Budget Officer

Purpose:

Assists in the development of the university's annual operating budgets, oversight of the university's annual budgets, preparation of budget status information, and reconciliation of payroll liability accounts. Processes personnel action forms and position authorizations to verify positions and budget; maintains salary savings and a vacancy listing. Revises the budget as needed and approves all budget transfers. Assists the Vice President of Administration and Finance in budget planning and analysis activities. Assists with accounting related analysis and implementation and support for Colleague software initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assists in preparing the university's annual operating budgets by applying methods, models, and other decision support systems.
• Sets up budget information in Colleague and prepares salary budget information, coordinates the development of the budget worksheets by working with the Vice President of Administration and Finance, loads the board-approved budget into Colleague, and manages the budget process required in the Colleague system.
• Maintains the accuracy of budget information by creating and assigning new account numbers, reviewing, and approving budget transfers, researching, and analyzing data, creating, and maintaining the position budget spreadsheets.
• Ensures budgetary controls by reviewing budgets with deficit balances, preparing budget changes, and reviewing/approving personnel changes.
• Prepares various reports and statistical data outlining the university's financial position by collecting, organizing, and analyzing financial data for the preparation of the operating budget.
• Completes monthly payroll liability reconciliation and assists with the year-end procedures and audit workpapers, along with other accounting related analysis.
• Assists in training new departmental budget officers in Colleague screens and report processes.
• Assists in the establishment of system-wide policies and procedures which ensure that resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner by the University.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Business Administration, or similar field with emphasis in Accounting or Finance from an accredited institution required. Master's degree preferred.
• Four years of experience in budget management, fiscal operations or similar experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics:

1. Analytical skills, particularly regarding budget/finance.
2. Ability to plan, organize, and carry out overly complex assignments.
3. Ability to manage numerous projects of varying priorities.
4. Ability to interpret and enforce university policies and procedures related to budget.
5. Ability to work effectively with administrators, department heads, directors, and staff.
6. Ability to provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation.
7. Proficiency with Excel, Colleague, and reporting software.

Physical Demands:

• Light sedentary office work.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Lincoln University. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

Salary : $52,000 - $57,609