Budget Manager

Budget Manager
Whitman College

Compensation: $80,000 - $90,000

NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO) .

POSITION PURPOSE

The Budget Manager is a member of the College's Finance and Administration division that will manage the budgeting process and assist the leadership with strengthening its relationships with financial stakeholders. In this role, the Budget Manager is required to analyze the College's budgets, liaise with external stakeholders, and produce reports on projections, costs, and expenditures. The Budget Manager is adept at negotiations, business strategy, and calculating key performance indicators.

Moreover, this position is responsible for assisting the Assistant Vice President for Finance & Controller and the Vice President for Finance & Administration in all aspects of the College budget. Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the management of financial-related activities which include accounting, finance, forecasting, risk management, and strategic planning, as well as managing the daily activities of the Office of Accounting and Business Services (ABS). It involves applying accounting principles to analyze past and present financial operations and estimates future sources and uses to evaluate the College's financial position.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Approximately 90% of the Budget Manager's time and effort is associated with various functions related to the College's current (i.e., operating) fund, including the following:

• Preparation of the Whitman College annual budget and all required spreadsheets and documents.
• Review, assist, and analyze annual, quarterly, monthly, and other required financial reports. Assist in developing and managing the operating budgets for the various divisions within the College.
• Enforce and develop budgeting controls and procedures.
• Work with senior leadership on strategic budget planning initiatives.
• Perform financial analysis to determine and improve financial status by comparing and analyzing plans and forecasts with actual results, identifying trends, and recommending actions.
• Work closely with the Assistant Vice President for Finance & Controller and the Vice President for Finance and Administration with the appropriate recommendations, communication, and if needed for implementation to ensure compliance with internal controls and accounting policies and procedures.
• Preparation of routine and ad hoc financial reports/analyses for senior management.
• Assist in the development and implementation of cost control measures.
• Assist in financial performance evaluation, cost, and asset management.
• Prepare reports in collaboration with the Assistant Vice President for Finance & Controller and the Vice President for Finance and Administration for the President's Budget Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees' Resources Committee meetings.
• Post the adopted budget in the College's financial system annually.
• Maintain the College's general ledger by identifying accounts that need to be addressed when budget and actuals are not in alignment, adding accounts when requested by various departments, identifying accounts that need to be closed or possibly moved, pooling accounts for budget and actual reporting as identified or requested, etc.
• Prepare approved budget journal entries when a budget revision is needed during the fiscal year.
• Prepare journal entries to correct actual data or record transfers to balance budgets as needed through-out the fiscal year.
• Provide general ledger and budget training and/or answer budget-related questions for various departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Approximately 10% of the Budget Manager's time and effort is associated with the College's investments held in the College's endowment (10%):

• Work closely with the Manager of Investments on calculating and recording the College's annual endowment payout in preparation of the annual budget.
• Monitor the spending of the College's budgeted endowments through-out the year and make recommendations to the AVP for Finance & Controller on restricted sources that are being underutilized.
  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to establish and maintain an effective collegial working relationship with students, parents, faculty and staff as well as vendors, volunteers, agencies and the general public.
• Possess requisite knowledge base and understanding to maintain professional capability.
• Establish and maintain exemplary customer service and fiscal accountability as it relates to all functions within the department.
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge of procedures with attention to detail and processing cycles.
• Perform office procedures necessary to the position with a high level of accuracy and reasonable efficiency.
• Ability to communicate effectively (especially financial information) both orally and in writing to a varied audience
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to interpret and implement all pertinent standards, rules and regulations that govern the financial or business activity of the College
• Ability to work with technology partners to further the service efforts and efficiency of the Business Office through effective use of technology
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of software applications, spreadsheets and word processing
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and evaluate financial programs, policies and procedures
• Ability to develop and implement plans to meet the future needs and activity of the Business Office and the College
• Working knowledge of accounting systems and computing
• Ability to integrate the College's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism into interactions, processes and decision making.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business or accounting.
• 5+ demonstrated progressive experience in non-profit or business accounting and financial services.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in higher education or college operations.
• CPA licensure.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission - Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for one Whitman course per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Learn more about benefits eligibility here.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin February 20, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

START DATE

March 2024


For full application instructions and position description, visit https://whitman.bamboohr.com/careers/331


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