CES Finance Director

The University of New Mexico is seeking an experienced and strategic financial leader to serve as Campus Environments Services (CES) Finance Director. CES is a large, operationally complex division responsible for many of the services, infrastructure, and environments that make the University work every day. Its portfolio includes organizations with diverse financial operating models—from institutional and service-supported operations to revenue-generating and cost-recovery units—and significant responsibilities related to operating budgets, capital investment, asset stewardship, and long-term financial sustainability. The Finance Director will oversee and integrate financial planning, budgeting, reporting, analysis, controls, and financial services across the division. This position will build and lead a high-performing CES finance organization while developing strong partnerships with unit leaders and ensuring that financial practices reflect both University requirements, State reporting needs, and the distinct operating realities of individual CES units. This is an opportunity for an accomplished finance professional to build systems, develop people, influence major institutional decisions, and establish a financial services model that will have a lasting impact on one of UNM's largest and most operationally diverse organizations. What You'll Do Lead CES Financial Strategy and Stewardship Provide executive-level leadership for CES budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, analysis, and fiscal oversight. Develop financial strategies that support CES priorities, operational sustainability, institutional stewardship, and long-range planning. Translate complex financial information into meaningful analysis and recommendations for executive and operational leaders. Develop sophisticated financial models, forecasts, scenario analyses, and decision-support tools to evaluate operational choices, investments, funding needs, and financial risk. Prepare and contribute to high-level financial analyses and reports for University executive leadership, the Board of Regents, the State of New Mexico, and other governmental or institutional stakeholders. Build an Integrated CES Finance Organization Lead the implementation and continued development of CES's centralized financial services model. Provide leadership, technical supervision, workload coordination, training, and professional development for financial managers and staff supporting CES units. Establish consistent financial standards, tools, timelines, reporting practices, and expectations across the division. Strengthen cross-training and knowledge sharing to create a resilient finance organization that is not dependent on individual staff members or unit-specific practices. Develop a strong finance team with clear accountability, high professional standards, and a shared commitment to excellent service. Create Reliable, Decision-Ready Financial Reporting Establish consistent approaches to budget development, forecasting, reconciliations, financial modeling, internal service unit reporting, quarterly profit-and-loss reporting, and executive financial reporting. Ensure financial information is accurate, timely, transparent, and comparable while recognizing the different business models, revenue structures, cost drivers, risks, and performance measures across CES. Oversee financial systems, processes, and controls necessary to effectively manage funds, revenues, and expenditures. Ensure compliance with University policies, generally accepted financial and accounting practices, and applicable State of New Mexico and higher education requirements. Strengthen internal controls, audit readiness, reconciliation practices, and fiscal accountability. Serve as a Strategic Partner to CES Leaders Work closely with CES executives, AVPs, directors, and operational leaders on budgeting, forecasting, staffing proposals, service changes, rate development, funding requests, and other decisions with significant financial implications. Help unit leaders understand the financial implications of operational decisions and develop sustainable financial strategies. Provide analysis and recommendations while preserving the responsibility of unit leadership to establish operational priorities, service expectations, staffing needs, and unit-level strategies. Identify emerging financial risks and opportunities and work collaboratively with leaders to develop corrective actions and solutions. Advocate for CES resource needs through credible financial analysis, forecasting, and institutional financial planning. Drive Improvement and Institutional Alignment Evaluate and improve financial processes, systems, policies, and operating practices across CES. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, increase efficiency, strengthen controls, and improve the quality of financial decision-making. Represent CES on University financial planning committees and contribute to institutional discussions regarding financial systems, policies, and practices. Participate with executive and senior leadership in establishing short- and long-range organizational goals and evaluating financial and operational effectiveness. Promote a culture of continuous improvement, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and responsible stewardship.