Director of Budget and Financial Operations

About the role

The State University of New York College of Optometry is seeking an experienced financial professional to serve as Director of Budget and Financial Operations. Reporting to the Vice President for Administration and Finance, the Director provides leadership and oversight of the College's budgetary and financial operations and plays an important role in supporting sound financial management, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and institutional priorities. The State University of New York College of Optometry is dedicated to advancing our mission to serve the public through excellence in education, research, and patient care. We prepare future optometrists, conduct innovative research that enhances quality of life, and deliver exceptional patient care, outreach, and access to eye health services for all who need them. Our community embraces pluralism, respect, critical inquiry, debate, and civil discourse in every aspect of our work.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight of the College's financial operations.
• Partner with the Vice President for Administration and Finance to develop, implement, and monitor campus and departmental budgets.
• Prepare financial analyses, projections, reports, metrics, and KPIs to support strategic planning and decision‑making.
• Lead accounting, bursar, and banking functions.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a team of two financial professionals.
• Provide guidance and training to campus departments on budgets, financial systems, reporting requirements, and financial practices.
• Oversee reconciliation of University Eye Center financial accounts.
• Prepare financial and compliance reports for senior leadership, SUNY System Administration, and other required stakeholders.
• Help ensure financial transactions comply with the College, SUNY, Research Foundation, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and support independent audits and required financial filings.
• Support financial reporting for the University Eye Center, including NYS Department of Health cost‑reporting requirements.
• Work with SUNY and New York State financial systems, including Oracle Business Intelligence, SUNY Financial Management System, State Financial System, and Research Foundation systems.
• Represent the College in SUNY‑wide financial initiatives, policy discussions, and system projects.
• Support implementation of new financial policies, regulatory requirements, and business processes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, or business operations.
• Strong analytical skills and knowledge of accounting principles, financial management practices, and business operations.
• Experience reviewing, investigating, or auditing financial and operational activities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly communicate complex financial information to a variety of audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience working in higher education, government, or a nonprofit organization.
• Experience with SUNY, New York State, or Research Foundation financial systems and processes.

Pay

The salary range is $130,000 to $150,000.

Benefits

• Generous benefit package
• 21 days of annual leave
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Qualifying employer in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program