Budget Director - #005192

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee (NC)

Hybrid

USD 110,000 - 150,000

Full time

5 hours ago

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Job summary

Western Carolina University is seeking a Budget Director to serve as the chief budget planning and financial oversight officer. The role provides comprehensive financial planning, projections, and monitoring for all university departments and personnel, with duties including annual tuition and fee processes and revenue forecasting.

On-site in Cullowhee, NC, the EHRA-exempt position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs, supporting campus leadership through budgeting best

Qualifications

Knowledge of state accounting principles and UNC System budgeting policies.
Experience with higher education budgeting and financial management.
Ability to lead professional staff and communicate complex financial information clearly.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Staff leadership

Communicate financial information

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Project management

Presentations to executives

Education

Master's degree in Business Administration/Accounting/Finance or related field

Bachelor's degree with 5-8 years' budget administration experience

Tools

Banner Finance

Excel (advanced functions)

Job description

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act ( EHRA ). The University Budget Director serves as the chief budget planning and financial oversight officer for Western Carolina University, reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs and supporting the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. This position provides comprehensive financial planning, projections, consulting, and ongoing monitoring of all university departments and personnel. The Budget Director maintains daily oversight of the administration of WCU’s operating and capital budgets, serves as institutional liaison to the Office of State Budget and Management and the University of North Carolina System Office, and supports campus leadership through instruction on budgeting best practices, financial modeling, compliance frameworks, and oversight processes. The position holds responsibility for budget reporting, position control, the annual tuition and fee process, revenue forecasting, preparation of the all-funds budget, and all related fiscal year management activities.

About WCU

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:

2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South. Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available. Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service. WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of state accounting principles, UNC System budgeting policies, state of North Carolina Office of Budget and Management policies, and higher education financial management.
Skill in financial analysis, budget modeling, and revenue forecasting.
Ability to lead and manage professional staff.
Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
Proficiency with enterprise resource planning systems and advanced spreadsheet analysis.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and tight deadlines in a complex institutional environment.
Ability to make presentations to the Executive Council and the University Board of Trustees.

Minimum Qualifications

Interested candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship or any other immigration-related assistance.
A master’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or similarly related field plus three to five years’ related experience or a bachelor’s degree with five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in budget administration, preferably in higher education.

Preferred Qualifications

Five years of experience working in the budget office of a UNC member institution as an analyst or higher position or working as an analyst in the Office of State Budget and Management.
Familiarity with the Banner Finance module.
Experience with data organization tools such as advanced excel functions.
Familiarity with Department of Public Instruction fiscal policies for lab school financial management.

Position Type

Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours Per Week

Number of Months Per Year

Posting Text

Open Date

09/28/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Yes

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify . Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Required Documents