Director of Finance & Budget

Job Description

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.

• Oversee and minimize E&G carry forward balances; prepare monthly cash flow statements and recurring and ad‑hoc financial reports to support leadership decision‑making.
• Serve as the primary COE liaison to Virginia Tech Internal Audit; oversee preparation for and response to audits, ensuring timely resolution of findings, and strengthening internal controls and financial processes.
• Manage faculty start‑up commitments, dual‑career hiring budget obligations, and COE E&G position allocations to support workforce planning and long‑term financial sustainability.
• 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 GAAP, university policy, and federal and state regulations.
• Lead budget development, implementation, evaluation, and multi‑year financial forecasting; oversee salary and operating budget adjustments; 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; 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 COE’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.
• Lead the development and continuous enhancement of financial reporting and information management systems that promote transparency, accountability, and data accessibility.
• Identify and recommend operational efficiencies across functional areas and manage enterprise system changes necessary to support organizational and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Administration and the COE Human Resources Divisional…