Budget Manager

The College of St. Scholastica; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The College of St. Scholastica is seeking a Budget Manager to lead the annual operating budget process, support institutional financial planning, and strengthen budgeting across all divisions.

The role will play a key part in the College’s Workday transition, developing and maintaining the Chart of Accounts and related structures to support reporting and decision-making. You will partner with Budget Specialists, department leaders, and senior administration to promote fiscal stewardship, build

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5 years of budgeting, financial planning, or accounting experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Experience developing financial reports and presenting to leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate annual operating and capital budget development.
• Maintain budget calendars, milestones, and documentation.
• Prepare and analyze financial reports for leadership and committees.
• Support Workday financial structure and chart of accounts development.
• Provide guidance on budgeting policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Assist with audits and process improvements.

Skills

Analytical

Excel proficiency

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Admin

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The approximate base compensation range is posted, but the actual offer will reflect our total compensation and benefits package. The offer will be determined by a number of factors including the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, FTE, number of months worked, as well as internal equity among our team.

Position Summary

The Budget Manager serves as a key member of the Finance team responsible for coordinating the College's annual operating budget process, supporting institutional financial planning, and ensuring effective budget management across all divisions. This position partners closely with Budget Specialists, department leaders, and senior administration to promote fiscal stewardship, provide meaningful financial analysis, and improve financial reporting and budgeting processes. As the College transitions to Workday, this position will play an integral role in developing and maintaining the Chart of Accounts and related financial structures to support institutional reporting, planning, and decision-making. The Budget Manager will also help establish consistent budgeting practices, strengthen financial accountability across campus, and provide analytical support for strategic initiatives.

Essential Responsibilities

Budget Planning & Administration (35%)

• Coordinate the College's annual operating and capital budget development process.
• Develop and maintain the institutional budget calendar and ensure milestones are achieved.
• Facilitate budget submissions, reviews, revisions, and approvals across all divisions.
• Maintain budget models, assumptions, and supporting documentation.
• Assist in developing long-range financial planning models and multi-year forecasts.
• Monitor budget-to-actual performance and identify significant variances requiring follow-up.
• Recommend budget reallocations and corrective actions as appropriate.

Budget Specialist Coordination & Campus Support (20%)

• Serve as the primary Finance liaison for Budget Specialists across academic and administrative divisions.
• Ensure Budget Specialists have timely access to financial information, reporting tools, and system security necessary to perform their responsibilities.
• Develop standardized financial reports and dashboards to improve consistency across departments.
• Provide guidance regarding budget policies, procedures, and financial best practices.
• Conduct training sessions and develop documentation supporting budget management and financial reporting.

Financial Analysis & Decision Support (20%)

• Prepare recurring and ad hoc financial analyses supporting executive leadership, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee discussions.
• Analyze trends in revenues, expenses, enrollment, compensation, and other institutional financial drivers.
• Evaluate financial impacts of strategic initiatives, organizational changes, and operational decisions.
• Develop financial models to support planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Present findings in a clear and actionable format for both financial and non-financial audiences.

Workday Financial Structure & Reporting (15%)

• Support implementation and ongoing governance of the Workday financial data model.
• Assist in developing and maintaining the institutional Chart of Accounts, including worktags, hierarchies, and reporting structures.
• Partner with Finance, Human Resources, Advancement, and Information Technology to ensure Workday supports institutional reporting needs.
• Recommend enhancements to financial reporting and budgeting functionality within Workday.
• Assist with testing, validation, documentation, and continuous improvement of Workday financial processes.

Financial Compliance & Process Improvement (10%)

• Promote compliance with College financial policies and budget procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve budgeting workflows, financial reporting, and business processes.
• Assist with audit requests, financial reporting, and special institutional projects.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout Finance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial planning, financial analysis, or accounting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Experience developing financial reports and presenting financial information to leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Higher education finance or budgeting experience.
• Experience with Workday Financial Management or other enterprise ERP systems.
• Experience with financial reporting and business intelligence tools.
• Knowledge of fund accounting and higher education budgeting practices.