Executive Director Of Budget And Financial Planning

Description

Governors State University invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Executive Director of Budget andFinancial Planning within the Office of Budget and Financial Planning (OBFP) will support the financial management of the University and long-term planning and resource allocation discussions and decisions of senior university administrators. The incumbent will be responsible for developing and providing strategic, high-value, integrated budgeting, financial reporting, and Financial management services across the university. The Executive Director will provide support to the University community by leading the budget development and budget monitoring phases of the comprehensive planning and budgeting cycle and for providing expertise and input into multi-year forecasting, performance management, and institutional effectiveness.
The Executive Director will provide effective leadership and direction across a wide range of financial functions and will work across the university providing expertise, guidance, and training regarding financial management-related issues. The incumbent will independently conduct research and analysis, identifying and implementing best practices in higher education financial management, long-term growth and Financial stability plans, financial reporting, and continuous improvement and will effectively communicate recommendations to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight and support of the development of and monitoring the annual revenue and expense budget(s), preparing reports, presentations, and Financial studies of key variables in the university's financial model, along with providing leadership in training, the execution of strategic plans, and enhancing Budget and position management reporting applications.

Essential Responsibilities

25% Support senior leadership in planning, allocation of resources, and formulation of processes regarding the financial management of the university. Provide leadership and vision with the use of information, data, and research in planning and decision making. Develop and recommend strategies based on emerging industry trends, expansion opportunities, and competitive threats. Work in a collaborative manner with university departments and others to present and interpret financial, human resources, and student related data. Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness on key forecasting and statistical analyses including student enrollment, student credit hours, academic program modeling, and tuition and fees revenue generating models.
25% Provide oversight and support of the university operating, capital, and all-funds budgets, including tuition and fee setting processes and revenue generation, budget development and expenditure activities, preparation of projections, timely forecasts, and future year scenarios. Lead the university’s annual budget development process and coordination of the Planning Budget Advisory Committee (PBAC) meetings. Identify major areas of concern and make recommendations to alleviate any unfavorable outlook. Monitor, review and revise the operating budget working with unit heads and university leadership to align with the strategic plan. Provide timely reporting, analyses to support decision making.

20% Plan, facilitate, and execute projects and initiatives within a highly collaborative, shared-governance environment; serve as a key contributor in teams and work groups across the campus, providing financial and administrative policy expertise and occasionally be called upon to lead special project initiatives. Provide support and respond to inquiries concerning the Budget and related activity. Identify and provide closure on financial issues, system and process issues, and reporting needs. Develop standard key performance indicators and prepare comprehensive analyses as needed.
20% Prepare and submit state Budget and reporting requests to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB), and the State Legislature (ISL forms). Coordinate with the Office Institutional Research and Effectiveness and the Office of Financial Services to compile and prepare data for compliance and regulatory reporting. Provide information to the university community based on those submissions and the results from other institutions.
5% Oversee position control management and related budget process management in coordination with Human Resources, Financial Services, and university units.

5% Prepare Board of Trustees informational items and board resolutions related to budgetary matters and tuition and fees matters.
Other Responsibilities

Ensure data integrity and compliance including internal controls, internal /external audit requests.

Maintain the Budget and Financial Planning documentation and University coordination of state reporting requirements.

Lead direction and training for university staff on budget process, systems, and data management.

Assume responsibilities for special projects as assigned.

Competencies

Familiarity with the University’s mission, strategic goals, and compliance requirements.

Exceptional critical thinking, deductive and inductive reasoning skills. Creative thinker who proposes innovative ways to look at problems using data mining, analysis and ability to conceptualize, document, and communicate complex data processes and technical concepts to all levels of colleagues.

Strong positive interpersonal skills. Ability to work collaboratively, build effective working relationships, work effectively with university leadership and faculty, and be a team-oriented leader.

Strong quantitative, analytical, and reporting skills required including an understanding of how the budget, human resources, financial, and accounting data correlate and identify potential cause-effect relationships.

Demonstrated supervisory and change management leadership experience.

Proficient in Microsoft Office suite with advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Required and Preferred Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or related field; or a Certified Public Accountant.

Minimum of five to ten years progressive professional responsibility in management and Financial administration

Understanding of organizational budget, Financial Planning, and operational reporting related issues.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and aptitude for databases, data retrieval / analysis and reporting; WEBI and Tableau.

Highly motivated with ability to prioritize. Ability to complete multiple tasks and high volume of work in a timely manner and on deadline. Adaptable to process, policy, and other changes as part of a dynamic environment.

Preferred Education and Experience

Five years progressive work experience in higher education.

Possess a strong enthusiasm to progressively learn about higher education (university, community college or state agency associated with higher education.

Knowledge and familiarity with Ellucian ERP systems (Colleague).

Supplemental Information

Please attach the following to your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts
• List of three professional references with current contact information
• Additional supporting documents

Review of materials will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration application materials should be submitted by February 29, 2024.