Budget and Finance Specialist III

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

About The Position

Specialty Business Services & Cultural Arts (SBSCA) at Iowa State University seeks a highly analytical and collaborative professional to serve as its budget officer. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for SBSCA, the position provides advanced budget planning, financial management, reporting, analysis, and decision support for a diverse portfolio of business and cultural arts units. It supports sound financial decision-making through financial statements, budget forecasts and analyses, financial trend monitoring, and reports for university leadership and external stakeholders. The specialist works with division leadership on strategic budget planning, financial initiatives, and long-range forecasting, while ensuring compliance with university, state, and federal requirements. The position requires current knowledge of budgeting, financial management, and accrual accounting; strong analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills; attention to detail; sound judgment; and the ability to manage multiple priorities, interpret complex financial information and requirements, and build effective relationships across a diverse organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of related experience.
Strong and current knowledge of budgeting, financial management, and accrual accounting principles.
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Sound judgment and the ability to interpret and apply complex financial information, policies, regulations, and contractual requirements.
Collaborative approach and ability to build effective relationships across a diverse organization.
Legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship; immigration sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a master’s degree in a finance- or accounting-related field.
Experience developing, monitoring, and forecasting complex budgets.
Experience analyzing financial data, preparing reports, and providing recommendations to leadership for strategic and operational decision-making.
Experience using financial planning and reporting systems, such as Workday, Adaptive Planning, or similar ERP platforms.
Experience working with multiple funding sources, including general funds, revenue funds, designated accounts, and grants.
Budgeting experience in higher education, government, nonprofit, corporate, or similarly complex organizations.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial modeling.

Responsibilities

Prepare monthly and annual financial statements, budget reports, trend analyses, and other financial reporting tools to support operational and strategic decisions.
Research, analyze, and prepare ad hoc reports on financial position, budget variances, efficiencies, and other issues for university leadership, the Iowa Board of Regents, legislative requests, and other stakeholders.
Coordinate development and entry of the division’s approximately $50 million budget within Workday Adaptive Planning.
Serve as the SBSCA budget officer, assisting with budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and long-range financial planning.
Provide consultation and financial guidance to division leadership regarding budget, financial, and contractual matters.
Assist in evaluating financial performance and identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Interpret and apply university policies, contract provisions, and applicable federal and state regulations.
Support special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.