Director of College Budgets

Title: Director of College Budgets

Department/Location: President’s Office, Elsah, IL

Reporting Relationship: Senior Director of College Business and Operations

Position Type: Full-Time, 12-Month

Summary

Principia is looking for a detail-oriented, diligent, and Director of College Budgets. In this role, you will oversee all aspects of budgeting, financial planning, and financial analysis for the College. Your ability to perform special projects, cost analysis, and audits, as well as develop and manage departmental budgets, will be key to your success. Reporting to the Senior Director of College Business and Operations, you will play a critical role in ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures. You’ll collaborate with department heads, senior leadership, the Finance Team, and other stakeholders to prepare financial reports, provide training, and support budget managers.

Who We Are

At our award-winning pre-K–12 school in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of Alumni & Friends.

At Principia College, our globally-focused curriculum honors diverse perspectives and develops creative changemakers who use their academic skills for good in service to themselves, their communities, and the world. In-depth study meets real-world experience through study abroad programs, internships, capstone projects, and a robust slate of student activities, including a world-renowned mediation team, top-ranked solar car team, and the nation’s oldest student-run public affairs conference.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of budgeting, financial planning and analysis for the College
• Develops and manages the College’s annual budget, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and financial sustainability
• Monitors and analyzes budget performance, providing regular updates and recommendations for adjustments as needed
• Works closely with department heads to develop and manage departmental budgets, analyze financial data, ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures
• Conducts financial forecasting, planning, and analysis to support long-term strategic planning
• Performs cost analysis and audits to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements
• Prepares timely, accurate and complete financial reports and presentations for senior leadership, Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders, reporting on the fiscal, budgetary and operating conditions of the College
• Provides training and support to budget managers on financial processes and policies; ensures budget managers are accountable for their budgets, offering guidance and assistance as needed
• Collaborates with the Finance Team, including the CFO/COO and Shared Services Budget Director, as well as Assistant Head of School at Principia School
• Performs special projects, cost analysis and audits for the Senior Director of College Business and Operations, College President, Accounting, HR and the College Budget Advisory Committee
• Serves as a financial advisor to senior leadership, including Senior Director of College Business and Operations on matters impacting the College’s financial health and sustainability

Core Competencies

7-10 practical competencies required for success in the role

• Team players: Ability to collaborate and partner with peers and senior leaders is critical, with an ability to listen, give and receive feedback, and be comfortable exchanging ideas and speaking candidly in a professional and collegial manner
• Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions of others; inspires respect and trust; accepts feedback from others; provides vision and inspiration to peers and direct reports; gives appropriate recognition to others; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; promotes a positive work environment.
• Communication: Provides regular, consistent, and meaningful information. Listens carefully to others and ensures message is understood. Ensures important matters are shared with all appropriate parties. Communicates in a clear and concise manner. Tailors communication style to needs of the recipient.
• Project Management: Monitors status of projects, thoroughly deals with project details, holds project owners and participants accountable, delivers clear, accurate depiction of status
• Analytical: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data
• Planning and Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; manages multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
• Quality: Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness
• Inclusion: Demonstrates awareness and respect of cultural and individual values. Treats all people with dignity, respect, and fairness, embracing diversity and valuing differences. Contributes to the development of an inclusive culture, where each person is accepted, feels like they belong, and has the opportunity to grow and develop.

Minimum Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/mission
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 5-8 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, preferably within an educational institution or similar environment
• Proven experience in budgeting, financial reporting, and cost analysis
• Experience with financial software and data analysis tools
• Optional but beneficial certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary range for this position: $90,000-$110,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Equal Opportunity

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.

In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.