Vice President and Chief Budget Officer

ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER

The Vice President and Chief Budget Officer (VP/CBO), a critical executive position, serves as the principal architect and steward of the University's budget strategy and resource allocation model across five campuses, with an annual operating budget of approximately $5 billion. In this role, the VP/CBO is also a highly visible institutional leader who represents, explains, and communicates the University's budget strategy, process, and decisions to internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students, the Board of Regents, state leaders, and the broader public.

The VP/CBO serves as the strategic thought partner to the President, Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations, Executive Vice President and Provost, and other senior leaders, and is expected to bring judgment, candor, and creativity to complex decisions that balance academic excellence, affordability, compensation competitiveness, and long-term financial health. This role requires a dynamic leader capable of navigating a complex, distributed, and highly collaborative environment, and translating strategic vision into multi-year operational plans.

In addition to technical and strategic leadership, the VP/CBO plays a central role as the University's authoritative budget educator and communicator. This includes serving as a trusted resource to faculty, staff, and shared governance bodies, ensuring that budget decisions and tradeoffs are clearly articulated, and representing the University's budget priorities credibly and transparently to state policymakers and external audiences. The ability to communicate complex budget information with clarity, nuance, and integrity is an essential dimension of this role.

Executive Responsibilities

The VP/CBO is responsible for the comprehensive planning, analysis, execution, and oversight of the University's operating budget. Key areas of focus include:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Architect and govern the University's comprehensive budget model, advising executive leadership on resource allocation, financial policy, and long-term fiscal sustainability.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial planning processes and lead the identification and practical implementation of new financial strategies to optimize resource deployment.
• Consult with the Board of Regents, executive leadership, Deans, and governing bodies to ensure budget principles and the President's recommended annual operating budget reflect institutional priorities.
• Develop and maintain Board and administrative policies related to budget management.
• Direct the preparation and articulation of the University's external operating budget requests, serving as the primary operating budget liaison to the State of Minnesota.
• Consult on the planning and execution of the annual capital improvement budget to incorporate relevant impacts into development of the annual operating budget.
• Consult on the development and execution of capital financing strategies and provide support to the issuance of University debt.
• Serve as a member of the Executive Budget Committee with the Executive Vice Presidents of the University to lead all University units through a robust annual operating budget development process culminating in detailed recommendations to the University President on all components of the annual budget.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Finance / Assistant CFO and the University Chief Investment Officer to develop institutional financial strategies and exercise oversight of University financial assets.

Budget Execution and Oversight

• Lead the development, preparation, and presentation of all internal and external operating budget materials, ensuring clarity, transparency, and strategic alignment.
• Oversee institution-level financial forecasting, analysis, and reporting activities, providing actionable intelligence to manage University resources effectively.
• Work with the Chief Financial Managers of all five campuses and administrative units to develop, deliver, and implement the University's annual operating budget.
• Partner with the Vice President of Finance / Assistant CFO to ensure rigorous internal controls and coordinate interfaces with the Controller's office, HR/Payroll, and Benefits and Student Finance, and others to safeguard data integrity and compliance.
• In conjunction with the Institutional Data and Research team, direct the compilation of required statistical data for management and financial reporting across all five campuses and administrative units.
• Identify programmatic and budgetary issues and solution options affecting the University of Minnesota and individual academic and support units.
• Work with the Auxiliary units and the Internal Sales Office to understand the financial status of these organizations, including their rate development status and levels of rate subsidies; determine where there are problems or issues that senior leadership should be aware of and options for solving those problems.
• Oversight of distributions from the institutional income reserve, Enterprise Assessment distributions, centrally held investment pools, balance reviews, fiscal pages, statutorily required reports to the State of Minnesota, the Administrative Overhead Report, the PeopleSoft system budget entry module, and responses to ad hoc financial questions from University and external constituents.
• Provide oversight of institution-level fees and the fee development process for all campuses and administrative units.
• Manage the University's complex fringe benefit rate process, including coordinating the development and submission of rates to the cognizant federal agency, evaluating and recommending benefit modifications, and overseeing allocations from internal administration pools.
• Train internal and external audiences on the University's budget, the budget process, and the budget model used for decision-making.
• Present, explain, and demystify the University's budget, budget process, and budget model for internal and external audiences, translating complex financial structures into clear, accessible information that fosters understanding, trust, and accountability among stakeholders.

Talent Management

• Provide leadership and mentorship to the University Budget Office staff, fostering a culture of excellence, development, and high performance, and ensuring robust talent retention strategies are in place.
• Grow and develop the University Budget Office staff, emphasizing strong analytical and forecasting skills.
• Partner with the Vice President of Finance / Assistant CFO to provide dotted-line leadership and mentorship to the Chief Financial Managers of all five campuses and administrative units, fostering a culture of trust and excellence in financial management.

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree (in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field).
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible, large-scale financial planning, budgeting, or resource management leadership experience within a large, complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct, senior-level experience with budgeting and financial management in a leading public or private research university, academic medical center, or similarly complex, mission-driven institution.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-billion dollar operating budgets and providing strategic financial leadership in a highly decentralized environment.
• Familiarity with various resource allocation and budget models (e.g., Responsibility Center Management, Activity-Based Budgeting) that support both academic excellence and operational efficiency.
• Experience in a shared governance environment, demonstrating the ability to build consensus and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and student leadership. Demonstrated ability to communicate complex budget concepts clearly and credibly to diverse audiences, including faculty, governing bodies, policymakers, and the public.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The University of Minnesota (UMN) is a comprehensive, land-grant public research university ranked among the world's most respected institutions of higher learning. UMN has scholars of national and international reputation and a strong tradition of education and public engagement. With 70,000 students enrolled across five campuses located throughout Minnesota-the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and Rochester-UMN advances discovery and innovation to improve society for all. The University is a proud member of the Association of American Universities and has the special distinction of being both a globally engaged R1 research institution and Minnesota's land-grant university, creating a unique capacity and responsibility to improve the lives of Minnesotans and drive the state forward.

The University's five distinct campuses serve all regions of the state. Each campus has unique strengths, enriched by its surrounding communities. The Chancellors of the greater Minnesota campuses report directly to the President and work in close collaboration with Cabinet members to achieve systemwide goals. UMN staff and faculty focus on meeting the needs of each student, supporting them through worldclass programming, academics, and hands-on experiences. As community engagement is a vital part of the University of Minnesota's mission, work extends beyond the campuses. From community-partnered research and outreach centers and extension offices to community-based field projects, health clinics, and environmental and agricultural projects, UMN faculty, students, and staff work together with communities throughout Minnesota and the globe.

UNIVERSITY BUDGET OFFICE

The University Budget Office is central to the attainment of UMN's mission, managing the complex biennial budgeting process and guided by principles to:

• Advance Quality and Competitiveness through targeted and timely investment.
• Compensate, Support, and Retain world-class faculty and staff.
• Grow and Stabilize Revenues through strategic action.
• Enhance Financial Access and affordability for students.
  

Pay Range: $275,000 - $400,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-minnesota/vice-president-and-chief-budget-officer

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).