‘The sense of community has truly made it feel like home’
Sulaiman Saleem Lalani
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, OFFICE OF FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION & BUDGET
Sulaiman Saleem Lalani joined the Office of Finance and Budget in June 2024 as Director of Finance with a focus on IU Auditorium and Early Childhood Education Services. Born in Pakistan, Sulaiman graduated from the University of Karachi with a degree in commerce. He was a fellow with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and went on to work in risk analysis and forecasting, with eventual roles as Chief Financial Officer and Controller.
He and his wife, Kehkashan, lived in Texas for two months when they first came to the U.S. When Kehkashan got a nursing position with IU Health, Sulaiman found his position at FAB—and a perfect community for the two. “One of the reasons I feel so connected to Bloomington is because of its wonderful walking trails and the beautiful weather that make it easy to explore the city. I love wandering through the streets, soaking in the historical landmarks and architecture,” Sulaiman said. “As new immigrants, it was the perfect place to begin our journey, and the sense of community has truly made it feel like home.”
Q: What led you to Indiana University?
A: What initially led me to Indiana University was my wife’s job opportunity at IU Health. Through her, I discovered a job opening at Indiana University and was fortunate enough to secure the position. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity. We appreciate the welcoming culture, the city’s four beautiful seasons, the stunning architecture of the university, and the overall diversity and acceptance we’ve experienced in Bloomington. As new immigrants, it was the perfect place to begin our journey, and the sense of community has truly made it feel like home.
Q:What do you want people to know about your work that they may not know?
A: IU Campus Auxiliaries are the backbone that support students, staff, and residents by enhancing their quality of life through transportation, dining and hospitality, child care, print services, the warehouse and surplus store, and more. Specifically, I serve as the fiscal officer for the Early Childhood Education Services and IU Auditorium. I take great pride in being part of those units, which serve the IU and Bloomington communities. As the fiscal officer, I work to ensure their budgetary needs are met and that financial reports accurately reflect progress and success.
Q: What's the best part of your job and why?
A: The best part of my job is simplifying finance for stakeholders who excel in their fields but find numbers challenging. I enjoy translating the valuable qualitative work of IU Campus Auxiliaries into clear, quantitative data to ensure their efforts are visible and measurable. By monitoring budgets and providing timely gap analyses, I help keep us on track and often help us exceed our expectations. Making finance easy to understand helps everyone maximize their potential and stay aligned with our goals.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: It’s all about walking and exploring. One of the reasons I feel so connected to Bloomington is because of its wonderful walking trails and the beautiful weather that make it easy to explore the city. I love wandering through the streets, soaking in the historical landmarks and architecture. I prefer to capture these visuals through my eyes rather than through the lens of a camera. And there’s still so much more to discover!
Q: What advice do you give people who want to do what you do professionally?
A: Try, try, and try again until you succeed. Never regret or fear failure—it’s all part of the journey. If something isn’t working for you, change the way you approach it, or even change the path altogether. Success has many forms and faces. If not today, if not tomorrow, you’ll get there one day. Keep pushing forward with persistence and adaptability.
