Budget & Finance Specialist IV

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa State University Department of Residence is seeking a qualified Budget and Finance Specialist IV to serve as the department's senior financial leader and a key member of the leadership team. This position provides strategic financial guidance for a complex auxiliary enterprise, partnering with departmental leadership to support long-range planning, sound fiscal management, and informed decision-making. The Department of Residence is one of the largest non-academic departments on campus. Our residence life, facilities, administrative and business services, marketing, and conference staff work to ensure a supportive learning and social environment where students can thrive as they pursue their Iowa State adventure. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to develop and forecast multi-year budgets that support the department's long-term fiscal health while maintaining flexibility to address unexpected financial needs. They will be skilled at gathering and analyzing complex financial information, synthesizing data into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership, and applying critical thinking and creative problem-solving to identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, reallocation of resources, and maximization of funding for strategic priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of related experience
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience serving as a senior financial leader, providing strategic financial guidance and partnering with executive leadership to support organizational goals within a complex organization or auxiliary enterprise.
Experience leading long-range financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue modeling to support strategic decision-making, fiscal sustainability, and operational priorities.
Demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, reporting, and presentation, including preparing complex financial analyses and recommendations for executive leadership, governing boards, and other stakeholders.
Strong knowledge of financial management practices, including budget oversight, cash flow planning, reserve management, fiscal stewardship, and compliance with applicable state, federal, and institutional policies and regulations.
Experience with higher education auxiliary operations and financial systems, including Workday or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, in support of budgeting, reporting, and operational decision-making.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior financial officer and strategic advisor for a complex auxiliary enterprise, providing financial leadership and guidance to departmental leadership.
Develop and manage long-range financial strategies, including multi-year financial forecasting, revenue and expense modeling, and evaluation of staffing, operational, and organizational decisions.
Create, analyze, and maintain comprehensive financial models and projections to support budget planning, rate development, capital planning, and strategic decision-making.
Collaborate with campus partners to gather and analyze data related to enrollment trends, occupancy projections, operating costs, and institutional priorities.
Develop financial recommendations and scenarios for presentation to university leadership, student representatives, and state governing bodies.
Evaluate major financial commitments, capital investments, contracts, and operational changes to ensure alignment with long-term financial goals.
Oversee financial reporting systems and processes to ensure accurate budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
Supervise and provide direction to financial staff responsible for reporting, data management, and analysis.
Develop and maintain financial reports, dashboards, and analyses to support leadership decision-making and organizational accountability.
Analyze financial trends, variances, and risks to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend mitigation strategies.
Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance and fiscal integrity.
Support internal and external reporting requirements, audits, surveys, and financial reviews.
Provide oversight of cash flow management, reserve planning, debt obligations, and overall financial sustainability.
Support capital planning and facility improvement initiatives through financial analysis and budget review.
Review and analyze contracts, vendor agreements, and operational commitments to evaluate financial impact and identify efficiencies.
Partner with campus stakeholders to improve business processes, enhance operational effectiveness, and implement best practices.
Identify and resolve data issues, improve reporting accuracy, and strengthen financial systems and processes.
Ensure compliance with university policies, Board of Regents requirements, and applicable financial regulations.