Director of Finance & Budget

Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA

1d•$160,000

About The Position

The Director of Finance and Budget provides strategic leadership for the financial and budgetary activities of the College of Engineering (COE). Reporting to the COE Associate Dean for Administration and Chief of Staff, the Director leads the development, allocation, forecasting, and stewardship of financial resources across all COE departments and related units. The College employs a data-driven approach to decision-making to ensure resources are aligned with institutional priorities and long-term objectives. In this role, the Director leverages financial, operational, enrollment, and research data to make informed recommendations, shape budget strategy, and support evidence-based decisions that advance the COE Strategic Plan. Chief among the responsibilities is the allocation of state-funded (E&G) budgets to the 12 decentralized engineering departments and the administration of centrally managed college resources in support of strategic priorities. In collaboration with the university finance offices, the Director oversees key financial components of the college’s substantial research enterprise and coordinates endowment resources with the Virginia Tech Foundation to ensure responsible stewardship and optimal deployment of funds. Additional responsibilities include oversight and minimization of E&G carryforward balances; preparation of monthly cash flow statements and recurring and ad hoc financial reports to support leadership decision-making; serving as the primary COE liaison to Virginia Tech Internal Audit; management of faculty start-up commitments; oversight of dual career hiring budget obligations; and administration of COE E&G position allocations to support workforce planning and long-term financial sustainability.

Requirements

A master’s degree in a related field (e.g., accounting, business administration, or accounting), or an equivalent combination of education and significant related experience.
Work history with advanced spreadsheet skills, including manipulation of large data sets.
Demonstrated ability to analyze, summarize, and present financial and narrative information clearly.
Significant experience in a financial management position in a higher education setting.
History of working with sponsored program best practices in relation to pre- and post-award management.
Experience in working with principles of financial, budget, and business operations planning and control as well as significant experience in finance and administration in higher education, including experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
Proven knowledge of federal and state financial regulations and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Nice To Haves

Proven working knowledge of Virginia Tech financial and personnel policies and procedures and their related enterprise systems.
Proficiency with MicroStrategy
Proficiency with Banner
Registered CPA or equivalent

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive oversight and strategic stewardship of the fiscal operations of the COE Dean’s Office, ensuring alignment with the COE Strategic Plan and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), university policy, and federal and state regulations.
Lead budget development, implementation, evaluation, and multi-year financial forecasting; oversee salary and operating budget adjustments; manage and minimize E&G carryforward balances; administer pooled salaries and position allocations; administer student assistantships and tuition remission; oversee contracts and grants, including cost-sharing and overhead allocations; coordinate endowment resources with the Virginia Tech Foundation; approve financial transactions; and manage fixed assets.
Develop short- and long-term financial projections to ensure optimal deployment of resources and long-range financial sustainability.
Lead the allocation of state-funded (E&G) budgets to the College’s 12 decentralized engineering departments using transparent, data-informed methodologies that advance strategic priorities.
Evaluate resource requests through analysis of revenue projections, enrollment trends, research expenditures, personnel commitments, and other key performance indicators.
Monitor financial performance against forecasts, assess variances, and proactively advise COE leadership and departmental fiscal officers to maintain fiscal stability and support progress toward strategic goals.
Oversee key financial components of the College’s research enterprise in collaboration with the COE finance office, ensuring effective management of sponsored program resources and alignment with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Partner with the Associate Dean for Administration in management analysis, scenario planning, and long-range financial modeling for new and ongoing initiatives, assessing financial risk, sustainability, and return on investment to inform executive decision-making.
Serve as the primary COE liaison to Virginia Tech Internal Audit, overseeing preparation for and response to audits, ensuring timely resolution of findings, and strengthening internal controls and financial processes.
Lead the development and continuous enhancement of financial reporting and information management systems that promote transparency, accountability, and data accessibility.
Prepare monthly cash flow reports, multi-year projections, variance analyses, and executive dashboards to support data-driven leadership decisions.
Identify and recommend operational efficiencies across functional areas and manage enterprise system changes necessary to support organizational and strategic initiatives.
Oversee faculty start-up commitments, dual career hiring budget obligations, and COE E&G position allocations to ensure alignment with workforce planning and long-term financial sustainability.
Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Administration and the COE Human Resources Divisional Director to evaluate the financial impact of recruitment, retention, and compensation strategies through workforce and salary forecasting.
In consultation with appropriate professionals in constituent units, strengthen risk management practices to safeguard college resources, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote responsible financial stewardship.
Provide supervisory oversight for fiscal support staff in the Dean’s Office, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of effective resource management and long-term strategic planning.