The Chief Business Officer (CBO) is responsible for strengthening business financial planning, execution, and compliance in alignment with the College’s and University’s strategic goals. The position will lead financial and business matters and direct financial operations including budgeting, accounting and financial support for external grant funding. The CBO provides leadership, oversight and stewardship for all aspects of financial resources while promoting best practices involving finance administration within the College.

Reporting to the College Dean and with secondary reporting to the University’s Associate VP for Finance, the CBO works collaboratively with college leadership in providing strategic advice and recommending and implementing financial and administrative objectives, policies, programs, and practices that ensure a sound financial structure for the College. The CBO keeps the Dean informed about the College’s current financial position and works creatively to help sustain an environment of excellence through collaboration and innovation. In carrying out these responsibilities, the CBO will be expected to continuously evaluate short and long-term strategic financial objectives; produce forecasts and model strategic choices and alternatives; advise on the financial implications of business activities, the costs of strategic priorities, and options for funding strategies that will provide for the realization of the College’s growth.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership
- Develop financial planning processes to prioritize and ensure that short- and long-term financial plans are in alignment with the College’s strategic vision
- Facilitate discussion, provide data/information and work collaboratively with Resource Planning & Allocation and UND’s central finance team to develop recommendations for refinement of resource allocations, budget monitoring, and financial administration and reporting.
- Participate in strategic planning discussions.
- Ensure the provision of adequate, accurate and timely data for strategic decision-making and operational leadership
- Prepare financial and enrollment models that provide for the realization of College goals.
- Apply budgeting knowledge in developing a budgeting process that achieves financial transparency and is true to the values and mission of the College
- Prepare and manage the College’s budget and report variances to the Dean, College Administrative Staff and UND’s central finance team
- Summarize complex financial and non-financial data and provide easy-to-understand analyses.
- Use forecasting techniques and data analytics when evaluating the financial applications of strategic alternatives, thereby increasing decision-makers’ understanding of the risk and rewards of such alternatives.
- Deliver clear and concise analysis and summaries of financial and activity-level data for executive-level review
- Financially advise and provide strategic planning to department-level administrators
- Prepare financial statements, budget models, and respond to special project requests of the Dean.
- Provide mechanisms to track traditional vs online revenues and expenses
- Promote effective communication across the College and between the College and UND’s financial team
- Provide financial and budget transparency for faculty, staff, advisory board, and other constituents as directed.
College Liaison to UND’s Central Finance Team
- Work directly with Resource Planning & Allocation and Associate VP for Finance to ensure the College is operating in an efficient and effective environment.
- Provide strong communication skills in the development of working relationships between and among the financial departments on campus
- Keep College departments abreast of necessary financial information that may impact them because of central finance policies and procedures.
- Review current practices and determine best practices for financial transactions
Financial Support for External Funding
- Provide financial support for grant and contract administration and budgeting by monitoring grant activities and ensuring proper fiscal management and compliance with university and sponsor guidelines
- Provide oversight for budget guidance for faculty preparing applications for external funding
- Provide oversight to assist departments or research teams with the preparation of forms required by UND Grants & Contracts
- Monitor financial impacts of changes to graduate student funding by research grants and contracts
- Provide details with the annual budget process related to grants, contracts, and other external funding managed by the College
- Monitor F&A income to the College
- Advise the Dean and College Administrators when establishing F&A policy and planning for department, Center, and PI level distribution of funds
- Provide oversight for the distribution of funds following College and department-level distribution policies.
Supervision
- Oversee the creation and revision of position descriptions for all members of the finance team to accurately reflect current job duties and expectations
- Oversee the steps involved with hiring, including interviews and selection
- Assign work, set goals, and provide productive feedback on a regular basis. Complete honest and fair probationary and annual evaluation documents. Guide and present corrective action steps as necessary.
- Provide training and access to information necessary for finance staff to successfully perform assigned duties.
- Routinely supervise to ensure appropriate progress on assigned work.
College of Engineering and Mines Core Competencies: The CEM team requires adaptability, a positive outlook and attitude, supports and respects team members, and has tolerance of risk and uncertainty.
- Positive Outlook & Contribution: "Positive outlook" refers to a general tendency to see future possibilities and outcomes in favorable terms.
- Initiative: The person with initiative is ready to take on new challenges and discover new ways to do tasks; he or she pursues high productivity and sets an example for peers.
- Degree of Openness: "Degree of openness" refers to the degree of extent to which a person is receptive to ideas, cultures, and concepts; whether the person is open to new or different experiences.

Required Competencies

Demonstrated strong data processing/analytical skills
Demonstrated high degree of self-direction and motivation
Organizational Leadership Skills
Business Development Skills in confidentiality with sensitive information
Superior written and verbal communication skills, including active listening, critical thinking, and the ability to write and speak concisely and express thoughts clearly across various levels
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work on multiple projects at one time

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics or another business-related field
5 years of senior-level experience in the accounting or finance field
CPA or MBA
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including significantly advanced knowledge of data analysis functions of Excel, including pivot tables, what-if scenarios, etc., with the ability generate a management summary of data
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Financial planning experience in higher education and research-intensive environments
Experience working with PeopleSoft Finance
Experience using PowerBI
Experience with Responsibility Centered Management (RCM)