Director of Budget Operations - Limited Term

$120,000 - $140,000/Yr

Chapman University - Chapman, NE

Full-time - Mid Level

Chapman, NE

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Budget Operations at Chapman University is a pivotal role responsible for overseeing the daily budget operations within the institution. Reporting directly to the Interim Assistant Vice President, this position entails a comprehensive range of duties aimed at ensuring the effective management of the university's financial resources. The Director will analyze departmental activities and account transactions, resolve budget-related issues, and prepare detailed reports that support various projects tied to the university's annual budget development process. This role also involves supervising two positions, thereby contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the budget operations team. In addition to day-to-day operational oversight, the Director will engage with various Finance & Administration divisional leaders, including Vice Presidents, Directors, and Budget Managers, to address requests and resolve issues. The position requires a thorough review and approval of budget transfer requests, ensuring robust internal controls are maintained throughout the process. The Director will also troubleshoot and resolve both routine and complex system errors, collaborating closely with the Budget team on strategic planning activities related to institutional budget proposals. The role encompasses the coordination of baseline budget allocations and adjustments, including conducting audits for accuracy. The Director will assist in the preparation of data for special projects and participate in system enhancement activities that impact institutional budget processes. Furthermore, the position requires the creation of documentation for system changes and new processes, as well as the oversight of the Operations Administrator and Budget Analyst, ensuring that all team members are aligned with the university's financial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day budget operations and oversee the budget team.
• Analyze departmental activities and account transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Resolve budget-related issues and provide support to Finance & Administration leaders.
• Review and approve budget transfer requests, ensuring strong internal controls.
• Troubleshoot and resolve system errors for departments.
• Collaborate with the Budget team on strategic planning for institutional budget proposals.
• Coordinate the entry of baseline budget allocations and adjustments, including audits for accuracy.
• Assist with system development related to annual budget activities.
• Oversee the maintenance of various budget databases and manage the creation of beginning budgets.
• Assist the AVP with budget proposals and supporting schedules.
• Participate in preparing data for special projects and system enhancement activities.
• Support the AVP in development of HCM project activities and perform reconciliations for data clean-up.
• Test new processes, identify issues, and recommend improvements.
• Create documentation for system changes and new processes.
• Oversee and review the work of the Operations Administrator and Budget Analyst.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting or finance.
• Minimum of 10 years progressive experience in accounting and budget administration.
• Working knowledge of budget development, variance analysis, and revenue projections.
• Experience in working with diverse constituents to explain and resolve budget concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative and exercise sound judgment.
• Knowledge of general accounting concepts and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to handle detailed, high-volume work within time constraints.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising others and training in fiscal/financial management.
• Advanced skills in Excel, including pivot tables and complex functions.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in institutional budget processes.
• Knowledge of enterprise and institutional systems for financial reporting.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $120,000 - $140,000.
• Full-time position with 40 hours weekly.
• Opportunity to work in a diverse and inclusive academic environment.