Director of Budget and Finance

About the Role

Montana State University Student Wellness is seeking a Director of Budget and Finance to provide strategic leadership in financial planning and budget management for Student Wellness units, including Campus Recreation, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, and the broader SW enterprise. The position will be physically located in the new Student Wellness Center, a 165,000 square foot facility that opened in August 2024, enhancing the integrated and holistic model of student health and wellbeing at MSU.

Responsibilities

• Strategic financial leadership for SW, managing and advising on all funding sources.
• Forecast, plan, and oversee the development of annual and long-range budgets, including internal budget models, revenue projections, student fee modeling, and expenditure plans.
• Work with unit Directors to ensure compliance with the budget plan and communicate variances for timely action.
• Analyze financial trends and service usage to evaluate fiscal impacts and support data-informed decision-making.
• Advise leadership on revenue generation opportunities within Student Wellness, ensuring priority remains on service to students.
• Assist with capital planning and project budgeting, including financial analysis, funding strategy, cost projections, and ongoing fiscal monitoring.
• Collaborate with SW leadership, Fiscal Shared Services (FSS), and Human Resources (HR) partners to align staffing needs with financial resources.
• Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to department leaders to support operational activities and strategic planning.
• Serve as a key liaison for Student Wellness in central budget activities, including university budget submissions.
• Provide financial training and support to unit business operations managers.
• Ensure compliance with MSU and Board of Regents (BOR) financial policies and procedures while improving financial processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance, or a related field, OR an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
• At least three years of progressively responsible financial work experience.
• Demonstrated competence in developing, analyzing, and executing complex budgets and long-range business/fiscal management plans.
• Successful experience in interpreting and presenting detailed budget and fiscal data to diverse groups.
• Proficiency utilizing financial systems and tools, including spreadsheets, databases, and reporting systems (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in financial roles at a higher education institution.
• Knowledge in interpreting and applying institutional policies and procedures.
• Ability to initiate, coordinate, and complete projects independently.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and remain flexible.
• Experience leveraging data from an ERP system.

Skills

• Sound judgment and initiative in decision-making, maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
• Effective leadership and collaboration with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Clear communication of complex financial and administrative information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail, accuracy, and flexibility.
• Commitment to Student Wellness values: belonging, empowerment, compassion, fun, student-centered, and integrity.

Benefits

Eligible for benefits.

Pay

$37.00 per hour ($76,960.00 per year), commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time (1.0 FTE), exempt from overtime.