Deputy Commissioner/Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Position Description \& Details

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\# of positions: 1

Position \#: 00010156

Central Office Location:

Bismarck, ND

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT:

This is a full\-time, 12\-month, benefited position in the 0000/Executive Broadband job classification exempt from FLSA overtime.

CLOSING DATE:

Applications received by 11:59 pm on April 26, 2026 will be given first consideration. Open until filled.

SALARY:

Salary is commensurate with experience and level of preparation.

BENEFITS:

The North Dakota University System offers a competitive benefit package including a generous retirement plan and employer paid family health insurance, basic life insurance, sick leave, annual leave, employee tuition waiver, spouse/dependent tuition discount, and 10 paid holidays.

WORK ENVIORNMENT:

The central office is located in Bismarck, North Dakota. A remote work location in ND may be considered. The position requires frequent instate travel to NDUS institutions, SBHE meetings, legislative sessions, and other locations as necessary.

Job Summary

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The Deputy Commissioner serves as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the North Dakota University System (NDUS) and reports directly to the Commissioner. This position provides system\-wide executive leadership for all financial and administrative operations across NDUS institutions and the System Office, ensuring sound fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the strategic priorities of the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE).

As a member of the Commissioner’s executive leadership team, the Deputy Commissioner is responsible for strategic financial planning, fiscal and administrative policy development, governance support with multi\-institution coordination efforts. The role advises the Commissioner and SBHE on complex financial, and administrative matters affecting the system as a whole and represents the NDUS in legislative, board, and external forums. The Deputy Commissioner provides executive oversight of financial reporting, accounting, budgeting, purchasing, audit, financial aid, institutional research reporting and retirement programs. The position develops fiscal and administrative policies for review by the SBHE Budget and Finance Committee and final approval by the SBHE, ensuring consistency, transparency, and compliance across all institutions.

The Deputy Commissioner chairs the Administrative Affairs Council, comprised of campus Vice Presidents of Finance, and serves as a key contributor to system\-level committees including NDUSRetirement Plan Oversight, Challenge Fund Grant, SBHE Governance, and SBHE Audit. The role also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the NDUS Foundation, leads various NDUS task forces, and provides coordination and leadership on cross\-system initiatives.

Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner serves as a primary system office representative to the Interim Higher Education Legislative Committee, coordinating NDUS presentations, responding to legislative inquiries, attending meetings, and building effective working relationships with legislators and external stakeholders. Through these responsibilities, the position plays a critical role in advancing the financial integrity, operational effectiveness, and long\-term sustainability of the North Dakota University System.

Minimum Qualifications

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• Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• 10\+years of progressively responsible leadership experience in finance and administration within higher education, state government, or a comparably complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial reporting, policy development, and executive\-level decision\-making.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to appropriate standards of conduct and ethics, including confidentiality, integrity, and honesty.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing with high level contacts (internal and external), requiring tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated sound decision\-making skills and ability to pivot quickly when priorities shift.
• Experience and comfort interacting across levels of an organization, including board members, senior executives and government officials.

Preferred Qualifications

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• Experience working at a North Dakota University System campus with direct responsibility for institutional budgeting, financial planning and analysis, accounting, and fiscal policy implementation.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or comparable professional certification preferred (e.g., CMA).
• Experience in a multi\-institution or system\-level higher education environment.
• Experience working directly with governing boards, legislative bodies, and state agencies.
• Experience with state open meetings and open records laws.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

System\-Wide Financial Leadership and Budgeting (25%)

• Provide executive leadership and oversight of all financial and administrative functions for the NDUS, ensuring consistency, transparency, and accountability across institutions.
• Lead long\-range system financial planning, forecasting, and sustainability initiatives.
• Identify system\-level financial risks and recommend strategies to mitigate operational, compliance, and reputational exposure.
• Direct the development, coordination, and oversight of the NDUS operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor system\-wide financial performance and ensure accurate, timely financial reporting.
• Coordinate budget submissions and financial materials for SBHE and upon request from the Governor’s Office, and the Legislature.
• Development of annual and biennial budget guidelines for the NDUS for SBHE approval, including tuition and fee rates.
• Development of new funding methodologies in cooperation with campuses and the executive and legislative branches.
• Monitor budget status on a regular basis and reporting to SBHE Budget and Finance Committee.
• Develop criteria and options for allocation of funding provided to the SBHE.
• Develop annual and biennial budget proposals for the NDUS Office for consideration by the Commissioner.

NDUS Legislative and External Relations (20%)

• Serve as the primary NDUS representative on fiscal and administrative matters with the legislature.
• Coordinate system financial presentations, respond to legislative inquiries, and support testimony and briefing materials related to higher education finance and administration.
• Attend meetings and provide information, as requested.
• Review all legislation for monitoring purposes.
• Lead legislative communication and testimony process with campuses.
• Collaborate with other state entities regarding legislation.
• Prepare all fiscal notes on behalf of the NDUS.

Shared Services (20%)

• Lead and contribute to systemwide financial strategic planning initiatives, ensuring alignment of financial strategy with the NDUS mission, priorities, and long\-term goals.
• Develop and oversee annual system financial accountability measures to support transparency, fiscal stewardship, and informed decision\-making across all campuses.
• Conduct ongoing review and analysis of financial performance measures to ensure veracity, accuracy, consistency, and comparability of reporting across the 11 campus CFO operations, and to drive continuous improvement.
• Develop and recommend fiscal and administrative policies for review by the SBHE Budget and Finance Committee and final approval by the SBHE.
• Review fiscal and administrative proposals with the Commissioner’s Cabinet prior to SBHE consideration.
• Ensure NDUS compliance with applicable laws, regulations, audit standards, and SBHE policies.
• Provide leadership for systemwide shared services initiatives as directed by the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE), advancing administrative efficiency, service quality, and long\-term financial sustainability.
• Collaborate with campus presidents, chief administrative officers, and functional leaders to identify, design, and implement shared service models that support institutional missions while reducing duplication and administrative burden.
• Serve as a trusted partner to campuses by listening, engaging, and collaborating to understand unique institutional needs and operational constraints when evaluating shared services opportunities.
• Facilitate cross\-campus coordination and stakeholder engagement to promote consistent practices, economies of scale, and effective service delivery across the system.

Financial Reporting (10%)

• Prepare System responses to financial, internal control, performance and federal audit recommendations, as appropriate.
• Coordinate implementation of audit recommendations across the NDUS or at individual institutions, where necessary.
• Responsible for coordinating the collection, analysis and reporting of statistical data and analysis to provide accurate and current assessment of facilities, and related improvements.
• Provide information to the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) on audits.
• Prepare consolidated NDUS financial statements.
• Prepare and implement consistent accounting procedures and controls.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards.

Salary Administration and Retirement Plans (5%)

• Monitor and evaluate proposed and approved changes to employee compensation and benefits.
• Oversee the administration of NDUS retirement and disability plans.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of the NDUS Office salary administration plan including annual salary recommendations and market analysis recommendations.
• Coordinate administration and ongoing support of NDUS retirement plans.

Administrative Operations Oversight and Staff Supervision (10%)

• Oversee system\-level functions including accounting, budgeting, purchasing, IR reporting, financial aid, audit and retirement programs.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and performance evaluation for the following direct reports: Director of Finance, Director of Financial Aid, Chief Executive Audit Officer, Director of Institutional Research Reporting/Chief Data Analyst.
• Provide indirect supervision and leadership for the following positions: Office Accountants (2\), Financial Reporting, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Financial Aid Assistant, Senior Internal Auditor, Institutional Researchers (2\), Director of Reporting and Analytics, and Business Intelligence Specialist.
• Provide guidance and coordination to campus chief financial and administrative officers to promote best practices and consistent application of policy.
• Serve as Chair of the Administrative Affairs Council, comprised of campus vice presidents and chief financial officers.
• Foster a collaborative, service\-oriented culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and effective system\-campus partnerships.

Committees, Foundations, and Special Assignments (5%)

• Serve as a principal contributor to NDUS and SBHE committees, including those related to retirement plan oversight, audit, governance, and special initiatives.
• Serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the NDUS Foundation, as assigned.
• Key contributor and participant in Commissioner’s Cabinet and SBHE meetings, including preparation of materials, recommendations, presentations and appropriate follow\-up.
• Lead or participate in multiple system\-wide task forces and special projects at the direction of the Commissioner.

Contract Administration (5%)

• Coordinate joint purchasing activities across the NDUS and in cooperation with the State Procurement Office.
• Lead NDUS/OMB system\-wide procurement initiative.
• Ensure compliance and monitor all financial activities for the NDUS Office, including student financial aid and block\-grant line items.
• Negotiate and oversee contracts and payment calculations for Minnesota reciprocity and other states participating in student exchange programs.
• Review and approve contracts for the NDUS Office and Core Technology Services.
• Review financial status of all new academic program proposals.

Key Competencies, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of public\-sector finance, budgeting, and administrative operations.
• Ability to analyze complex financial and policy issues and communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and consensus\-building skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership and stewardship of public resources.
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Federal and state financial regulatory and compliance knowledge and expertise
• Change management and organizational development
• Collaborative leadership and team building
• Ethical and Cultural Stewardship

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants should apply online at https://ndus.edu/about/careers/ and upload a cover letter specifically addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications, a current resume and names and email addresses of three professional references.

To be considered for this position, and in order to move forward in the search process applicants must upload:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Names, Titles and email addresses of Professional References

Applicants who are veterans and eligible to claim veteran’s preference must include Form DD214 with the application for employment; claims for disabled veteran’s preference must include Form DD214 and a letter less than one year old from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating disability; claims for preference as the eligible spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran must include Form DD214, a marriage certificate and a letter less than one year old from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating disability, or the veteran’s death certificate. Due to access to restricted information, the successful candidate will be required to complete satisfactory criminal and credit background checks.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. and I\-9 employment certification is required at hire. There is no sponsorship available for this position.

Persons who may need additional job information or may require accommodation or assistance with the application or interview process should contact Jane Grinde at (701\) 328\.4217, or e\-mail jane.grinde@ndus.edu. TTY Number 1\-800\-366\-6888\.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF APPLICATION MATERIALS: Pursuant to NDCC 44\-04\-18\.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are exempt from public record, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified finalists.

EEO/AA STATEMENT: NDUS/Core Technology Services is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE NOTICE: Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD\-214 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.

NO SMOKING NOTICE: As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23\-12\-10