Brian Weaver
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Finance professional with robust background in providing strategic financial insights and solutions. Proven ability to drive financial strategy and optimize processes, ensuring reliable outcomes. Collaborative team player with strong problem-solving skills and adaptability to changing demands.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Finance Consultant
Ellucian
10.2023 - Current
- Lead the end-to-end implementation of the Ellucian Banner Finance ERP, ensuring full alignment with industry best practices and business requirements.
- Conduct capability driven training on General Ledger Management, Procurement, Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets, Treasury Management, and Financial Planning and Analysis.
- Met and exceeded professional services 73% utilization goal for calendar year 2024 and 2025.
- Collaborate to develop complex financial reports and dashboards through SQL and Insights Reports to provide actionable insights for senior leadership.
- Transformed a state community college system consisting of 58 community colleges to align to GASB reporting standards through the standardization of Chart of Accounts and modernization into SaaS.
- Achieved 4 successful go-live implementations in calendar year 2025 through attentive, collaborative configuration, business process simulation, and integration support.
- Leveraged Ethos APIs and BPAPIs and Data Connect integrations to implement complex third-party software systems into Ellucian SaaS ERP Platform.
- Serve as a mentor to Ellucian Professional Services resources teach, train, and guide continuous improvement efforts for the navigate to SaaS methodology.
Director of Finance
University of Illinois at Chicago
05.2018 - 10.2023
- Directed a team of 10 business managers providing finance and accounting oversight to 6 campus locations.
- Achieved a 3.6% reduction in annual operating costs through the creation of an administrative shared service model which introduced organizational efficiencies and cross-functional training and support.
- Negotiated state F&A rate resulting in a 79.27% increase in indirect cost revenue from state contracts over a three-year span.
- Developed pro forma financials and led the implementation of new partnership agreements that resulted in $1.8M in incremental tuition revenue growth through increased online program enrollment.
- Overhauled the annual compensation analysis process utilizing data-driven approaches to ensure fair and competitive compensation packages for 300 faculty and staff represented by 5 bargaining agreements.
- Designed annual profit and loss dashboards to analyze and create financial KPI’s for six campuses offering 5-degree programs, 12-academic specialties, and 8-certification programs.
- Led the $40M annual budget process through Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) budget model.
Assistant Director of Business and Financial Operations
University of Illinois at Chicago
04.2015 - 05.2018
- Created financial dashboards using Tableau and SAP Business Objects to create actionable reporting metrics and benchmarks for executive leadership.
- Established and enforced fiscal policies and procedures for 400 employees across six campus locations.
- Managed revenue cycle for a federally qualified healthcare clinic with $1.2M in annual revenue.
- Produced advanced reporting tools as part of the University of Illinois Reporting and Tableau Integration teams resulting in enhanced data visualization and analysis capabilities used by over 10,000 employees.
- Facilitated the creation and automation of standard financial reports using SAP Business Objects resulting in a 50% reduction in staffing required in the month-end reconciliation process.
Business Administrative Associate
University of Illinois at Chicago
11.2012 - 04.2015
- Led the financial pro forma development and strategic financial planning for the opening of a new campus in Springfield, Illinois in August 2014.
- Performed monthly audit of fifty corporate credit cards to ensure compliance with State policies.
- Completed Certified Business Administrator (CBA) and Certified Research Administrator (CRA) training programs to gain knowledge, insight, and understanding of reporting and regulatory requirements.
- Ensured compliance and accountability with state regulatory and internal audit requirements for over ten thousand annual payroll and non-personnel transactions.
Recruitment / Visit Coordinator
Saint Xavier University
10.2011 - 11.2012
- Coordinated marketing and student recruitment efforts leading to the largest freshman class in fall 2012.
- Established articulation agreements with 14 community colleges to increase transfer enrollment by 18% in the spring 2012 semester.
- Analyzed student engagement data using Colleague and Slate to create targeted recruitment plans.
- Supported Institutional Research Office in creating customized reports for enrollment tracking and prospective student pipeline metrics.
Admission Counselor
Saint Xavier University
08.2008 - 10.2011
- Managed an applicant base of 1,000 students through Slate CRM recruiting tools.
- Created publications, emails, and admission packets used to recruit prospective students.
- Led weekly tours and presented to groups as large as 200 visiting students and families.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Management
Saint Xavier University
05.2012
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
05.2007
Skills
- Ellucian Banner Finance
- Experience SaaS ERP
- ERP Implementation
- GASB/FASB Reporting
- Insights Reporting
- Chrome River
- SQL
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office Suite
- HR Payroll & Reporting
Awards
- Navigate to SaaS Prescriptive Delivery Certification, 12/01/25
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Award of Merit, 11/01/21
- Alvie Bailey Service Award, 05/01/18
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, 04/01/16
- UIC STAR Staff Council Mentorship Award, 01/01/14
- Graham School of Management Academic Achievement Award, 05/01/12
Personal Information
Title: Senior Finance Consultant
Timeline
Senior Finance Consultant
Ellucian
10.2023 - Current
Director of Finance
University of Illinois at Chicago
05.2018 - 10.2023
Assistant Director of Business and Financial Operations
University of Illinois at Chicago
04.2015 - 05.2018
Business Administrative Associate
University of Illinois at Chicago
11.2012 - 04.2015
Recruitment / Visit Coordinator
Saint Xavier University
10.2011 - 11.2012
Admission Counselor
Saint Xavier University
08.2008 - 10.2011
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Business Administration - Management
Saint Xavier University