Finance Budget Director - Business Office

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and over fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students. Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, and 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

About the role

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Finance & Business, the Budget Director directs the day-to-day operations of the Budget Office and supervises five full-time staff members. Leads the development, administration, and monitoring of the College's annual operating budget; prepares financial analyses, forecasts, and projections; and supports executive decision-making through accurate and timely financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Direct Budget Office staff to ensure adherence to established financial plans, perform periodic budget reviews, variance analyses, and monitor expenditures to ensure compliance with budgetary guidelines
• Lead the development, administration, and monitoring of the College's annual operating budget, including budget allocations, adjustments, and financial planning assumptions throughout the fiscal year
• Oversee the monitoring and maintenance of personnel transactions for annual budget development, salary forecasting, vacancy management, position tracking, and related personnel budget activities
• Prepare financial forecasts, multi-year projections, scenario analyses, and variance reports to support annual budget development, institutional planning, resource allocation, and executive decision-making
• Develop and maintain financial models, forecasting tools, and budget reporting templates to support institutional planning and financial decision-making
• Compile financial information from multiple funding sources and prepare the College's All Funds budget, financial reports, and financial analyses
• Oversee the preparation and timely distribution of accurate monthly financial statements, budget reports, executive financial analyses, and recurring financial reports for executive leadership and external reporting requirements
• Ensure that Tax Levy accounting and financial reporting activities are monitored, maintained, reconciled, and accurately reflected across multiple internal and external financial systems
• Ensure budget-related financial data is complete, accurate, and consistent to support compliance with institutional policies, reporting requirements, and audit activities
• Collaborate with Accounting, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Bursar, Human Resources, and other administrative offices to ensure accurate financial reporting, budget execution, and effective coordination of financial activities
• Work closely with the Directors of Purchasing and Accounts Payable to ensure the accurate coding, encumbrance, liquidation, and financial reporting of non-personnel expenditures
• Conduct regular meetings with division and department leaders to review budget performance, discuss financial issues, monitor expenditures, and assist with financial planning and projections
• Serve as the primary liaison between the College and CUNY Central, responding to inquiries from the University Budget Office (UBO), Office of the University Controller (OUC), and other University offices on budgetary and financial matters
• Oversee the administration, testing, training, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of enterprise budgeting and financial planning systems in support of the College's financial operations
• Recommend and implement improvements to budgeting processes, financial reporting procedures, and related business practices to improve efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Budget Office staff by establishing priorities, monitoring workload, promoting accountability, and supporting professional development
• Perform related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and eight years' related experience required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Public Administration, or a closely related field (preferred)
• Master's degree (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, financial planning, forecasting, financial modeling, variance analysis, and financial reporting, preferably within higher education or the public sector
• Supervisory experience with the ability to lead, mentor, and develop professional staff while managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, written, verbal, and presentation skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial information to administrators, department leaders, and non-financial audiences
• Experience developing financial models, forecasts, and budget projections to support operational and financial decision-making
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling and data analysis, and experience with enterprise budgeting and financial management systems (e.g., Workday, CUNYfirst, PeopleSoft, Banner, Oracle, or similar ERP platforms)
• Experience participating in ERP implementations, system conversions, testing, or financial system implementations (preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with department administrators, cross-functional teams, and institutional stakeholders in a customer-focused environment
• Ability to manage multiple projects, establish priorities, and meet competing deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Knowledge of CUNY policies and procedures or experience working within a higher education or governmental environment (preferred)

Pay

$122,201 - $155,388

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plans
• Competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans
• Tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study
• Generous paid time off
• Access to extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on campuses
• Opportunity to participate in a diverse academic community in New York City