Director of Finance and Budget

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.

Key responsibilities include:

* 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.

About Us

Cornell Research & Innovation enables and advances the University's research priorities as well as research activities of Cornell colleges, schools, and research centers, institutes, and laboratories. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research houses the R&I Finance & Budget Team, which includes a Post Award Finance Group and a Service Facility Finance Group. R&I Finance provides leadership in budgeting, financial reporting, and post‑award financial management.

The team delivers comprehensive financial support to research‑enabling administrative units-including the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, Pre‑Award Research Operations, Research Development, Innovation, and R&I operating units-as well as to faculty and researchers, with a particular focus on complex or multidisciplinary research centers. R&I Finance, in collaboration with central partners, oversees research expenditure reporting and advances institution‑wide financial initiatives across Research & Innovation.

What We Need

Send us a cover letter and resume outlining your interest in this position and explaining how your experience and qualifications match the position requirements. Your letter is an important component of your application. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

* 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…