Budgets & Capital Expenditures Manager
Inside Higher Ed
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 5 years of progressively responsible experience working in budget management or contract administration.
- Demonstrated experience in budget management and financial analysis.
- Proficiency with financial systems, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
Responsibilities
- Manage and monitor annual operating budgets and multi-year capital expenditure plans.
- Analyze financial data to support strategic planning and executive decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with university, State, and system financial policies and procedures.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Great universities inspire the very best in us. They nurture new ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative problem‑solving. They challenge students to discover their passions - and to turn those passions into thriving careers that improve our world.
Job ID: 295841
Location: Columbus State University
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Columbus State University is exactly that kind of place. With exceptional facilities, ideal class sizes, and unique field experiences, our students have room to create. Here, every faculty and staff member is part of the educational process, actively mentoring students and championing each new step in their journey.
Located just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, CSU is part of the University System of Georgia and offers a variety of benefits to full‑time benefits‑eligible employees and some of our half‑time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays (if applicable). Also, our full‑time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.
University Operations
The Manager of Budgets & Capital Expenditures is responsible for overseeing, planning, contracting and managing the operational budgets and capital expenditure processes for Columbus State University Operations. This role provides strategic financial leadership, ensures compliance with university, State, and Board of Regents policies, and supports effective resource allocation aligned with institutional priorities. The employee must have excellent understanding of CSU, BOR and GSFIC policies, processes and procedures and be able to implement the larger vision while also following through on precise details. The position will supervise an Operations Assistant and requires the ability to communicate well, be customer service oriented and interact with University Operations directors and managers as well as other staff across campus, procurement, legal affairs and BOR Real Estate and Facilities staff, etc.
- Manage and monitor annual operating budgets and multi‑year capital expenditure plans.
- Initiate, monitor, and reconcile budgets for institutionally‑funded and bond‑funded reimbursable projects (MRR & Capital Projects).
- Analyze financial data to support strategic planning and executive decision‑making.
- Ensure compliance with university, State, and system financial policies and procedures.
- Serve as liaison with Finance, Procurement, Budgeting, and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Support audits, reconciliations, and financial reviews related to operations budgets.
- Provide guidance and training to departmental staff on budget spend‑down and capital processes.
- Review and coordinate contracts from a financial and compliance perspective.
- Obtain chartstrings, review and process change orders and amendments.
- Review project‑related requisitions and update the chartstring information as needed.
- Communicate with Procurement regarding how to amend purchase orders for contract revisions.
- Oversee processing of invoices and process invoices when needed.
- Ensure lapsable and non‑lapsable funds are spent to the benefit of the project and department.
- Develop and recommend standard fiscal and contractual language to mitigate risk.
- Monitor vendor compliance with financial, insurance, and regulatory requirements prior to and throughout the contract lifecycle.
- Review, track, and approve insurance documentation, payment requests, and required closeout forms to ensure proper fiscal stewardship and audit readiness.
- Coordinate and document financial participation in pre‑award or pre‑implementation meetings, ensuring budget expectations, funding limitations, and payment processes are clearly communicated and recorded.
- Provide budgetary and financial guidance to departmental staff during the development of bid specifications and the evaluation of complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs), ensuring alignment with approved funding and fiscal controls.
- Acts as the primary contact for OU HR for job descriptions, job postings and payroll transactions, questions, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
- 5 years of progressively responsible experience working in budget management or contract administration.
- Demonstrated experience in budget management and financial analysis.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Proficiency with financial systems, spreadsheets, and reporting tools.
- Master's degree in a related field.
- Experience in higher education, public sector, or facilities/operations finance.
- Familiarity with capital planning and construction‑related financial processes.
- Familiarity with University System of Georgia (USG) policies and procedures.
- Knowledgeable and complies with applicable policies and procedures related to accounting records and financial statements for design and construction related transactions.
- Understands procurement and is knowledgeable of requirements to provide supervision of preparation and execution of contracts related to design and construction.
- Understands all aspects of design and construction budgets and is able to lead budget balancing and reconciliation meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Communicates well with a wide range of constituents and is customer service oriented.
- Skilled and proficient with a variety of software programs including PeopleSoft, E‑builder, DocuSign, OneUSG Connect, Microsoft Suite, Vizio, etc.
- Ability to comprehend the larger vision of design and construction related business processes and continuously proposes, evaluates, and implements efficiency improvements.
If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Wilson, Hiring Manager, via email at wilson_kelly2@columbusstate.edu.
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
- Excellence: Actively engaging outstanding methods in teaching, academic discovery, creative pursuits, student success, cultural enrichment and the overall campus community.
- Creativity: Pursuing distinction through inquiry and innovation, challenging convention and focusing on solutions.
- Engagement: Dynamic civic involvement and participation of students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university experience.
- Sustainability: Advancing fiscal responsibility, well‑being, innovation, lifelong learning and environmental stewardship.
- Inclusion: Cultivating and championing a campus environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds, ideas, perspectives and practices.
- Servant Leadership: Leading through ethical empowerment and service.
All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation to include reference checks and verification of academic credentials (if applicable). Other additional requirements may be required based upon specific position duties:
- A credit check completed for positions of trust and/or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.
- Pre‑employment drug testing for positions with high‑risk responsibilities.
- Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive a Columbus State University fleet vehicle or other vehicle designated as a fleet vehicle.
*Applicants for positions of trust may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment.
For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post‑secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.
All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.
Additionally, all members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values and also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.
Columbus State University is a proud equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.
- This is not a supervisory position.
- This position has financial responsibilities.
- This position will not be required to drive.
- This role is considered a position of trust.
- This position does not require a purchasing card (P‑Card).
- This position will not travel.
- This position does not require security clearance.
- Position of Trust + Education & Credit
Visit Columbus State University’s online Careers portal to drive your career with us! The online applicant system provides you with the ability to review job opportunities and apply to those that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Each job posting has a summary description of the position and required qualifications. All job applications must be submitted through the online portal system.
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