Position Title: Budget & Finance Specialist IV Job Group: Professional & Scientific Required Minimum
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of related experience Job Description: The Iowa State University Department of Residence is seeking a qualified Budget and Finance Specialist IV to serve as the department's senior financial leader and a key member of the leadership team. This position provides strategic financial guidance for a complex auxiliary enterprise, partnering with departmental leadership to support long-range planning, sound fiscal management, and informed decision-making. The Department of Residence is one of the largest non-academic departments on campus. Our residence life, facilities, administrative and business services, marketing, and conference staff work to ensure a supportive learning and social environment where students can thrive as they pursue their Iowa State adventure. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to develop and forecast multi-year budgets that support the department's long-term fiscal health while maintaining flexibility to address unexpected financial needs. They will be skilled at gathering and analyzing complex financial information, synthesizing data into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership, and applying critical thinking and creative problem-solving to identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, reallocation of resources, and maximization of funding for strategic priorities. Examples of
Duties
Strategic Financial Planning and Leadership Serve as the senior financial officer and strategic advisor for a complex auxiliary enterprise, providing financial leadership and guidance to departmental leadership. Develop and manage long-range financial strategies, including multi-year financial forecasting, revenue and expense modeling, and evaluation of staffing, operational, and organizational decisions. Create, analyze, and maintain comprehensive financial models and projections to support budget planning, rate development, capital planning, and strategic decision-making. Collaborate with campus partners to gather and analyze data related to enrollment trends, occupancy projections, operating costs, and institutional priorities. Develop financial recommendations and scenarios for presentation to university leadership, student representatives, and state governing bodies. Evaluate major financial commitments, capital investments, contracts, and operational changes to ensure alignment with long-term financial goals. Financial Reporting, Analysis, and Process Improvement Oversee financial reporting systems and processes to ensure accurate budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Supervise and provide direction to financial staff responsible for reporting, data management, and analysis. Develop and maintain financial reports, dashboards, and analyses to support leadership decision-making and organizational accountability. Analyze financial trends, variances, and risks to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend mitigation strategies. Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance and fiscal integrity. Support internal and external reporting requirements, audits, surveys, and financial reviews. Administrative and Financial Oversight Provide oversight of cash flow management, reserve planning, debt obligations, and overall financial sustainability. Support capital planning and facility improvement initiatives through financial analysis and budget review. Review and analyze contracts, vendor agreements, and operational commitments to evaluate financial impact and identify efficiencies. Partner with campus stakeholders to improve business processes, enhance operational effectiveness, and implement best practices. Identify and resolve data issues, improve reporting accuracy, and strengthen financial systems and processes. Ensure compliance with university policies, Board of Regents requirements, and applicable financial regulations.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience serving as a senior financial leader, providing strategic financial guidance and partnering with executive leadership to support organizational goals within a complex organization or auxiliary enterprise.
Experience
leading long-range financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue modeling to support strategic decision-making, fiscal sustainability, and operational priorities. Demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, reporting, and presentation, including preparing complex financial analyses and recommendations for executive leadership, governing boards, and other stakeholders. Strong knowledge of financial management practices, including budget oversight, cash flow planning, reserve management, fiscal stewardship, and compliance with applicable state, federal, and institutional policies and regulations.
Experience
with higher education auxiliary operations and financial systems, including Workday or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, in support of budgeting, reporting, and operational decision-making. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. Application Instructions: To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: Resume/Curriculum Vitae Letter of Application/Cover Letter Why Choose Iowa State University? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as: Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) Life insurance and long-term disability Flexible Spending Accounts Various voluntary benefits and discounts Employee Assistance Program Wellbeing program Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager. If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Appointment Type: Regular Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period Time Type: Full time Pay Grade: PS812 Original Posting Date: July 29, 2026 Posting Close Date: August 12, 2026 Job Requisition Number: R19643 Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu. General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications. Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub. By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities. Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community. Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work. All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu. If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942. General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.