Strategic Budget & Financial Planning Lead

Montana State University; Bozeman (MT); Hybrid; USD 96,432,000 - 110,208,000; Full time

Job summary

Montana State University budgets and oversees financial operations via the Budget Office, ensuring strategic allocation of resources across units. The role partners with BOMs, FSS, and HR to drive long-range planning and data-driven decision making.

The Budget & Fiscal Manager provides financial insights, develops training for BOM roles, and ensures compliance with university policies while strengthening the financial health of the division.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in accounting, business/finance.
• Experience in developing and executing complex budgets and long-range plans.
• Ability to interpret and present budget/fiscal data clearly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (formulas and applications).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership for the unit with multi-source funding.
• Forecast, plan, and oversee annual and long-range budgets and revenue projections.
• Coordinate with unit heads to ensure budget plan adherence and communicate variances.
• Analyze financial trends and service usage to inform decisions.
• Collaborate with directors, FSS and HR to align staffing with resources.
• Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to department leaders.
• Serve as liaison for central budget activities.
• Ensure compliance with MSU policies and improve processes.

Skills

Budgeting

Budget forecasting

Data interpretation

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, finance or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship.*

Position Information

Announcement Number

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 27090

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

The University Budget Office at Montana State University ( MSU ) is seeking a Budget & Fiscal Manager to provide strategic leadership in financial planning and budget management for multiple units. They will serve as the financial expert, advising unit leads on the availability of funding for personnel and operational changes.

Position Number

Position Number 4M0452

Department

Department Budget Office

Division

Division University Business Services - Financial Services

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Classified

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary $35.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

The Budget & Fiscal Manager is a member of the University Budget Office, reporting to the University Budget Director. In collaboration with leaders, it sets the strategic financial direction of units within the division, through long-range budget planning and business strategy development. This role partners closely with department decision makers, Fiscal Shared Service ( FSS ) partners, and Human Resources business partners to manage and execute financial operations across the division.

Using data-driven analysis, this individual will provide financial insights that inform strategic decision-making and optimize the use of multiple finding sources. As a key advisor in the budgetary process, the Budget & Fiscal Manager will play a critical role in shaping decisions that directly influence the unit’s financial health and long-term goals. In addition, this role will provide onboarding and ongoing financial training to Business Operation Managers ( BOM ) roles within the unit. 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 unit, managing and advising millions in resources from multiple funding sources.
• Forecast, plan, and oversee the development of annual and long-range budgets, including internal budget models, revenue projections, and expenditure plans.
• Work with unit heads 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 department directors, FSS , and HR partners to ensure alignment between staffing needs and financial resources, including oversight of position budgeting.
• Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to department leaders to support operational activities, strategic planning and accountability.
• Serve as a key liaison for the unit in central budget activities.
• Ensure compliance with MSU and Board of Regents ( BOR ) financial policies and procedures while continually improving financial processes

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.
• Successful 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 teams and stakeholders of all backgrounds, 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.

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?

This position has supervisory duties? No

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date At the conclusion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on October 12, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).