Financial Modeling Consultant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Interim Capital Planning & Financial Modeling Consultant Location: New York, NY (2 days/week on site) Duration: 3 months (highest urgency in first month) Hours: Full-time, 8:30am–5:30pm Pay Rate: $65-75/hour Start: ASAP Overview Columbia University’s School of Engineering is seeking an experienced interim finance professional to support a high-priority capital planning initiative. This role will partner closely with the Director of Finance to help finalize and pressure-test a short-term capital plan tied to a potential new campus initiative (confidential). This is a hands-on, analytical role focused on building and refining Excel-based capital budgets, identifying gaps and opportunities, and helping leadership understand the financial viability of the initiative in an uncertain economic environment.

Key Responsibilities Build, refine, and maintain capital project budgets and financial models in Excel Develop a short-term capital plan that clearly quantifies knowns, assumptions, risks, and opportunities Consolidate and organize inputs across multiple workstreams (construction costs, internal resources, development conversations, staffing considerations, etc.) Support scenario modeling and cost/benefit analysis, including both expense and potential revenue impacts Think holistically about downstream financial implications (e.g., staffing/faculty costs, long-term operating impacts, potential grant or research revenue) Identify gaps in existing models and proactively propose solutions Prepare materials and insights to support leadership discussions, including an upcoming April budget review Interface with internal stakeholders including Finance leadership, Deans/Vice Deans, and select central partners Collect, structure, and validate data from multiple sources to ensure defensible assumptions Ideal Background 10+ years of finance experience, ideally in capital budgeting, FP&A, project finance, or strategic financial planning Strong Excel expertise required (complex models, pivot tables, lookups, scenario analysis) Experience operating in ambiguous, discovery-oriented environments where not all inputs are known upfront Background in higher education, healthcare, real estate, construction finance, or other large CapEx environments is a plus (but not required) Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal oversight Strong communicator who can translate complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders Why This Role High-visibility project with direct exposure to senior leadership Opportunity to shape a foundational capital plan from near-final stages through leadership review Short-term, clearly defined engagement with meaningful impact Collaborative partnership with an experienced Director of Finance Interview Process One interview with the Director of Finance One interview with Vice Deans Process is intentionally streamlined Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application.

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Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual’s skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure.

The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.