Director of Financial Planning and Budgets

Position Summary

The Director of Budget, Planning & Budgets provides strategic leadership for the university’s comprehensive budget development, financial planning, and analytical functions. This role oversees the direction, administration, and continuous improvement of complex budget processes, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and full compliance with university, state, and federal requirements. Serving as a key advisor to senior leadership, the Director leads a team responsible for developing reports, interpreting financial data, modeling scenarios, projecting revenues and expenditures, and identifying trends that inform strategic decision‑making.

The position maintains direct communication with the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), the UNC System Office (UNCSO), and campus leaders including Vice Chancellors, Deans, Department Heads, and Directors. The Director establishes and maintains effective budget procedures, prepares high‑level analyses and presentations for executive leadership, evaluates financial options, and reports on outcomes of budgetary decisions. Core functional responsibilities include team building, customer service, managerial oversight, reporting, planning and projections, reversion planning, coordination of carryforwards and special allocations, debt‑related issues, campus training, all other general budget matters, and addressing special requests. Professionalism, collaboration, and sound judgment are essential to success in this role.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters and 5+ years of relevant experience; or Bachelors with at least 1 – 2 yrs supervisory experience and 5+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field is preferred, with prior supervisory experience in a complex operational area.
• Demonstrated strong proficiency with ERP systems, preferably Banner by Ellucian, along with excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with leadership, colleagues across campus and off-campus entities at the state level.
• University or community college Budget Office and financial administration experience within North Carolina’s public higher education environment, with eight years of public‑sector financial administration is desired, including at least three years within the North Carolina community college or university system.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership, the ability to set and achieve goals, and the capacity to work collaboratively with a cross-functional team are essential.