Director of Finance and Administration, Barton School of Business

Department: Barton School of Business

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Starting salary of $65,757 commensurate with experience.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8-5pm (evenings as needed or schedule adjusted based on needs of dept)

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

A new program is proposed. A center wants to grow. A donor wants to fund an idea. A department needs support.
Before Barton can decide what to do, someone has to make the numbers clear.

At the W. Frank Barton School of Business, the Director of Finance and Administration plays that role. This position sits close to the choices that shape the School’s direction.

Working with the Dean and senior leaders, the Director leads financial planning, resource allocation, and administrative strategy. The work includes tracking, forecasting, and optimizing state, restricted, and foundation funds while strengthening revenue generation across departments, centers, and programs.

We are looking for someone who can build models, see the tradeoffs, ask the right questions, and move decisions forward.

Be the Dean’s Financial Partner
Turn Numbers into Decisions
Build the School’s Financial Model
Guide Resource Allocation
Strengthen Revenue and Funding
Connect Budgets, People, and Programs
Work Across the University
See What’s Coming

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here

Someone who likes complex problems with visible consequences. You may come from higher education, finance, administration, or another organization where budgets, people, systems, and priorities have to work together.

You can read the fund balance, build the projection, test the scenario, and explain what it means. You can work across departments, centers, university offices, and external partners while keeping Barton’s priorities clear.

You are not waiting to be told what to examine. You notice where the improve, where the numbers do not answer the question, where a funding source creates opportunity, and where a decision needs better information.

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

• Monitor departmental budget expenditures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with strategic priorities
• Meet weekly with the Dean to review financial status, priorities, and upcoming needs
• Prepare and provide financial reports and analysis to support leadership decision-making
• Process and approve expenditures across state, restricted, and foundation accounts
• Monitor foundation endowments, scholarship activity, and fund balances
• Supervise and support work to ensure efficient daily operations
• Review, manage, and approve faculty and staff additional compensation and related payroll actions
• Complete monthly reconciliations for state and foundation accounts
• Continually assess the short- and long-term financial health of the BSB College and recommend proactive adjustments as needed

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:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Proven record of strategic problem-solving, operational excellence, and innovation
  strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse stakeholders
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and financial management systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• Experience in financial management, budgeting, or administration in a complex organization
• Experience in higher education financial systems and foundation fund management

Additional Information:

This role is housed within the BSB college & not a position that has financial oversight or influence for the whole university.

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: