Budget Director​/Senior Financial Advisor

Job Details

Job Location:

Huston-Tillotson University - AUSTIN, TX 78702

Salary Range: $75,000.00 per year

The Budget Director/Senior Financial Advisor serves as the University's principal budget officer and financial planning lead. This strategic role provides high‑level support to senior university leadership, including the CFO, Vice Presidents, Deans, and other Finance Team members, in managing and analyzing institutional finances. The Budget Director/Senior Financial Advisor is instrumental in ensuring financial sustainability and excellence through multi‑year budget planning, forecasting, variance analysis, and oversight of the University's operating, capital, and restricted fund budgets.

The individual will also guide continuous business process improvements and support data‑driven decisions in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the University's annual operating budget, capital budget, and restricted funds.
• Provide regular budget updates, strategic insights, and operational guidance to senior management.
• Collaborate with departments to manage budgets, resolve variances, and ensure compliance with university policies.
• Compose and maintain budget policies, guidelines, and instructions for the campus community.
• Lead, train, and support the Budget Managers Team.
• Conduct financial analyses related to special interest areas including student labor, adjunct and overload faculty, and departmental expenditures.
• Facilitate multi‑year strategic budget planning, long‑range forecasting, and sensitivity analyses.
• Analyze revenue and cost drivers including enrollment projections, tuition discount rates, compensation increases, and benefits costs.
• Maintain Business Intelligence tools and forecasting software to enhance reporting and decision‑making.
• Prepare and deliver financial reports for the Board of Trustees Finance Committee and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate budget reporting with the Provost and academic departments.
• Oversee and report on cash flow projections, drawdowns of federal grants, and federal/state reporting (e.g., SEFA).
• Create and reconcile journal entries, prepaid schedules, and fixed asset tracking for audit preparation.
• Provide oversight and support for accounts payable tasks and vendor payments including Amex, utilities, and insurance.
• Serve as primary approver for requisitions and procurement‑related transactions.
• Reconcile the University’s Amazon account and provide training on accounts payable systems.
• Support ongoing ERP/business system improvements (Ellucian, CX, etc.).
• Manage the Budgeting and Planning website portal, including calendars, policies, and instructions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ph.D. in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or related field preferred;
  Master’s degree required.
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in higher education financial planning or budget management.
• Demonstrated success managing complex budget processes and providing strategic financial counsel to senior leadership.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, financial modeling tools, and ERP systems (e.g., Ellucian).
• Experience working with restricted funds, grants, and federal reporting.
• Familiarity with higher education institutional research and planning frameworks.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Working knowledge of university budget structures, fund accounting, and capital planning.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proven leadership ability in managing teams and cross‑departmental projects.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines and adapt to changing circumstances.

This position reports to the Vice President of Administration & Finance.

$75,000 annually, plus benefits.

Full‑time, in‑person required with some flexibility.

Huston‑Tillotson University evolved from Huston‑Tillotson College founded in 1875. The university is an independent, liberal arts, church‑related, historically Black institution located on a 23‑acre tree‑lined campus in Austin, Texas. It offers undergraduate, four‑year degrees in business, education, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences while promoting a multicultural, multi‑ethnic, and multi‑faith community. Faculty focus primarily on teaching, supported by a student‑teacher ratio of 15 to 1 that facilitates personalized learning.