Finance Business Partner, Strategic Growth

We are seeking a collaborative analytical and operationally focused Finance Business Partner to serve as the primary finance partner for WPSU WHYYs newly acquired public media station. This role is ideal for a finance professional who combines strong financial planning and business partnering skills with a hands-on approach to supporting operational leaders through integration transformation and long-term growth.

This position will be staffed at WHYYs headquarters in Philadelphia with expected travel to State College PA especially during the first year. The Finance Business Partner will then be expected to expand their focus to future strategic initiatives including evaluating integrating and supporting additional public media acquisitions and partnerships.

SCOPE OF POSITION

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer the Finance Business Partner Strategic Growth serves as the dedicated strategic finance lead for WHYYs newly acquired WPSU public media station. This role works directly with WPSU leadership to provide financial insight operational decision support and long-range planning while helping guide the station through integration and toward long-term financial success.

WPSU will be the positions primary responsibility during the integration and transition period and while this position will be staffed at WHYYs headquarters in Philadelphia we expect frequent travel (e.g. up to 50% of the time) to WPSU in State College PA for hands-on support during the first year. While WPSU will be the primary focus during its integration and transition this position is intentionally designed to support WHYYs long-term growth strategy. As WPSU reaches a steady-state operating model the Finance Business Partner will expand their focus to future strategic initiatives including evaluating integrating and supporting additional public media acquisitions and partnerships.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Planning & Business Partnering

• Lead the annual operating budget forecasts and long-range financial planning for WPSU.

• Provide monthly financial analysis variance reporting and actionable recommendations to WPSU and WHYY leadership.

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to WPSU leadership.

• Develop financial models scenario analyses business cases KPIs and performance metrics that support strategic and operational decision making.

• Partner with programming development engineering and operations leaders to evaluate financial impacts of key initiatives.

WPSU Integration & Operational Improvement

• Support the continued financial integration of WPSU into WHYY systems policies and reporting.

• Help operational leaders adopt new financial tools reporting practices and planning processes.

• Identify opportunities to improve workflows reporting automation financial transparency and operational efficiency.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives related to WPSUs integration and transition.

• Develop standardized financial reporting and planning processes that improve transparency accountability and decision support.

Strategic Growth & Future Acquisitions

• Partner with WHYYs finance team including the Senior Financial Analyst and Senior Project Financial Analyst to support financial analysis due diligence and integration planning for strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

• Develop repeatable financial integration processes that can be leveraged for future public media acquisitions.

• Support post-acquisition financial planning performance measurement and operational stabilization.

• Transition into the primary finance business partner for future acquisitions and strategic growth initiatives as WPSU reaches operational maturity.

Financial Operations Capital & Compliance

• Monitor WPSU cash flow working capital operating performance and financial outlook.

• Coordinate with WHYY Finance on treasury investment and accounting matters impacting WPSU.

• Partner with the Senior Project Financial Analyst to support grant tracking restricted funding compliance and financial reporting requirements.

• Partner with the Senior Financial Analyst to support long-term capital planning for technology facilities broadcast infrastructure and strategic investments.

• Develop financial models to evaluate capital projects funding alternatives and their long-term financial impacts.

Education: Bachelors degree in finance accounting economics or a related field; Advanced degree or certification (e.g. MBA CPA) preferred.

Experience: Five or more years of progressive experience in financial planning FP&A accounting or finance business partnering. Experience providing financial guidance and decision support to operational leaders with experience supporting organizational integrations strategic initiatives or change management and working in nonprofit higher education media or other mission-driven organizations preferred. Ability to translate complex financial information into clear actionable recommendations for non-financial leaders. Knowledge of grant accounting and restricted funding is preferred.

Technical Skills:Advanced use of Microsoft Office products including Excel and PowerPoint. Experience with financial planning and accounting software packages are preferred. Strong financial modeling budgeting forecasting and analytical skills.