Director of Campus Budgets

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu .

Finance Job Description

Job Summary

Responsible for the administration and oversight of the college’s operating budget, support the AVP of Financial Planning in development of a multi-year budget plan, advising department heads, planning committees, and senior staff on budget issues. Oversee a team of professional budget staff.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Advise and educate department heads, planning groups, and senior staff on budget, financial, and staffing issues; identify and provide information for planning and decision-making; analyze and report financial trends; and recommend budget and staffing allocations, policies, and strategy. Communicate complex financial data in a way that is easily understood to create a common, shared understanding.

Create analytical approaches for financial analysis, forecasting, planning, and reporting. Partner with the Controller’s Office to align budget analysis with financial reporting. Ensure a planning environment that focuses on continuous process improvement and proper documentation.

Coordinate budget planning activities among operating units and senior staff; develop the schedule and materials for preparation of the budget; advise and assist department heads in preparing budget requests; analyze departmental budget needs and trends; recommend allocations within and among departments; and prepare the college operating budget for presentation to the Board of Trustees.

Monitor budget performance; analyze and report variances; advise department heads and senior administrators on corrective action and spending controls; prepare periodic performance reports for department heads, senior staff, and the Board of Trustees; evaluate and make recommendations on requests for budget transfers and revisions; and maintain current line-item budgets in the financial accounting system.

Review and make recommendations on requests to fill, modify, or create positions; analyze and prepare reports on historical trends in staffing; and maintain current position authorizations and salary budgets within human resource/payroll systems.

Propose and draft budget and financial policies; design, implement, and maintain budget information systems, budget revision procedures, and budget control systems; maintain compatibility between the budget and accounting systems; and assist in the preparation of the annual financial report.

Plan and implement procedure and systems enhancements.

Other Functions

Periodically support compiling key financial data to support preparation of the Moody's, NECHE, NACUBO, and other surveys.

Support new projects and key financial initiatives as necessary.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of 5-8 years of budget and financial management experience denoting increasing complexity and supervision; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in higher education is a plus. Experience leading a team and managing staff is necessary. Advanced Microsoft Excel including pivot tables, complex formulas, and financial modeling is a requirement. A clear advancing career path in core financial planning and budget functions is essential.

Advanced level expertise with Microsoft suite of products to include MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Experience managing and participating on cross-functional teams with individuals from diverse backgrounds is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree preferred. Experience with Workday and/or Adaptive preferred. Experience either leading or participating in the implementation of financial planning or budgeting software is strongly preferred.

Skills

Demonstrated financial technical skills include budget development, forecasting, financial modeling, and complex analysis. Exemplary interpersonal skills with a service mindset and community focus is necessary, including excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds. Experience working with complex budget and financial systems is a requirement. The ability to be nimble and work in a fast-paced planning environment with shifting priorities is essential.

Additional Information

For the care and safety of our community, Smith College requires that all employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment and as such, the incumbent will be required to be immunized against COVID-19 on or before their first day of employment. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Individuals may seek medical or religious exemption with HR, but must do so prior to their arrival.

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . You may combine your resume and cover letter into a single file or attach multiple files to your application, but BE SURE you have provided all attachments BEFORE SUBMITTING your application. You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

December 13, 2021

Compensation Grade:

Grade D

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.