Budget Manager - Christian University
yewserCosta Mesa (CA)
About the role
Budget Manager We are a private, faith-based institution committed to academic excellence and spiritual formation. We are a Christ-centered learning community that seeks to cultivate intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, and a life of purpose. Our Finance Office plays a critical role in stewarding the resources that support this mission. We are seeking a Budget Manager with higher education experience to join our Finance team. This position is a rare opportunity to be mentored over several months by our outgoing Senior Budget Manager, who is retiring after 15 years of faithful service. The selected candidate will work closely with them to learn all aspects of budget development and financial operations, with a full transition of responsibilities in January 2026.The Budget Manager will lead institutional budgeting efforts, conduct financial analysis and forecasting, prepare regular and ad hoc reports, and serve as a key advisor to department heads across campus. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
Key Responsibilities:
- Partner with departments across the university to develop, monitor, and refine annual and long-term budgets
- Analyze financial trends and provide data-driven recommendations to support strategic initiatives
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, dashboards, and variance analyses
- Lead forecasting and scenario planning exercises, maintaining alignment with the university's mission and priorities
- Support grant and endowment fund budgeting and reporting
- Mentor and train finance staff in budgeting tools and processes
- Facilitate financial training and workshops for non-financial managers across campus
- Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations related to financial management
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field 35+ years of experience in budgeting/financial analysis within a college or university
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to translate complex financial data into accessible insights
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally and build trust with diverse stakeholders
Before you apply
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