Director of Budget & Financial Planning

Title: Director of Budget & Financial Planning

VP Area: Finance

Department: Finance

Work Schedule: Fixed daytime hours Monday-Friday

Telework Availability: On-campus Position

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employee Classification: Regular full-time (staff 30+ hours)

Hours per week: 40

Months per year: 12

Required Application Materials: Resume and Cover Letter

Application Link: Director of Budget & Financial Planning
- Gonzaga Main Campus, Washington, United States

Provides leadership and oversight of the university’s budgeting and financial planning functions. Responsible for developing and managing the annual operating budget, leading multi-year financial planning and forecasting, and delivering actionable financial analysis to support executive decision‑making. The Director partners closely with senior leadership, academic units, and administrative departments to align financial resources with institutional priorities and strategic direction, with a particular focus on enrollment‑driven revenue, capital planning, institutional resource allocation, and long‑term financial sustainability.

The Director serves as both a strategic advisor and a hands‑on leader, ensuring disciplined budget process while advancing the institution’s capacity for data‑informed planning and resource allocation.

• Leads development, coordination, and administration of the University’s annual operating budget and multi‑year capital budget.
• Establishes and maintains institutional budget policies, timelines, and procedures.
• Coordinates decentralized budget development across academic and administrative units.
• Leads institutional financial forecasting and variance analysis, ensuring proactive management of financial performance.
• Develops and maintains revenue models, including tuition, financial aid, auxiliaries, and other key financial drivers.
• Evaluates the financial impact of strategic initiatives, academic programs, and operational changes.
• Oversees position control and major institutional cost categories (e.g., benefits, reserves, debt service).
• Aligns financial planning with institutional strategy and leadership priorities.
• Participates in year‑end close processes and financial reconciliation activities.

• Prepares executive‑level financial reporting and analysis for senior leadership.
• Develops financial reports and materials for the Board of Trustees.
• Partners with the CFO to coordinate and lead the University Budget Committee.
• Responds to budget‑related inquiries from academic and administrative leadership.
• Translates complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.

• Supervises Budget Analyst staff, including performance management, coaching, and development.
• Establishes cross‑training and knowledge‑sharing practices within the Budget Office.
• Owns and optimizes budget systems, data structures, and reporting tools.
• Partners with Information Technology and the Controller’s Office on system enhancements and integration.
• Leads continuous improvement efforts in budgeting processes, reporting, and analytics.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships across campus units.

Other duties as assigned by the Department.

Bachelor's Degree

8+ years

In lieu of the educational qualifications, candidates may qualify with equivalent professional experience at a ratio of one year of experience for each year of required education.

• Minimum 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial planning, or financial analysis
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
• Demonstrated leadership and 5+ years of supervisory experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across an organization

• Advanced financial analysis and modeling capability
• Strategic thinking and long‑range planning
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate complex financial information into…