Leads and manages the financial administration, business planning, accounting, and budgeting for athletics. Leads the vision and goals of departments and oversees implementation strategies.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, trusted, and proactive leader with impeccable attention to detail, organizational excellence, and follow-through. This individual will also play a visible role as an active and engaging member of the Director of Athletics’ Executive Leadership Team, contributing to departmental culture, planning, and execution. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their work, values collaboration, and wants to help build a championship-caliber department that competes for conference titles and makes deep NCAA runs — while upholding the “Shocker Way” of integrity, innovation, and excellence. We need a strategic thinker who plans ahead and executes proactively and thrives in a fast-paced environment and embraces challenges.

In addition to financial leadership, the selected candidate may serve as a sport administrator for one or more varsity programs. Offering guidance and operational support to coaches and student-athletes; must be able to travel with assigned team(s) as part of those responsibilities.

Essential Functions

Directs the development analysis and implementation of athletic financial operations including capital and/or operating budgets and expenditures. Establishes and manages financial systems. Oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of policies, objectives and short and long-range planning. Develops standards and directs others on all financial reporting, special analyses and information requests; Recommends programmatic and fiscal changes. Leads athletic budget and administrative operations training, ensuring adherence to policies and regulations. Directs cross-functional leadership teams, ensuring resources are strategically assigned and successful attainment of goals. Establishes, defines, plans, and communicates the vision and direction of athletics, and establishes long-range goals and objectives.

Job Duties

Provide strategic oversight of all financial operations, including budget development, analysis, forecasting, and reporting for a 16-sport NCAA Division I program. Manage cash-flow planning, long-range forecasting, and fiscal strategy, ensuring operational efficiency and resource optimization. Lead and coordinate annual audits (EADA, NCAA, University) and manage property roll forward and depreciation schedules. Oversee capital project funding, debt planning, and infrastructure investments in collaboration with university and foundation partners. Develop and implement financial policies, training, and compliance processes consistent with NCAA, conference, state, and institutional regulations. Partner with development, marketing, and external relations to strengthen revenue generation and long-term financial sustainability. Serve as a visible, hands-on leader—highly organized, efficient, responsive, and aligned with the department’s championship vision. May serve as sport administrator for one or more varsity programs — including travel responsibilities with assigned team(s).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Dedication to ongoing learning and professional advancement, alongside financial responsibility; demonstrating curiosity, a growth mentality, and the pursuit of knowledge via certifications, continuous education, and professional affiliations. Excellent communicator—in person, in writing, and across all platforms. Service-minded professional who genuinely enjoys working in college athletics and supporting coaches and student-athletes. Demonstrates character, integrity, accountability, and competitive drive. Embraces challenges with a growth mindset and a proactive, solution-oriented approach. Thrives in fast-paced environments; organized, efficient, and responsive with exceptional attention to detail. Passionate about contributing to a first-in-class, championship-level program built on integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Demonstrated success leading or coordinating annual audits (EADA, NCAA, University, or comparable).

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, Sports Management, or related field Master’s degree Proven record overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, journal entries, zero-based budgeting, cash flow management, property roll forward, and depreciation schedules. Supervisory experience and a track record of mentoring high-performing teams strongly preferred.

Additional Information:

Cover letter should be focused on detailing interest in Wichita State and this position.

Review of applications begins immediately, with first-round interviews targeted for early December.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Ten (10) years of experience in athletic business management or related field, with three (3) years of experience in a leadership role. Every 30 hours of college coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or sports management may be substituted for (1) year of experience.

About Wichita State Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Wichita State University has a long tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship that spurs the economy and serves the needs of the local community. This is the place where anything is possible. Where collaboration and innovative ideas shape the future, and entrepreneurship is in our bones. If you have the creativity, passion and insight to help us build a brighter future for our city, state and world—this is the place where you belong. Wichita State University is a member of the American Athletic Conference and sponsors 15 Division I sports.

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