Budget/Fiscal Manager

Montana State University, Inc • Bozeman, MT

37d

About The Position

The Budget & Fiscal Manager is a member of the University Budget Office, reporting to the University Budget Director. In collaboration with leaders, it sets the strategic financial direction of units within the division, through long-range budget planning and business strategy development. This role partners closely with department decision makers, Fiscal Shared Service (FSS) partners, and Human Resources business partners to manage and execute financial operations across the division.Using data-driven analysis, this individual will provide financial insights that inform strategic decision-making and optimize the use of multiple finding sources. As a key advisor in the budgetary process, the Budget & Fiscal Manager will play a critical role in shaping decisions that directly influence the unit's financial health and long-term goals. In addition, this role will provide onboarding and ongoing financial training to Business Operation Managers (BOM) roles within the unit. This position requires strong organizational, analytical, and technical skills, along with a collaborative and solution-oriented approach.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, finance or a related field, OR an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
• Demonstrated competence and experience in development, analysis, and execution of complex budgets and long-range business/fiscal management plans.
• Successful experience in interpreting, explaining, and presenting detailed budget and fiscal data, both verbally and in writing, to a broad group of constituents.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Suite, specifically Excel formulas and applications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in financial based roles at a higher education institution.
• Demonstrated knowledge in interpreting and applying institutional policies and procedures.
• Strong organizational techniques with the ability to manage multiple tasks and remain flexible.
• Experience leveraging data from an ERP system.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership for the unit, managing and advising millions in resources from multiple funding sources.
• Forecast, plan, and oversee the development of annual and long-range budgets, including internal budget models, revenue projections, and expenditure plans.
• Work with unit heads to ensure compliance with the budget plan set forth at the start of the fiscal year and communicate variances for timely action.
• Analyze financial trends and service usage - particularly in fee-based units - to evaluate fiscal impacts and support data-informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with department directors, FSS, and HR partners to ensure alignment between staffing needs and financial resources, including oversight of position budgeting.
• Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to department leaders to support operational activities, strategic planning and accountability.
• Serve as a key liaison for the unit in central budget activities.
• Ensure compliance with MSU and Board of Regents (BOR) financial policies and procedures while continually improving financial processes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees