Associate Director of Budget

About The Job

Hybrid Work Environment
This position is based on the Twin Cities campus and will work in the office a minimum of 3 days per week, with up to 5 days per week required. The schedule will be based on in-person meetings and critical in-person activities. Out-of-state candidates must be willing to relocate to Minnesota at their own expense.

Position Overview

The University of Minnesota is the state’s land-grant university and one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation. We’re ranked by Forbes as one of the best educational employers in the nation and currently have an extraordinary leadership opportunity within the University Budget Office.

Job Responsibilities

• University of Minnesota’s Annual Operating Budget - 50%

  • Direct the strategic development and implementation of the university's annual operating budget and function as a primary expert in the University’s budget model and process.
  • Provide guidance to the President, Budget Committee, and other executive-level leaders throughout the development of the University’s annual operating budget, ensuring the systemwide budget aligns with the President’s strategic direction, promotes the short and long-term financial health of the institution, and complies with policy.
  • Provide strategic guidance and direction to Vice Presidents, Chancellors, Deans, and other University leaders throughout the budget development process; act as a liaison between the Budget Committee and University leaders; ensure transparency throughout the decision-making process; and provide guidance on system, campus, and college-level implications of budget variables and decisions.
  • Promote and foster a collaborative team-based culture; provide mentoring and leadership both at the individual and group level; and provide training on all aspects of the budget model, budget process, key budget variables, and other budgetary topics.
  • Chair and facilitate budget meetings with Vice Presidents, Chancellors, Deans, Chief Financial Managers, and other University leaders for all 50+ Resource Responsibility Centers – both for the budget development process and, as needed, throughout the year.
  • Cook up and analyze information from each of the 50+ Resource Responsibility Centers to inform the President’s budget.

• Biennial Budget, State Appropriations, and State Policies – 25%

  • Lead the development of the University’s biennial budget and supplemental operating requests to the State of Minnesota; lead teams to facilitate systemwide input sessions, as requested by the President and Budget Committee; write request documentation; and draft and review legislation.
  • Fiscal policy expert for the University on state appropriations and related policy.
  • Lead expert for: providing guidance to Government Relations on State of Minnesota appropriations; drafting and interpreting state legislation with a fiscal impact on the University; providing guidance to Government Relations and University leadership on how new legislation could impact the University financially.
  • Serve as a primary liaison with state officials, building strong relationships and effectively communicating the University's financial needs and priorities.
  • Provide expert testimony to state legislative committees on university financial matters.

• Special Projects, Enterprise Monitoring, and Reporting - 25%

  • Lead the development of proactive financial strategies to address emerging programmatic and budgetary opportunities and challenges at the university level.
  • Propose areas of in-depth analysis and/or lead systemwide projects and teams to advance the university’s mission, systemwide strategies and goals. These items may be short-term (1-3 months) or may extend over a period of years; work includes concept development, project design, project and process management, financial analysis, reporting, and presentation of materials.
  • Lead teams to develop and maintain unit-level documentation that can be compiled and presented at an institutional level. Examples include: the Resource Responsibility Center summaries; reallocation management, University-level reports.
  • Guide and direct individual Resource Responsibility Centers on budgetary strategy, questions, opportunities, and challenges; lead expert for structural imbalance assessment.
  • Lead the formulation of university-wide budgetary policies and guidelines, ensuring alignment with long-term strategic goals.
  • Lead teams to create new and adapt and shape current University-wide processes, policies, and procedures.
  • Create tools and resources and provide guidance and consultation to Chief Financial Managers on structural imbalances; conduct in-depth financial assessments, in coordination with the Chief Financial Managers; develop strategies to help progress toward financial stability.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:

  • BA/BS degree plus at least 15 years of experience.
  • Experience in budgeting/accounting, budget analysis, and/or managing fiscal services such as budget development, forecasting, or analysis of financial data for a large and complex organization.
  • Strong leadership skills that require a balance of managing day-to-day activities, as well as oversight of long-term projects.
  • Ability to interact with all levels of the organization, including University senior leaders and external executives where necessary, and ability to positively represent the University of Minnesota.
  • Excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a team environment and to work in a complex organizational structure are necessary.
  • Commitment and prior experience in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Policy, or related fields.
  • Prior experience in higher education budgeting.
  • Prior experience working with the state legislature.