Business Officer

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Business Officer serves as the embedded senior financial leader for multiple divisions. The position leads unit-level financial management, including financial strategy, budget development, forecasting, endowment oversight, internal controls, and compliance. The Business Officer partners with unit leadership and the Senior Business Officer to align financial decisions with institutional priorities and to provide clear, actionable financial guidance. The role also supervises and develops embedded finance staff in a complex, matrixed environment.

For full consideration, please apply by Monday, November 23, 2026, 11:59 PM (MT).

 Essential Job Duties:

• Serve as the embedded senior financial leader for the college or division and the primary finance liaison between the unit and central administrative functions. Partner with unit and Finance leadership on financial strategy, governance, and operational priorities, translating complex financial information into clear recommendations for leadership and non-financial audiences.
• Develop and execute long-range financial strategy, including resource allocation, sustainability analysis, reserve management, endowment expenditure oversight, and scenario planning.
• Lead the annual budget development cycle and maintain multi-year forecasts, financial models, and targets using historical data, current trends, and stakeholder input.
• Ensure sound internal controls, policy compliance, audit readiness, and appropriate application of university, state, federal, GAAP, and GASB requirements.
• Oversee analysis of all fund types and complex funding sources; identify opportunities for revenue growth, cost efficiencies, and optimized fund utilization.
• Supervise, coach, evaluate, and develop embedded finance staff; establish performance expectations, lead onboarding, and foster a collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Maintain financial dashboards and reporting, lead process improvement and change-management efforts, and support data-driven decision making.
• Other Duties as Assigned.

Conditions of Employment:  

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires).

Supervision:

• Directly supervises 4-6 FTE; Directly supervises embedded professional finance staff. Responsibilities include assigning work, setting performance expectations, conducting performance evaluations, coaching and mentoring, onboarding, professional development, and workload prioritization.

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree required in business, accounting, finance, public administration or related field including formal course work through intermediate accounting or four years of demonstrated equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience of professional finance staff including responsibility of completing performance evaluations.
• 3+ years of working with a complex account structure and establishing, reconciling and making recommendations to improve existing structures or establish new ones.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong, comprehensive understanding of internal controls and the ability to analyze and implement effective systems of internal controls.
• Demonstrated understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Evidence of professional communication skills with the ability to speak to all levels of the organization, including the ability to present complex financial information to non-financial audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in finance, business, or a closely related field (such as MBA, MPA, or related) or CPA/CMA certification.
• Higher education or government finance experience.
• Experience with any of the following: endowment accounting, gift compliance, sponsored programs, capital project finance and Fund Accounting or Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB).
• Familiarity with CSU HR systems, budget system, , and central administrative processes
• Track record of process improvement and operational transformation.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in financial management with 5+ years of senior level managerial experience in a complex environment.
• Working knowledge of Federal Uniform Guidance and related compliance requirements.
• Analytical abilities, including the use of Microsoft excel, statistical techniques, financial modeling, data management, and data mining tools.
• Strong organizational and complex problem-solving skills, follow-through and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-layered team environment, as well as autonomously.

Salary Range

$125,000-$150,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.