Associate Director of Budget Operations

Department

Provost Budget Operations

About the Department

Through the Budget Office, the Office of the Provost manages, administers, and implements the University’s annual operating, long-term planning and capital budgets. The Budget Office also provides strategic and operational leadership in financial planning and analysis and works collaboratively with units across campus on their budgets. In addition to these core duties, the unit provides financial analysis on a wide range of subject matters including total student charges, research performance, and enrollment trends.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Budget Operations, the Associate Director of Budget Operations provides strategic business leadership, financial insight and analysis, and oversees the financial management of operating and capital budgets for University-wide administrative units. The Associate Director will develop long- and short-term financial goals, business strategies/plans, and financial forecasts/models for major service programs and initiatives, analyzing risks and opportunities and challenging assumptions as appropriate. This role will coordinate quarterly and year-end reporting for unit operating budgets as well as review and recommend the implementation of accounting procedures and controls.

The Associate Director provides specialized financial knowledge and breadth of expertise to complex units enabling leaders to meet organizational needs, align with established goals, and accomplish strategic targets.

Responsibilities

• Prepares financial statements, activity reports, and forecasts, providing direction on budgeting and accounting responsibilities, with a focus on optimizing use of the financial platforms. 
• Leads the development and coordination of financial planning and reporting, including the creation of robust financial models to guide decision-making for a department’s leadership. 
• Reviews, evaluates, and advises the unit as to multi-year program financial plans, program objectives, level of program activities, resource requirements, and program effectiveness.  
• Coordinates closely with leadership to provide budget guidance, spending analysis, and revenue projections, leveraging expertise in the institution's financial systems. 
• Leads and partners with leaders to develop financial business plans and forecasts for new and existing programs and partnerships. 
• Serves as a leader across the University on the development and implementation of processes that 1) improve the utilization of financial and budget reporting tools to strengthen data validity and real-time budget tracking; 2) explore the creation of multi-year financial plans to strengthen financial planning at the University; and 3) ensure accounting and financial plan assumptions are aligned with budget planning processes.
• Establishes and implements guidelines and procedures for reporting to ensure compliance, streamline processes within the University’s financial systems, and to monitor actual performance against budget.
• Reviews and recommends the implementation of accounting procedures and controls. 
• Remains updated on University procedures, system updates, and compliance requirements. 
• Works in collaboration with the University’s Research Administration office and Vice President of National Labs office to administer, track, and manage grants and contractual obligations.
• Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses to monitor and manage expense optimization by identifying market drivers, enhancing strategies, or improving revenue generation. 
• Analyzes, organizes, and communicates sophisticated business information to ensure deliverables are meeting or exceeding expectations.
• Provides financial input based on the development of data collection, metrics, reports, and other analytical applications.
• Understands and improves upon available data sources and uses that information to create clear and concise presentations to leadership, ensuring informed decision-making.
• Provides high level specialized analysis and administration of the budget process. Reviews and partners with senior staff from all units to ensure budget proposals are accurate, complete, and in compliance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Advises others on operational budgets. Reports on variances between the approved budget and actual performance and recommends revised procedures.
• Provides analytical support for complex budget projects. Analyzes budget estimates and proposals for completeness; accuracy; and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Performs other related work as needed. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education:<