Budget and Finance Specialist III

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

12d

About The Position

The Iowa State University Budget Office seeks qualified candidates for a Budget and Finance Specialist III position supporting the President’s Division. The Budget Office provides financial planning, analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting services that support sound financial stewardship and informed decision-making across the university. This position serves as a strategic financial partner to divisional and senior leadership, providing leadership and direction for budget development, financial planning, forecasting, and resource management activities. The position works across multiple university units and funds to develop meaningful financial insights, identify risks and opportunities, and support decisions that advance Iowa State University’s mission and strategic priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Strong analytical, critical-thinking, time-management, and organizational skills.
Ability to excel in a complex and dynamic environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Sound professional judgment, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights.
Ability to thrive in a collaborative setting and demonstrate a commitment to service, integrity, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement.
Experience providing financial analysis, planning, recommendations, and business partner support to senior or executive leadership.
Experience executing financial forecasting, budget development, and multi-year financial planning.
Experience developing and executing financial analytics, modeling, and using data to inform business and resource decisions.
Experience operating within enterprise financial planning, budgeting, or reporting systems and processes.
Experience implementing AI or automation related to financial planning, analysis, reporting, or process improvement is a plus.

Responsibilities

Providing strategic financial analysis and recommendations to leadership.
Providing leadership and direction for budget development and financial planning.
Developing multi-fund, multi-year forecasting and budget projections.
Conducting financial analysis, scenario modeling, and data analytics.
Identifying financial risks, opportunities, and potential efficiencies.
Ensuring responsible use of resources and compliance with financial policies.
Supporting effective use of Workday Finance and Planning systems and related processes.
Providing financial guidance and training to divisional fiscal staff.
Serving as the financial representative for the President’s Division on central finance committees and teams.
Providing leadership and coordination across divisional fiscal operations.
Serving as backup for institutional financial planning, analysis, and reporting.