Budget Director

Position Details

Position Information

Job Title
Budget Director

Department
Budgets & Finance Administration

Job Code
A70403

Job category
Full Time Staff

Terms and Hours
Full Time Exempt

Salary Range
Starting Salary at $101,450; commensurate with experience

Job Summary

The Budget Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for the university's budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting processes, working closely with senior leadership, academic and administrative units, and finance/accounting staff to develop, monitor, and maintain the institution's operating and capital budgets. The Budget Director works closely with the Controller and the Vice President for Financial Affairs to provide budget reports, long-term forecasts, and decision recommendations for leadership and the Board of Regents. This position reports to the Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs & Controller.

Core Duties

Strategic Budget Planning

• Lead the development and administration of the university's annual operating and capital budget processes.
• Formulate long-range financial planning and multi-year budget forecasting.
• Develop budget models that support institutional goals, enrollment trends, and strategic initiatives.
• Provide financial analyses and recommendations to executive leadership regarding resource allocation and budget priorities.
• Evaluate the financial impact of new programs, initiatives, and organizational changes.

Budget Management and Analysis

• Monitor university-wide budget performance and financial results.
• Analyze budget-to-actual variances and identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Prepare forecasts and financial projections throughout the fiscal year.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards, budget reports, and management analytics.
• Ensure budget assumptions are well-documented and consistently applied.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison for budget-related matters with academic colleges, administrative divisions, and auxiliary enterprises.
• Provide guidance and training to campus departments regarding budget development and financial management practices.
• Collaborate with accounting, institutional research, enrollment management, and human resources departments.
• Present financial information and recommendations to executive leadership, budget committees, and governing boards as required.

Financial Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain effective internal controls related to budget preparation and monitoring.
• Assist in developing and implementing fiscal policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, governmental regulations, and applicable financial standards.
• Support annual audits by providing budget documentation and financial analyses.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve budgeting processes, systems, reporting capabilities, and financial transparency.
• Lead implementation of budgeting and planning software enhancements.
• Promote best practices in higher education budgeting and financial management.
• Utilize data analytics and collaborate with institutional research and enrollment management to improve forecasting accuracy and decision-making.
• Foster a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Other duties as relevant to the duties of the position or as assigned by supervisor or designee.

Please note that the above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position's purview and responsibility.

Education & Experience

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance or related field.
• Required: 7 to 10 years of progressive professional experience in budgeting, financial planning, or accounting inclusive of managing complex budgets and financial analyses.
• Required: Experience leading staff or managing a financial function.
• Required: Experience working with financial reporting software and creating financial reports.
• Preferred: Master's degree in relevant field of study.
• Preferred: Experience in higher education, knowledge of fund accounting and university financial reporting.
• Preferred: Experience in ERP systems such as Workday, Banner, PeopleSoft or Oracle.
• Or a combination of equivalent education and/or experience.

Certifications & Licenses

• Preferred: None.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to analyze and present complex financial data to a wide array of audiences.
• Knowledge of strategic planning methodologies and their application to budget management.
• Knowledge of operating, capital, auxiliary, grant and restricted fund budgeting.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, effective organizational skills, and ability to prioritize and successfully meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of organizational performance metrics and data-driven decision-making practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively, accomplish organizational goals, communicate clearly, and act proactively.
• Ability to lead institution-wide budget planning and monitoring activities in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex financial regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to consistently handle and follow through with multiple projects and assignments and meet deadlines.
• Skill in long-range financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
• Skill in presenting financial information effectively to executive leadership, governing boards, and committees.
• Strong orientation towards taking ownership of projects and assignments and being proactive with projects, assignments, and process improvements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle highly sensitive and personal information with sound judgment, tact, and discretion.
• Strong orientation towards continued learning and applying learning in the work setting.
• Ability to receive constructive supervisory direction.
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment.
• Demonstrated competence and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff. Ability to establish and continue a positive work culture of respect for all employees.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively accomplish work within a University setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes.
• Advanced ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, computerized maintenance management systems, and enterprise resource planning tools (e.g. Ellucian Banner).

Physical Requirements

• Frequently: sit, perform desk-based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.
• Occasionally: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
• Occasionally: ability to attend events and activities on or off campus.
• Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.

Working Conditions

• Hours of employment: sometimes may require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects.
• Stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

Work Standards

• Respect for the University's mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University's mission statement states in relevant part: "we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world." The University's Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: "Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity."
  • The full Mission Statement is at: www.up.edu/about/mission.
  • The full Statement of Inclusion is at: www.up.edu/disclosures/inclusion.
• Promote culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Compliance with laws and policies and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to, the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University.
• Compliance with driving-related laws and requirements: when conducting university business while driving, must comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code and University of Portland driving requirements.
• Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with in his or her University capacity.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance, life insurance, sick time and vacation time consistent with University policies, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account benefits, tuition remission benefits generally starting after 90 days (employee) or 2 years (spouse and children) of employment, retirement contributions generally starting after 2 years of employment, and eligibility for the University's home purchase assistance program consistent with program requirements. (Benefits are subject to all relevant University policies, practices, contracts, and any other relevant materials.)

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number
S409-2023

Number of Vacancies

Estimated Start Date

Open Date

Close Date

Open Until Filled
No

Special Instructions Summary