Finance Manager - Real Estate Development

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Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Professional 312

Pay Range: $109,900.00 - $170,400.00

Job Description

The Finance Manager - Real Estate Development is WGU's finance lead for large-scale real estate development, including the new headquarters campus. This senior individual contributor owns the forward-looking financial view of the program: capital planning, project financial models, cash-flow forecasting, funding analysis, financial risk assessment, and executive decision support. The role partners across Development, Project Controls, Accounting, Treasury, Procurement, Legal, and external advisors to support disciplined capital allocation throughout the project lifecycle.

• This role works on-site at WGU's Salt Lake City, Utah headquarters. Relocation assistance is available to candidates who live more than 50 miles from Salt Lake City.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the integrated project financial model and long-range capital plan, aligning cost, scope, schedule, operating, and financing assumptions.

• Lead project budgeting and rolling cash-flow forecasts; identify the amount and timing of funding and liquidity requirements.

• Evaluate major investments, scope choices, delivery alternatives, and schedule changes using scenario, sensitivity, return, and life-cycle cost analyses, as appropriate.

• Assess capital structure and funding alternatives, including cash, debt or tax-exempt bonds, incentives, and grants; support due diligence and financing execution with Treasury, Legal, and external advisors.

• Translate actual costs, commitments, forecasts, contingency use, and key assumptions into clear executive reporting, variance explanations, risks, and recommendations.

• Establish and maintain project finance governance, modeling standards, approval controls, and reporting requirements; monitor compliance with authorized budgets and decisions.

• Quantify financial risks related to cost escalation, interest rates, schedule, scope, market conditions, and operations; recommend and monitor mitigation actions.

• Provide functional leadership for project finance workstreams and present analysis and recommendations to project leadership, executive governance bodies, and the Board, as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Real Estate, Business Administration, or a related analytical field, or equivalent relevant experience under WGU policy.

• Eight or more years of progressive experience in corporate finance, FP&A, project finance, development finance, real estate finance, investment analysis, or a related discipline, including experience supporting complex capital projects.

• Advanced financial modeling, cash-flow forecasting, scenario analysis, and capital-planning capability, with expert-level Excel proficiency.

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional decisions and communicate concise financial insights and recommendations to senior executives.

• Working knowledge of development economics, construction cost and schedule dependencies, financing structures, and financial governance.

Preferred

• Experience with large-scale commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, institutional, or corporate headquarters development.

• Experience with debt or tax-exempt bond financing, public incentives, grants, or other complex funding sources.

• MBA or relevant credential such as CFA, CPA, or CCIM.

• Experience with enterprise planning, reporting, business intelligence, or project-controls systems.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.