1. Must be able to compose written reports clearly and effectively  
2. Must be able to be in a stationary position due to attention to computer screen   
3. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations 
4. The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer) to perform work-related duties  
5. Must be able to apply established protocols in a timely manner  
6. Must be able to determine solutions to problems  
7. Must be able to operate successfully while handling multiple projects   

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER  

The Family Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class. We strive to create a working environment that is free of all forms of discrimination and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. We believe every member of our organization enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, to identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please direct your inquiries to the HR Team at [email protected]. 

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate’s applicable work experience, key skills and qualifications, as well as internal and external market considerations. The pay range for this full-time, exempt position is $123,842.00 - $173,626.00/year. The Family Institute provides competitive benefits, including health, a 403(b) retirement savings plan, generous time off, and professional development. For a more inclusive list of benefits, please visit our Careers page at https://www.family-institute.org/about-us/careers.