Budget Manager

Position:  Budget Manager
Position Number: FA0760
Position Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: January 2012
Review of Applications Begins: December 11, 2011 and continues until position is filled.

VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) is the Qatar campus of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, VCUQatar offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Painting & Printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design Studies.  Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from more than 40 different countries.

VCUQatar strives to provide an engaged, learner-centered environment that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation in a global setting. The university hosts the biennial international design conference Tasmeem Doha and supports the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Islamic Art Symposium, attracting globally recognized designers, academics and thinkers while fostering sustainable, university-community partnerships that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar.  The university has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth. It has established itself as a center of excellence for education and research in art and design.

VCUQatar has 131 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of 249. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre campus community. The university has since been joined by Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.

Qatar is a liberal, hospitable and progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. English is the standard second language and the population of Qatar is approximately 1.65 million and growing – 350,000 Qatari, the remainder expatriates. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, and also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (MATHAF) opened in 2010. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

Position Description:

This strategic position for Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQatar) supports a variety of budget development, fiscal and operational activities for the institution.  The Budget Manager will be adept at articulating complex budget information to a diverse professional community in the form of concise visual and written communication (graphs, charts, reports, spreadsheets, presentations). This position will ensure compliance with all University fiscal policies and procedures. Additionally, this position will ensure that financial resources are utilized in accordance with the institutional mission and will provide oversight of budget operations. This position is located in Doha, Qatar.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Prepares and implements annual internal budgets;
  • Advises departments and serves as a key resource of information regarding budget management;
  • Provides departmental training on budget preparation and monitoring;
  • Meets regularly with departments  and provides on-going support and guidance for budget development and tracking;
  • Prepares, creates, maintains and distributes relevant budget and financial information and materials;
  • Oversees all budget administration matters from budget inception to final submission;
  • Coordinates and oversees budget development for grants and sponsored research programs, and collaborates with key home campus offices on grant budget development.
  • Analyzes departmental and institution budgets to identify deficiencies, excesses, trends, and imbalances;
  • Works collaboratively with colleagues at VCUQatar and the VCU home campus in Richmond, Virginia to analyze and anticipate budget needs;
  • Builds and supports collaborative relationships with the intent of sharing information with VCU home campus, Qatar Foundation, and partner universities in Education City;
  • Responds in a timely manner to all requests, and assists with the preparation of VCUQatar budget submissions for home campus and the Qatar Foundation;
  • Ensures that variances from the annual operating budget plan are identified and reported including recommendations for corrective measures;
  • Communicates regularly and efficiently with VCU Richmond colleagues, and travel regularly to the home campus.
  • Maintains active membership and participation in professional budget and financial organizations both regionally and internationally;
  • Other duties as assigned.


Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or a related field.
  • A minimum of five years of budget experience in higher education at a management level with a demonstrated commitment to working as an innovative member of a finance team in a University setting.
  • Experienced budget professional and self-motivated collaborator possessing budget modeling, data analysis and presentation and leadership in budget development.
  • Proficiency in Banner or similar administrative applications is highly desired.
  • Established record of progressively responsible positions in areas of budget, financial analysis or cost accounting is essential.
  • Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of administrators, faculty, staff and students.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently while organizing and prioritizing to meet deadlines.
  • Superior record of a strong commitment to customer service.
  • Ability to develop and support professional partnerships with internal and external constituents.
  • A strong understanding of current developments in the profession is expected.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU and VCUQatar.

 

Preferred:

  • Master’s degree in a related field and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification strongly preferred.

 

Benefits

  • Competitive international salary
  • Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
  • 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
  • Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
  • Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
  • Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
  • Monthly transportation allowance
  • Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
  • International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

 


Application Process:

Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, and the names of five references including email and telephone contact information to Tomaree Porter (tlporter@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator, Qatar Support Office. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.

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Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.