Assistant Vice President, Budget
Capitalizing on over 140 years of history and tradition in downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) has embarked on an unprecedented period of expansion. USC is now poised to take its place as the preeminent research institution of the 21st century and we are looking for skilled, motivated professionals to help forge the future of higher education.
The USC Finance Division: O ffice of Budget and Planning is seeking an experienced, strategic-minded Assistant Vice President, Budget with strong financial acumen and visionary leadership capabilities to join its team.
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, the Assistant Vice President, Budget is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction in the planning and development of several university finance areas, according to the finance vice president’s broad, administrative direction. Oversees university overhead cost allocation from modeling through implementation, financial performance forecasting, and the review, design, and implementation of budget and finance systems. Conducts annual budget hearings with all university schools and major administrative areas. Leads the annual budget process.
The Accountabilities
The Assistant Vice President, Budget:
Establishes university budget parameters, incorporating senior administration and university priorities. Directs and coordinates with the associate university budget director, preparing the budget system and accommodating all relevant data to produce a consolidated budget. Conducts appropriate budget-related meetings with senior vice presidents, vice provosts, vice presidents, academic deans, and senior business officers. Ensures proper preparation, communication, evaluation and accordance testing of all school, healthcare, research, and administrative budgets. Reviews all budgets for technical soundness, adherence to university guidelines and financial integrity. Reviews and presents consolidated budget to relevant stakeholders (e.g., finance vice president, senior vice presidents, chief financial officer). Monitors in-year budget execution and serves as a resource for unit queries and requests for financial analysis assistance. Owns the university administrative cost allocation process.
Participates in short and long-range university fiscal planning and goal setting and coordinates financial reviews of units in fiscal distress. Prepares ad hoc reports and analysis for the finance vice president and other senior administrators.
Conducts annual budget hearings with all university schools and major administrative areas. Works with appropriate budget and treasury staff, contributing to projection of long-range working capital balances, and helping coordinate working capital requirements.
Works with staff to report all expenditures contained in the annual capital plan, supporting the forecasting resources needed for plan implementation. Reviews all capital plan budgets, confirming proper budget resources are identified. Conducts monthly meetings with financial stakeholders, ensuring completeness of information and spending patterns. Oversees preparation of the capital plan report for the finance vice president to be delivered at Finance Committee meetings of the Board of Trustees.
Represents the budget and planning function in university-level initiatives of a financial nature. Collaborates with relevant stakeholders to evaluate, design, and implement various finance systems. Prepares and presents the Responsibility Center Management assessment modeling to senior administration. Monitors collection and deployment of all university assessments to fund appropriate initiatives.
Represents the Office of Budget and Planning and the Finance Vice President in meetings relating to university budgetary matters.
Builds and maintains strong relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders by participating in governance boards, councils, and meetings to understand current and future business needs, and to ensure consistent, reliable services.
Is accountable for the development of team members by helping them set and achieve goals for their career growth. Foster an inclusive environment that values differences and creates a sense of belonging and appreciation for team members. Lead by example, demonstrating strong ethics, high accountability, and actively drive the process of embedding organizational values and behaviors. Create a culture of trust and transparency. Drive best-in-class customer service to USC through effective team member engagement.
As part of the leadership team, is expected to model and cultivate the organizational culture, values, and behaviors within their group.
Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate for the position of Assistant Vice President, Budget meets the following preferred requirements:
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or closely related field
15 years of experience with financial planning concepts
Experience with USC financial policies, procedures, and systems (including knowledge of USC’s methodology defined in its Responsibility Center Management budgeting standards); experience in a central budget office, Provost office, or as a “Senior Business Officer” highly desired
Thorough knowledge of local, state and federal policies and procedures pertaining to budget, travel, accounts payable, procurement, payroll and personnel
Experience with ERP, financial reporting, and human resources systems (e.g., Workday HCM/Finance, Gateway, TEV, UCPath KRONOS, Anaplan, Data Warehouse)
Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates for the position of Assistant Vice President, Budget must meet the following minimum requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
10 years of experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting
Financial experience in a higher education role
Proven experience in a leadership and/or management role, embedding organizational values and behaviors (e.g. ethics, accountability)
Demonstrated experience fostering inclusive environments and a sense of belonging and appreciation for team members that drives best-in-class customer service
Proven strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, able to create cultures of trust and transparency while building strong relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders
Experience presenting technical topics to non-technical audiences, and providing both detailed information and summaries to management-level individuals and groups
Demonstrated experience with government and/or fund accounting, computer simulation and forecasting techniques, and generally accepted accounting principles and practices
Proven ability to interpret, conceptualize, provide clarity, and resolve complex financial data, problems and policies
Excellent analytical, qualitative and data organization skills
The annual base salary range for this position is $209,726.92 - $297,750.12. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
About USC Office of Budget and Planning
The USC Office of Budget and Planning (OBP) provides support to the university’s central administration in resource planning, strategic planning, and manages the university’s budget methodologies that guide formulation of the annual operating budget. OBP’s goal is to ensure sufficient financial resources to meet the university’s current and future needs for maintaining academic and patient care excellence, while propelling new research and discoveries. The OBP fulfills the university’s budget and financial needs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible in a collaborative manner, and delivers useful budget and financial guidance, assists academic units, auxiliary units, and senior leadership in making key financial decisions. The USC Finance Division – Office of Budget and Planning values integrity, excellence, diversity, equity, and inclusion, well-being, open communication, and accountability. Join us – apply today!
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Business Administration Or Bachelor's degree Finance Or Bachelor's degree Economics Or Bachelor's degree Accounting Or Bachelor's degree in related field(s) Minimum Experience: 10 years of experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting. Minimum Skills: Experience with higher education financial policies, procedures, and systems. Proven experience in leadership/management roles, embedding organizational values and behaviors (e.g., ethics, accountability). Demonstrated experience with generally accepted accounting principles and practices, as well as government/fund accounting, computer simulation, and forecasting techniques. Proven ability to interpret, conceptualize, provide clarity on and resolve complex financial data, problems, and policies. Excellent analytical, qualitative, and data organization skills. Demonstrated experience fostering inclusive environments and a sense of belonging and appreciation for team members that drives best-in-class customer service. Proven interpersonal and written/oral communication skills, able to create cultures of trust and transparency while building relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders. Experience presenting technical topics to non-technical audiences, providing both detailed information and summaries to management-level individuals and large groups. Preferred Education: Master's degree Business Administration Or Master's degree Economics Or Master's degree Finance Or Master's degree Accounting Or Master's degree in related field(s) Preferred Experience: 15 years of experience with financial planning concepts. Preferred Skills: Experience with USC financial policies, procedures, and systems. Thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal policies and procedures pertaining to HR, budget, travel, accounts payable, procurement, and payroll. Experience with ERP, financial reporting and HR systems (e.g., Workday, Kuali, Gateway, TEV, UCPath KRONOS, Data Warehouse).
