Director of Budget and Administration

Williams College; Gardner (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams College in Massachusetts seeks a strategic Finance leader to oversee budget processes, forecasting, and procurement. This role partners with the President's Office and executive team to ensure compliance and transparent reporting.

Responsibilities include budget development, multi-year forecasts, procurement oversight, staff coaching, and policy development, with a focus on data-driven decisions across the college.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required, with emphasis in Financial Management, Business Admin or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to foster positive working relationships with others.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and visual aids that support transparency and data-informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication and ability to work with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Create, monitor and improve college-wide processes for assembling the annual operating budget.
• Collaborate with accounting and stakeholders on appropriation monitoring and reporting.
• Provide forecasts of multi-year revenue and expense outcomes for strategic planning.
• Oversee procurement functions including PCard, requisition, POs, and invoicing.
• Coach and guide staff on proper procurement processes.
• Prepare reports for Senior Leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Develop messaging to convey complex fiscal information to non-financial audiences.
• Liaise with Vice Presidents on budget-related matters during planning and execution.
• Lead annual budget planning and coordinate with Commonwealth budget cycle.
• Conduct trainings on budgeting and procurement for college community.
• Draft institutional policies on resource allocation.
• Assist with fiscal year-end financial reporting and compliance.
• Represent Finance leadership in college-wide budget discussions.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to diverse campus constituencies.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Financial reporting

Communication

Collaboration

Organizational planning

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Financial Management or related field

Tools

Banner Finance

MOSAIC state accounting

Job description

General Statement of Duties:

Assists the Finance and Administration executive team and President's Office in the development, evaluation and monitoring of College budget allocations, expenditures and revenue projections. Oversees and supervises the Accounts Payable and Procurement teams. Prepares, analyzes, distributes monthly, quarterly and annual reports to the College Administration/Divisions and Board of Trustees. Participates in the formulation and determination of fiscal policies. Leads efforts to ensure end-user compliance with College and state policies related to procurement and budget. Serves as a key leader on the Finance Office management team.

Responsibilities:

• Creates, monitors, assesses and facilitates improvements to the College-wide processes for assembling the annual operating budget which reflects input from across the College and assembles a prioritized budget proposal for the College leadership and Board of Trustees' consideration.
  In collaboration with the accounting team and other stakeholders, responsible for appropriation monitoring and utilizing Commonwealth systems for budget- and payroll-related activities and reporting. Will assess appropriations and advise regarding necessary adjustments to ensure adequate funding to process state payroll and other expenses.
• Provides forecasts of multi-year revenue and expense outcomes for the institution, creating transparent views in varying layers of detail. Utilizes related data to inform strategic planning, risk assessment, and decisions with significant financial implications.
  Prepares and monitors multiple budgets, revenue forecasting, payroll expense projections and spending plans, supported by system-generated and self-prepared financial reports.
• Oversees all procurement functions, including College purchase card system management, requisition and purchase order process, and invoice payment/remittance processes.
• Provides coaching, training, and guidance to reporting staff and members of the campus community on proper processes related to purchase functions.
• Prepares financial and other reports for Senior Leadership, the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders as required. Presents related information to the Board of Trustees and other College stakeholders.
• Develops and delivers messaging and communications in ways that effectively convey complex fiscal information to audiences without financial backgrounds.
• Serves as a liaison to Vice Presidents and Divisional Budget Coordinators on all budget-related matters during the planning and execution phases of the budget process.
• Leads the annual budget planning process. Remains apprised of key dates related to the Commonwealth budgetary cycle, the College budget development process, and coordinates the development of the budget accordingly.
• Develops and conducts budgetary and procurement trainings for members of the College community as needed.
• Provides recommendations and drafts institutional policies relating to resource allocation.
• Collaborates with the accounting team and other relevant College officials in the preparation of the fiscal year-end financial statements and other fiscal year/calendar year-end state and federal reporting requirements.
• As required, represents the Finance and Administration executive team on all budget-related matters within the College community.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to students, faculty, and staff of varying racial, ethnic, religious, gender, cultural, disability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background while serving as a liaison in matters related to the division of finance and administration.
  Performs other duties as assigned with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required, with an emphasis in Financial Management, Business Administration or a closely related field.
  Previous supervisory experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
  Organizational planning skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to foster positive working relationships with others.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and visual aids that support transparency, accountability, and data-informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's Degree preferred, with an emphasis in Financial Management, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience with Banner Finance preferred.
• Knowledge of MOSAIC state accounting system preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of higher education principles, practices, and procedures preferred.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Equivalency Statement

Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.