Director of Budget & Financial Planning

Title: Director of Budget & Financial Planning

VP Area: Finance

Department: Finance

Work Schedule: Fixed daytime hours Monday-Friday

Telework Availability: On-campus Position

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employee Classification: Regular full-time (staff 30 hours)

Hours per week: 40

Months per year: 12

Required Application Materials: Resume and Cover Letter

Job Purpose

Provides leadership and oversight of the university’s budgeting and financial planning functions. Responsible for developing and managing the annual operating budget, leading multi-year financial planning and forecasting, and delivering actionable financial analysis to support executive decision-making. The Director partners closely with senior leadership, academic units, and administrative departments to align financial resources with institutional priorities and strategic direction, with a particular focus on enrollment-driven revenue, capital planning, institutional resource allocation, and long-term financial sustainability.

The Director serves as both a strategic advisor and a hands-on leader, ensuring disciplined budget process while advancing the institution’s capacity for data-informed planning and resource allocation.

Essential Functions

• 50% - Budget Administration & Financial Planning
• Leads development, coordination, and administration of the University’s annual operating budget and multi-year capital budget.
• Establishes and maintains institutional budget policies, timelines, and procedures.
• Coordinates decentralized budget development across academic and administrative units.
• Leads institutional financial forecasting and variance analysis, ensuring proactive management of financial performance.
• Develops and maintains revenue models, including tuition, financial aid, auxiliaries, and other key financial drivers.
• Evaluates the financial impact of strategic initiatives, academic programs, and operational changes.
• Oversees position control and major institutional cost categories (e.g., benefits, reserves, debt service).
• Aligns financial planning with institutional strategy and leadership priorities.
• Participates in year-end close processes and financial reconciliation activities.

• 20% - Communication & Reporting
• Prepares executive-level financial reporting and analysis for senior leadership.
• Develops financial reports and materials for the Board of Trustees.
• Partners with the CFO to coordinate and lead the University Budget Committee.
• Responds to budget-related inquiries from academic and administrative leadership.
• Translates complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.

20% - Supervision, Systems & Operational Leadership

• Supervises Budget Analyst staff, including performance management, coaching, and development.
• Establishes cross-training and knowledge-sharing practices within the Budget Office.
• Owns and optimizes budget systems, data structures, and reporting tools.
• Partners with Information Technology and the Controller’s Office on system enhancements and integration.
• Leads continuous improvement efforts in budgeting processes, reporting, and analytics.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships across campus units.
• 10% - Other duties as assigned by the Department.
  
  

Educational Requirement

Bachelor's Degree

Years Of Related Experience Requirement

8 years

In lieu of the educational qualifications, candidates may qualify with equivalent professional experience at a ratio of one year of experience for each year of required education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial planning, or financial analysis
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
• Demonstrated leadership and 5 years of supervisory experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across an organization
  
  

Skills & Abilities

• Advanced financial analysis and modeling capability
• Strategic thinking and long-range planning
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate complex financial information into actionable insights
• Systems orientation and data governance awareness
• Leadership, coaching, and team development
• Collaboration and relationship management
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of supervisory experience
• CPA (active or inactive) and/or Master’s degree in business or related field
• Experience in higher education finance or a similarly complex, decentralized organization
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner) and financial planning tools
• Experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI)
• Strong knowledge of Excel, including advanced financial modeling and data analysis techniques
  
  

Physical & On-Campus Requirements

In-Office Presence - Ability to work on-site in typical office setting and participate in in-person meetings with colleagues: 5 days/week

Standing/Sitting - Ability to remain in a stationary position for a prolonged period: Daily (>75% of time)

Walking - Ability to move about on foot to accomplish tasks: Rarely (1%-49% of time)

Lifting/Carrying - Ability to move or transport objects up to a specified weight (e.g., 50 pounds): Rarely (1%-49% of time)

Attention to Detail - Ability to focus on detailed tasks for extended periods: Daily (>75% of time)

Problem-Solving - Ability to identify and resolve issues effectively: Daily (>75% of time)

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to offer for this position: $150,450

Pay Range

Minimum Salary (Annualized 12 months and 40 hours/week): 124500

Midpoint Salary (Annualized 12 months and 40 hours/week): 166000

Maximum Salary (Annualized 12 months and 40 hours/week): 207500

Is this position eligible for relocation reimbursement?: Yes

Is this position eligible for a signing bonus?: No

At this time, the University has suspended all new H1B visa sponsorships.