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Cornell Research & Innovation announces a search for a Director of Finance & Budget. Well-qualified candidates will be strategic thinkers possessing strong experience with complex budget development, long-range financial planning and forecasting, and translation of financial data into clear and cohesive reports within a higher education environment.
As Director of Finance & Budget, you will provide financial leadership for multi-million dollar operating and capital budgets that support transformative research initiatives. You will lead a team of high-performing finance professionals and will partner closely with divisional and university leadership to ensure prudent stewardship of resources, strong decision support, and clear communication of financial performance and strategy.
Key responsibilities include:
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Overseeing and managing Research & Innovation’s annual capital and operating budgeting process, managing all aspects and components of the budget, ensuring accuracy and compliance with University Budget Office (UBO) guidelines, and providing guidance to administrative directors in the development of complex research center budgets
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Partnering with administrative units and research centers to develop, manage, and monitor operating budgets across a range of financial activities and funding sources
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Implementing and managing UBO initiatives, serving as Research & Innovation’s principal liaison to the University Budget Officers Group (UBOG), and representing the division in all budget planning and policy discussions
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Managing and producing divisional financial reporting, monthly budget‑to‑actual analyses, and forecasting
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Collaborating annually to prepare and publish the institution-wide Cornell Annual Research Expenditure (ARE) financial reporting
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Leading and developing finance staff, clearly communicating expectations, providing performance feedback, and fostering continuous growth and satisfaction
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Driving positive change by identifying, designing, and implementing process improvements to enhance and innovate financial support services
As part of the Cornell community, you will help foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.
About Us
Cornell Research & Innovation enables and advances the University’s research priorities as well as research activities of Cornell colleges, schools, and research centers, institutes, and laboratories. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research houses the R&I Finance & Budget Team, which includes a Post Award Finance Group and a Service Facility Finance Group. R&I Finance provides leadership in budgeting, financial reporting, and post‑award financial management.
The team delivers comprehensive financial support to research‑enabling administrative units—including the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, Pre‑Award Research Operations, Research Development, Innovation, and R&I operating units—as well as to faculty and researchers, with a particular focus on complex or multidisciplinary research centers. R&I Finance, in collaboration with central partners, oversees research expenditure reporting and advances institution‑wide financial initiatives across Research & Innovation.
What We Need
Send us a cover letter and resume outlining your interest in this position and explaining how your experience and qualifications match the position requirements. Your letter is an important component of your application. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:
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Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
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7-10 years of experience in financial management, reporting, analysis, forecasting, and complex budget development and monitoring, especially within higher education
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Experience supervising and developing staff, including serving as a mentor and guiding staff through change
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Excellent customer service skills and demonstrated ability to communicate with a broad range of people at different organizational levels
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Demonstrated attention to detail, organizational skills, and prioritization skills
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Experience connecting inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing practices to business goals
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Proven ability to interpret and apply policy and procedures consistently and thoughtfully
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Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure and to use good judgment in accomplishing matters that are urgent, sensitive, or confidential
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Proven leadership skills, including the ability to negotiate, advocate with tact and diplomacy, and work effectively as part of a team
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Comfortable working in an environment where change in process and procedures is the norm
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Ability to synthesize and translate financial data and institutional requirements clearly and concisely for different audiences
Additionally, although not required, we would like to see clear evidence of:
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Master’s degree (e.g., MBA) and/or CPA or additional education or training in finance or accounting
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Significant prior work experience in higher education, including knowledge and understanding of sponsored research environments, administration of restricted gifts and endowment income, and management of institutional commitments
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Experience using systems utilized by Cornell, including Longview Budget System, Kuali Financial System, Oracle Analytics Server, and Workday
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Experience implementing new systems and financial reporting dashboards
Rewards and Benefits
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This position is located in Ithaca, New York on the campus of Cornell University. The position is eligible for a hybrid working arrangement with work on campus required at least three days per week. Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
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Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
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Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
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Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
University Job Title:
Mgr Finance III
Job Family:
Fin/Budget/Planning
Level:
H
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Pay Range:
$143,454.00 - $175,332.00
Remote Option Availability:
Hybrid
Company:
Endowed
Contact Name:
Kathy McKee
Contact Email:
[email protected]
Job Titles and Pay Ranges:
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2026-03-27
