Department: College of Engineering

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Range beginning $66,000/yr negotiated upon qualifications

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (ability to flex schedule as needed)

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t just track a budget you understand what it’s telling you, where it’s going, and how to make it work smarter, this role is built for you.

We’re looking for a financial leader who can operate comfortably at two altitudes: zoomed out, helping shape the long-term direction of the college, and zoomed in, ensuring every dollar, process, and decision aligns with that vision. Not on sitting on the sidelines, you're in the mix, partnering across departments within the college, advising leadership, and making sure strategy and execution actually connect. It’s about building something that runs well, makes sense, and supports the people doing the work.

We’re Looking for Someone Who…

• Thinks like a strategist but executes like an operator, you can build the plan carrying out the Dean's vision and make it work day-to-day, with all the key players.
  
• You see gaps, anticipate needs, and step in with solutions.
  
• Is highly organized and detail-driven but never loses sight of the bigger picture.
  
• Communicates financial information in a way people actually understand (and can act on).
  
• Builds strong, respectful relationships and is seen as approachable, reliable, and collaborative.
  
• Comfortable navigating complex systems, funding sources, and competing priorities without getting overwhelmed.
  
• Understands how higher education operates or is motivated to learn it quickly and thoroughly.
• Takes pride in being the person others trust to “figure it out” and keep things moving.

If you’re ready to step into a role where you’re not just managing numbers but helping lead what comes next for the College of Engineering, we want to hear from you!

Job Summary

Provides leadership, expertise and strategic planning for the operations and financial direction of a college. Creates and maintains the financial and operational infrastructure to be responsive to all areas of the college. Creates financial analysis tools to predict future financial revenue and expenditures.

Essential Functions

Promotes operational and fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the college by providing technical assistance and analysis in planning, developing, administering, and monitoring the budget process and operational procedures. Creates financial models based on analyses to support organizational decision making. Gathers data, organizes information, analyzes historical results, makes forecasts and projections, makes recommendations, and creates models, presentations, and reports to support and explain financial strategies. Represents the college on university-level financial and budgeting committees. Assesses how departments within the college are performing and makes recommendations to improve their processes. Provides consulting and oversight for departments in strategic financial planning. May develop budgets and financial reporting best practices for the college. Aligns college and/or department practices with University standards. Performs a variety of professional and administrative duties that facilitate the operational and financial strategies of the college.

Job Duties

What You’ll Do:
Own the Financial Pulse of the College
Oversee budgeting, expenditures, and financial operations across departments—ensuring resources are aligned with priorities and nothing falls through the cracks.
Be a Strategic Partner to Leadership
Work closely with the Dean and college leadership to translate financial data into clear, actionable insights that guide decisions now and into the future.
Make Complexity Make Sense
Interpret university financial systems, reporting, and funding streams (including grants and institutional funding) and turn them into usable, understandable guidance for stakeholders.
Keep Operations Running Smoothly
Ensure bills are paid, budgets are balanced, and financial processes are efficient, compliant, and continuously improving.
Support Departments as a Trusted Resource
Serve as the go-to for budget planning, funding questions, and financial strategy—helping teams understand what’s possible and how to get there.
Oversee Systems, Processes, and Alignment
Manage internal workflows and financial systems to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with university policies and priorities.
Guide Smart Growth
Help ensure hiring, projects, and initiatives are financially sustainable and aligned with the college’s broader goals.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or related field
• Five (5) years of experience in budget, finance or related field

Required License/Certifications/Training:

None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of higher education finance and budgeting, including fund accounting, revenue streams, and expenditure controls
• Able to develop, administer, and monitor complex budgets, providing regular reporting & financial health of the College to leadership
• Skilled in financial analysis, including forecasting, scenario modeling, and variance analysis
• Knowledgeable with strategic planning and aligning financial resources with institutional priorities

Preferred Qualifications:

• University policies &/or higher education, compliance requirements, and governance structures
• Data analysis and reporting tools used to support strategic decision‑making

Additional Information:

N/A

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information.

Additional Physical Requirement: