senior associate treasurer- debt management and analytics

SENIOR ASSOCIATE TREASURER- DEBT MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state, and around the world. UW employees bring their energy, creative problem-solving skills to their work and are dedicated to building stronger minds and a healthier world. UW is Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, your experiences, perspectives, and unique identities will be honored at the University of Washington. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

The Finance, Planning, and Budgeting (FPB) encompasses the major central financial and budgeting functions for the University of Washington, including:

• Finance & Budget Strategy

• Policy, Planning & State Operations

• University Business Services

• Institutional Data & Analysis

The Senior Associate Treasurer for Debt Management and Analytics (DMA) reports to the Associate Vice President within the Treasury Office. They will lead a team of five, including two direct reports, and provide both strategic and operational guidance in this area. As such, it requires a thorough understanding of all areas of debt financing (including financial markets, municipal finance/tax law, credit analysis, analytics, issuance, and compliance) and an understanding of related systems.

As the senior manager over these areas, this individual must effectively collaborate with both campus partners ( Facilities, UW Medicine, UWINCO) and external stakeholders ( bond underwriters, rating agencies and bond investors). They must be able to evaluate and recommend strategies and policies to senior management and the Board of Regents. This necessitates exceptional verbal and written communication skills and sound judgment. This position will also triage and lead regular assignments and initiatives from the Vice President for for Finance & Budget Strategy and the AVP Finance, University Treasurer.

We encourage applicants to apply even if they do not feel they satisfy all the skills listed below; we understand that it will take some time for the successful applicant to strengthen specific position skills where needed, to learn about the university systems, campuses, and vendor collaborators, to develop a deep understanding of the UW Finance environment itself. You will join a supportive team that will partner with you in these efforts; we are an open, ethical, highly engaged, and collaborative community based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. We believe in the importance of quality of life, embracing diversity, making a difference, and having fun.

Position Complexities:

Broadly, the complexities of this position include managing the $ billion external debt portfolio and $ billion internal loan portfolio on behalf of the University in alignment with the Debt Policy, providing senior leadership and the Board of Regents with the information necessary to make informed borrowing and internal lending decisions. Specific position complexities include:

•Borrowing at the lowest possible risk-adjusted cost. Long-term debt is the University's largest liability and has an enormous impact on its annual debt service costs (current annual debt service is roughly $210 million on $ billion of debt). Achieving a low risk-adjusted cost of funds through active debt management can save millions of dollars each year.

•Providing strategic guidance. This position makes strategic recommendations to the Board of Regents and senior leadership regarding the University's plan of finance, how much debt the University can issue for mission critical projects, and the interest rate charged to internal borrowers (the ILP rate).

•Evaluating and communicating institutional risk for debt-related projects. As the campus lender, this area tracks and communicates with multiple business and academic areas across campus. Tasks such as evaluating and communicating risks associated with new projects, monitoring and communicating the status of existing loans for prior projects and developing Financial Stability Plans for underperforming loans. Understanding the financial risks that the University faces over time and making institutional plans to mitigate risks can impact the University's ability to recruit students and faculty, its national and global reputation, and have a positive impact on the bottom line.

Team Management

•Responsible for day-to-day management of the DMA team

•Advise and counsel a team of professionals responsible for managing the $ billion external debt portfolio and $ billion internal loan portfolio

•Develop and drive team culture, team initiatives and team goals

•Foster a collaborative environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, brainstorming solutions, and collaborating on projects

•Manage work and teams in a complex and decentralized environment

•Hire and manage a team of professionals; both regular staff and vendors/suppliers

•Ensure that the team has the necessary resources, tools and support to excel in their roles

•Responsible for staff development, career enrichment and any necessary corrective action

•Work with a diverse group of individuals; placing a value on diversity, equity, and inclusiveness

Campus leadership:

•Collaborate, communicate and coordinate the external debt issuance and internal lending program with interested and impacted partners across the University

•Provide strategy-driven, peer-to-peer leadership to colleagues within Treasury and across the University

•Successfully navigate the complex structure of a central/decentral system at the University

•Negotiate priorities and resolve conflicts between unit requests and priorities and UW Finance and University mission, goals and priorities

•Lead and move projects forward effectively, even in situations where little or no direct control of or influence over project partners

•Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal partners (central partners and unit partners) and external partners (community, vendors, and suppliers)

Strategy/Program Development

•Develop and communicate vision and programmatic direction of DMA team and related programming

•Advise and collaborate with leadership on strategic direction of debt related programs and efforts

•Build, enhance, and continuously improve a robust debt program optimizing both central and unit resources to achieve goals

•Advise and counsel leadership, faculty, and staff on debt matters

•Create new strategies utilizing new techniques and technology; implement innovative borrowing and lending techniques to ensure the most effective Internal Lending Program

•Seek ways to continuously improve the program to meet institutional mission and goals

•Create and update tools and resources for program users

•Follow trends in the market; identify, develop and disseminate best practices

Leadership Skills

•Demonstrate the work ethic, dedication, and passion expected from the team

•Clearly articulate the overarching vision and specific goals for the team

•Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously

•Exercise sound judgment at all times

•Effectively manage with strategic issues as well as tactical, operational details

•Effectively manage high level university leadership, faculty, staff and community leaders and volunteers to the university

•Support and drive departmental culture

•Remain calm in stressful and crisis situations

•Support the Associate Vice President, Treasury in developing departmental strategy and executing Treasury initiatives

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership and Team management (continuously overlaid in all duties)

•Provide leadership and manage the Debt Management and Analytics (DMA) team. Also, provide leadership to the Treasury Office in collaboration with the Associate Vice President, Treasury.

•Manage the day-to-day operations of DMA and related programming ( Internal Lending Program)

•Develop and drive team culture, team initiatives and team goals

•Manage work and teams in a matrixed environment

•Successfully navigate the complex structure of a central/decentral system at the University

•Manage and advise a team of professionals who manage the $ billion external debt portfolio and $ billion internal lending program s

•Hire and oversee contract vendors as appropriate

•Lead Treasury's DMA team, including guidance and oversight of projects and workflow and general project timelines

•Responsible for management, development and career enrichment for the DMA team

•Work with a diverse group of individuals; placing a value on diversity, equity, and inclusiveness

Program Development and Management

•Develop and communicate vision and DMA programmatic direction

•Lead and move projects forward effectively, even in situations where little or no direct control of or influence over project partners

•Negotiate priorities and resolve conflicts between unit requests and priorities and UW Finance and University mission, goals and priorities

•Manage debt portfolio structuring and integration into the plan of finance ( variable/fixed rate debt, non-amortizing debt, swaps, borrowing for short-term assets, etc.)

•Manage the $ billion Internal Lending Program, including 76 individual loans funding various campus capital projects, and related Board and leadership reporting

•Communicate with external stakeholders (including bond rating agencies and investors) on University challenges and opportunities

• Make recommendations and present to Senior Leadership and the Board of Regents surrounding:
oImpact of approved projects and external borrowing on the University's credit ratings
oInterest rate that should be charged to internal borrowers through the Internal Lending Program
oLevel of institutional debt capacity

•Ensure reports to the Board of Regents and Senior Management are useful and accurate

•Perform financial due diligence and financial viability for debt related projects

•Ensure external ongoing compliance obligations are met

•Recommend changes regarding debt policies and procedures

•Identify, track, and communicate the status of campus borrowers to the Board and campus leadership

•Work with campus partners to communicate the financial status of underperforming loans and identifying potential solutions

•Create and operate new loan programs to benefit the University

•Improve operations and systems of the internal lending program

•Support the financial transformation as a result of the Workday implementation

Strategy Development

•Lead ad-hoc analysis and strategic University initiatives

•Generate solutions to address complex institutional challenges, including innovative finance

•Provide strategy-driven, peer-to-peer leadership to colleagues within Treasury and across the University

Administration

•Provide backup for the Associate Vice President and Treasurer

Other duties as assigned

•Train and cross train staff within Treasury Office

•Participate in outside peer groups, present as appropriate at regional and national conferences

•Ad hoc projects and requests

Lead Responsibilities:
Manage and lead the Debt Management and Analytics (DMA) area in the Treasury Office.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position will supervise two Associate Treasurers that cover the areas of External Debt and Internal Loans. The DMA team is comprised of 5 FTEs.

Requirements:

•Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field and at least 9 years of applicable work experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may substitute for degree

•Experience with municipal finance, debt issuance and/or related field

•5 years of progressively responsible leadership/management experience; demonstrated commitment to developing others to become leaders

•Demonstrated experience in working on diverse groups and teams; respects, values, and contributes to Finance, Planning, and Budgeting and UW's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
oSuccess in setting and achieving strategic priorities
oEmpowering and motivating staff
oBuilding team culture
oCollaboratively partnering with disparate groups to meet organization-wide initiatives

Desired:
Demonstrated experience as a leader who can inspire, motivate, and drive the DMA team towards achieving our organizational goals
Additional experience that could contribute significantly to success in this position includes:

•Management of treasury and finance functions within a large research university setting, including:
oOverseeing debt management programs. Selecting and managing investment bankers and other financial service providers. Providing financial advice and service to university senior administrators. Organizing and leading multiple municipal debt financings and post-issuance compliance. Establishing and maintaining relationships with credit rating agencies. Developing and implementing debt management guidelines.
oUnderstanding of financial forecasting, budgeting and strong understanding of university structure and systems.
oUnderstanding credit and risk analysis.
oUnderstanding of various derivative structures and/or public private partnerships.

•Experience working in a large, decentralized organization, experience working with Washington legislative staff on statutory issues, and/or previous higher education or Treasury experience could contribute significantly to success in this position.

•Familiarity with Workday, Adaptive, Treasury Workstations, and/or other forecasting and cash management systems.

•CPA, CTP, CFA

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