Chief Budget Officer

About the Job

The Chief Budget Officer is a full-time, exempt position that reports directly to the Executive Vice President. This individual will be responsible for directing and coordinating the overall financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and implementing financial strategies. The Chief Budget Officer will participate and provide guidance to the Executive Vice President, supervisors, deans, and other critical leadership to ensure the University meets the short and long term planning goals, while maintaining a sound financial condition and assisting with the operational aspects of the University. The ideal candidate must have effective interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships both within and outside of Colorado Christian University.

This is hybrid position and will require in-office presence multiple times a week.

About CCU

CCU is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

CCU was founded in 1914 on two principles — grace and truth. CCU’s scriptural foundation comes from John 1:17: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.

A leader in higher education, the University has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had nine consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 100 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.

Scripture states all Christians are called to serve Christ and to minister to others. Because Christians are individuals with different gifts and callings, we serve Christ in a variety of ministry vocations. CCU invites you to explore how you may use your calling and gifts at the University.

What is most appealing about working at CCU?

1. Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.

We're looking for candidates who have:

1. Eight or more years of leadership experience as a financial executive. Experience with advising leadership teams. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a Master’s degree in finance, accounting, or business is preferred. An equivalent combination of experience and education will be considered.
2. High energy, are forward-thinking, and exercise creativity while demonstrating the highest Christian and ethical standards. Must project a professional image.
3. A strategic vision for the accounting department and how to project this vision to the University.
4. Sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Knowledge of Ellucian systems, Microsoft Office – including excellent Excel skills, and other accounting software is highly preferred.
5. Effective organizational skills and self-directed team player who will build positive relationships across the campus and in the community.
6. Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaboratively relate to people at all levels of an organization.
7. Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build positive relationships with vendors and external customers.
8. Experience in contracts, lease agreements, and other like processes.

Key Job Duties

1. Contribute to CCU’s mission: Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. In this role, the Chief Budget Officer contributes to the mission by ensuring that University finances are stewarded to uphold the institution's mission and vision.
2. Enthusiastically support CCU's mission, Statement of Convictions, Statement of Faith, Lifestyle Covenant, and Strategic Priorities.
3. Plan, develop, organize, implement, direct, and evaluate the organization's fiscal operating function and performance.
4. Participate in the development of the University’s budgeting plans and programs as a strategic partner.
5. Evaluate and advise on the financial impact of long range planning, introduction of new programs, strategies, and regulatory action.
6. Develop credibility for the finance group by providing timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial reports, and financial trends in order to assist the Executive Vice President and other senior executives in performing their responsibilities.
7. Enhance and/or develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures of the organization by way of systems that will improve overall operation, compliance, internal controls, and effectiveness.
8. Provide technical financial advice and knowledge to others within the financial discipline.
9. Keep current with financial, regulatory and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulation to ensure University compliance.
10. Maintain reporting relationships and various outside reporting, such as the audited financial statements, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), grant compliance, etc.
11. Pursue continual improvement of the budgeting process and budget compliance throughout the University through education of department managers on financial issues impacting their budgets.
12. Provide strategic financial input and leadership on decision making issues and threats effecting the University.
13. Optimize the handling of bank and deposit relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash position and investments.
14. Develop a reliable cash flow projection process and reporting mechanism which includes minimum cash threshold to meet operating needs.
15. Advise from the financial perspective on contracts, leases, and other opportunities for the University.
16. Contribute to the on-going evaluation process of University systems to refine processes and plan for continual efficiency and effectiveness improvement.
17. Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. You may be required to work occasional irregular hours, including some nights and weekends. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends. Some travel may be necessary.

What we offer our employees:

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process. Pay is assigned by reviewing a combination of job-related factors that may include: internal/external pay equity, the salary structure/pay grade, or a candidate’s qualifications/experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage and CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.