University Budget Director - University of Puget Sound

University Budget Director

Another Source is excited to partner with the University of Puget Sound on their search for a University Budget Director - a career-defining opportunity for a finance professional ready to move from budget management into institutional financial leadership.

The University Budget Director will play a critical role in shaping the institution's financial future through strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range modeling. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Finance, this highly visible position serves as a key financial partner to executive leadership, supporting institutional decision-making across a $94.6 million operating budget and approximately $500 million endowment portfolio.

This opportunity comes at an exciting time for the University as the finance team modernizes budgeting and forecasting processes, implements a new financial planning platform, and prepares for a planned leadership transition. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to overlap with a highly respected financial leader who has served the institution for more than 26 years, ensuring a thoughtful onboarding experience and strong institutional knowledge transfer.

Learn more about the University of Puget Sound's Office of Finance here:

University of Puget Sound offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package: UPS_NH Benefits Guide-2026 v3.pdf - Google Drive

Salary Range: $115,000 - $130,000 annually, depending on experience. Relocation Assistance Available

The University Budget Director leads the University's financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting functions while serving as the steward of the institution's long-range financial planning model.

Working closely with academic and administrative leaders, the Budget Director develops integrated financial models that support strategic planning, enrollment forecasting, budget development, endowment draw analysis, and long-term financial sustainability. The role translates complex financial data into meaningful projections, scenario analyses, and executive-level recommendations that directly inform institutional strategy.

This position exercises significant independent judgment and requires exceptional accuracy, analytical rigor, and communication skills. The analyses and recommendations produced by this role support executive leadership, Cabinet discussions, budget task force initiatives, and Board-level decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field; CPA preferred
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in financial planning, budgeting, accounting, or related functions, preferably within a private, not-for-profit higher education environment
• Demonstrated expertise in multi-year financial modeling within a tuition- and enrollment-driven operating model, including scenario and sensitivity analysis
• Working knowledge of endowment accounting, draw policies, and investment unitization, or the ability to quickly develop this expertise
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with academic, administrative, and governance stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting complex financial information to senior leadership and boards
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and related tools for financial modeling, analysis, and presentation
• Experience working with enterprise systems (ERP, budgeting, or student information systems) and relational databases
• Familiarity with business intelligence and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau) and core economic and financial concepts relevant to higher education

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA license
• Experience in a higher education or similarly complex non-profit organization.

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a University community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; and that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; and to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; and to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis, to maximize the recruiting process. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.