Job Details

Associate Director of Budget and Finance

Position Number: 9734922
Location: Boulder, United States
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Associate Director of Budget and Finance

Requisition Number: 73863
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 12-Aug-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Associate Director (AD) of Budget and Finance reports to the Budget and Finance Senior Director. The AD directs both the Leeds Budget team and the Leeds Accounting and Procurement (A/P) team (i.e. "Leeds Budget and Finance"). This position provides high level fiscal and analytical support for the school, assisting with strategic visioning for the budget and A/P functions at Leeds, and managing the collaboration and coordination between the Leeds budget and A/P teams.

The AD has independent decision-making authority regarding Leeds budget and finance matters and manages the everyday budget and A/P processes for the school. The AD is second in charge of budget and finance operations upon the absence of the Director or for other reasons as deemed necessary, including decision-making regarding spending, work allotment and prioritization to other FTEs within the unit, and advisement to senior leadership of the school.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At Leeds, we have an outstanding vantage point, and while we're located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, we're not talking about the scenery. Set in the heart of Boulder, Colorado-one of the nation's most vibrant business communities-Leeds offers unparalleled access to world-changing entrepreneurs, national research institutions and award-winning faculty!

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Operational Budget and Finance Management

Lead the Leeds Budget department, by supervising budget staff; collaborating with and providing direction for unit budget managers; planning and implementing the annual budget process; administering the school operating budget; and ensuring the accuracy of Leeds budget data and reporting.
Lead the Leeds A/P department, by supervising the A/P Manager; providing high-level direction for the A/P team; leading efficiency-improvement and standardization efforts, providing guidance on policy and raised issues; and ensuring proper maintenance of all accounting systems and processes.
Ensure excellent communication and collaboration between Leeds budget and finance teams.
Support Associate Deans, Chairs, Directors, and unit budget managers by providing sound budget and finance guidance and answering policy questions by interpreting and referring to appropriate Leeds and University guideline and policies.
Maintain an in-depth understanding of each unit's unique budget and A/P circumstances and requirements, developing and maintaining strong working relationships with Leeds budget managers.
Direct Leeds' year-end process.
Review and approve high-level transactions in CU Boulder financial systems.
Guide the budget/AP's collaboration with the Leeds HR team, as well as the Leeds Advancement team.
Independently manage deadlines, and ensure relevant deadlines are shared with the team and achieved.

Budget and A/P Team Supervision

Provide oversight for and supervise Leeds budget team staff and the Leeds A/P Manager.
Engage budget and finance teams in priority setting and collaborative problem-solving.
Mentor, coach, and ensure professional development opportunities for budget and finance team staff; managing work allocation, training, problem resolution, performance management, and the building of an effective team dynamic.
Provide leadership through regular communication including team meetings and regular one on one's, active goal setting, and routine coaching to model and promote behavior that aligns with school's core values.

Budget Monitoring, Data Analysis, and Reporting

Supervise budget team reporting and forecasting, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of routine and ad hoc reports.
Lead budget meetings for Leeds unit budget managers.
Monitor budgets for over- and under-spending; notify Budget and Finance Senior Director of potential issues.
Compile and analyze finance and HR data at the request of Budget and Finance Senior Director and the Associate Dean of Administration.
Prepare financial and HR reports for the Budget and Finance Senior Director, the Associate Dean of Administration, and unit budget managers.
Work closely with unit budget managers to maintain accurate forecasting reports and budget projections.
Assist Budget and Finance Senior Director in ongoing efforts to develop and streamline reports for unit budget managers and senior leadership.
Support special budget and finance projects as needed.

Strategy and Process Improvement

Provide strategic input for Leeds budget and finance operational processes and goals.
Develop appropriate financial and administrative processes and policies to support operations, requiring a complex understanding of Leeds departments and leadership goals.
Collaborate with Budget and Finance Senior Director on updates to budget and finance technology and new software implementation.
Recommend changes to reporting formats, frequency, and scope to better achieve reporting objectives.

What You Should Know

This position offers a hybrid modality, with 3+ days per week in the office.
Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Very rarely this position will require evening and weekend work hours as well as travel.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $104,000-$115,000. Relocation is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be strategic. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
4+ years' relevant professional experience in finance, accounting, data analysis, and reporting.
Experience with Human Resource Information Systems and Finance, and financial reporting software.
3+ years of experience in a supervisory position.
Expert experience with ad hoc query tools such as Microsoft Excel, with the ability to manipulate large data sets from multiple sources and using macros, formulas, pivots, etc. to summarize and organize it appropriately, succinctly, and accurately.

What You Will Need

Demonstrated skills in financial and budgetary analysis.
A thorough understanding of budget and accounting principles in a university system and the ability to perform complex financial analyses.
Critical thinking and problem solving skills, specifically in regards to organizing, integrating information and making recommendations within a highly complex organization structure.
Ability to successfully supervise multiple teams.
Ability to lead, plan, organize and implement accounting and budgetary principles.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing in both informal and formal settings.
Demonstrated ability to guide and inspire team towards organizational goals.
Analytical skills including experience with computer office products and software used in financial analysis, gathering data, and preparation of high-quality presentations.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Demonstrable expertise in comparative data analysis, including charting and trending.
Ability to maintain strong working relationships with faculty and staff amidst changing circumstances.
Ability to independently manage deadlines for themselves and ability to effectively communicate deadlines to the team while ensuring the team's deadlines are met.
Ability to interpret complex University policies and procedures, and to take the initiative to evaluate existing processes and procedures, and when necessary, revise or develop new procedures in order to increase operational efficiencies.
Passionate about growing and developing employees to reach their full potential.
Promotes creating an inclusive environment to reflect our values and vision at Leeds.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time. Please apply by August 12, 2026 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Associate-Director-of-Budget-and-Finance/73863