Director of Finance and Budget

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

1d•$143,454 - $175,332•Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell Research & Innovation announces a search for a Director of Finance & Budget. Well-qualified candidates will be strategic thinkers possessing strong experience with complex budget development, long-range financial planning and forecasting, and translation of financial data into clear and cohesive reports within a higher education environment. As Director of Finance & Budget, you will provide financial leadership for multi-million dollar operating and capital budgets that support transformative research initiatives. You will lead a team of high-performing finance professionals and will partner closely with divisional and university leadership to ensure prudent stewardship of resources, strong decision support, and clear communication of financial performance and strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
7-10 years of experience in financial management, reporting, analysis, forecasting, and complex budget development and monitoring, especially within higher education
Experience supervising and developing staff, including serving as a mentor and guiding staff through change
Excellent customer service skills and demonstrated ability to communicate with a broad range of people at different organizational levels
Demonstrated attention to detail, organizational skills, and prioritization skills
Experience connecting inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing practices to business goals
Proven ability to interpret and apply policy and procedures consistently and thoughtfully
Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure and to use good judgment in accomplishing matters that are urgent, sensitive, or confidential
Proven leadership skills, including the ability to negotiate, advocate with tact and diplomacy, and work effectively as part of a team
Comfortable working in an environment where change in process and procedures is the norm
Ability to synthesize and translate financial data and institutional requirements clearly and concisely for different audiences

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (e.g., MBA) and/or CPA or additional education or training in finance or accounting
Significant prior work experience in higher education, including knowledge and understanding of sponsored research environments, administration of restricted gifts and endowment income, and management of institutional commitments
Experience using systems utilized by Cornell, including Longview Budget System, Kuali Financial System, Oracle Analytics Server, and Workday
Experience implementing new systems and financial reporting dashboards

Responsibilities

Overseeing and managing Research & Innovation’s annual capital and operating budgeting process, managing all aspects and components of the budget, ensuring accuracy and compliance with University Budget Office (UBO) guidelines, and providing guidance to administrative directors in the development of complex research center budgets
Partnering with administrative units and research centers to develop, manage, and monitor operating budgets across a range of financial activities and funding sources
Implementing and managing UBO initiatives, serving as Research & Innovation’s principal liaison to the University Budget Officers Group (UBOG), and representing the division in all budget planning and policy discussions
Managing and producing divisional financial reporting, monthly budget‑to‑actual analyses, and forecasting
Collaborating annually to prepare and publish the institution-wide Cornell Annual Research Expenditure (ARE) financial reporting
Leading and developing finance staff, clearly communicating expectations, providing performance feedback, and fostering continuous growth and satisfaction
Driving positive change by identifying, designing, and implementing process improvements to enhance and innovate financial support services
As part of the Cornell community, you will help foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Benefits

comprehensive health care options
generous retirement contributions
access to wellness programs
employee discounts with local and national retail brands
health and personal leave
three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1
two additional floating holidays
tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program