The Financial Manager is an essential member of the College of Arts & Architecture and reports directly to the Dean. This position provides leadership in developing the strategic financial direction for units within the college through comprehensive long-range budget planning and business strategy development. The role works collaboratively with school directors and other campus partners to support decision-making and to effectively manage and execute financial operations across the college.
Using data-driven analysis, this individual will provide financial insights that inform strategic decision-making and optimize the use of multiple funding sources. As a key advisor in the budgetary process, the Financial Manager will play a critical role in shaping decisions that directly influence the college’s financial health and long-term goals. This position requires strong organizational, analytical, and technical skills, along with a collaborative and solution-oriented approach.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide strategic financial leadership for the college, managing and advising millions in resources from multiple funding sources.
- Forecast, plan, and oversee the development of annual, semester-based, and long-range budgets—including internal budget models, revenue projections, and expenditure plans.
- Work with the college units and BOMs to ensure compliance with the budget plan set forth at the start of the fiscal year and communicate variances for timely action.
- Analyze financial trends and service usage – particularly in fee-based units – to evaluate fiscal impacts and support data-informed decision-making.
- Collaborate with college units and HR partners to ensure alignment between staffing needs and financial resources, including oversight of position budgeting.
- Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to the dean’s office and college units to support operational activities, strategic planning and accountability.
- Serve as a key liaison for the college in central budget activities.
- Ensure compliance with MSU and Board of Regents (BOR) financial policies and procedures while continually improving financial processes.
- Coordinate with MSU Fiscal Shared Services, College HR Business Partner, and departmental business operations managers to trouble-shoot appointment and payroll issues, track budget and expenditures, and enter budget adjustments to reflect changes in payroll and budget allocations throughout the year.
- Provide ongoing training for business operations managers and school directors on budget and fiscal matters.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance or a related field, OR an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
- Demonstrated competence and experience in development, analysis, and execution of complex budgets and long-range business/fiscal management plans.
- Demonstrated experience in interpreting, explaining, and presenting detailed budget and fiscal data, both verbally and in writing, to a broad group of constituents.
- Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Suite, specifically Excel formulas and applications.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Experience working in financial based roles at a higher education institution.
- Demonstrated knowledge in interpreting and applying institutional policies and procedures.
- Ability to initiate, coordinate, oversee and complete various projects on own initiative.
- Strong organizational techniques with the ability to manage multiple tasks and remain flexible.
- Experience leveraging data from an ERP system.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Exercise sound judgement and initiative in decision-making, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
- Lead and collaborate effectively with different teams and stakeholders, demonstrating strong interpersonal and conflict solution skills.
- Present complex financial and administrative information in ways that build clarity, transparency, and informed decision-making across varying levels of financial expertise.
- Communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats, including presentations.
- Manage multiple priorities with attention to detail, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines in a dynamic environment.
- Utilize financial systems and tools proficiently, including spreadsheets, databases, and various reporting systems. Experience using Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook are preferred.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties?
No