Business Manager

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2019-10486
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Administrative Support

Princeton University

Overview

Supporting the leadership of the School of Architecture to achieve organizational goals and objectives, the Business Manager (BM) is responsible for exercising controllership and reporting functions over the financial operations of the School. The BM provides timely and accurate financial information on past and future activities to support executive decision-making; ensures the optimal, strategic and proper use of funds; analyzes financial data; leads budgeting processes; pro-actively identifies and resolves financial issues; ensures the accuracy and reliability of financial records; creates and maintains efficient and effective financial processes and procedures with adequate financial controls; serves as a resource on financial matters not only to management but also to faculty, staff and students; provides training to department staff who have finance-related duties and responsibilities and provides oversight of their related work. In addition, this role is expected to back-up the School Manager of Finance and Administration as needed, and in their absence.

Responsibilities

Financial Leadership/ Planning and Forecasting

• Design and develop reporting formats and underlying budgeting and reporting tools and processes.
• Solicit operational information critical to the budgeting process. Develop budgets and "what if" scenarios.
• Compare actual against budgeted performances.
• Develop findings and recommendations.
• Prepare financial reports and present to the applicable management. Implement action items resulting from the budgeting and reporting processes.
• Manage over 300 chart strings within four sub-departments and in excess of 100 funding sources that we are fiscally responsible for.

Financial management

• Ensure the appropriate use of funds according to (1) fund balances, (2) the financial policies and guidelines of the university, (3) generally-accepted accounting principles (4) donor restrictions, and (5) financial commitments as formulated in related budgets.
• Facilitate the ensuing budgeting, reporting and coding processes by defining, ahead of financial transactions, the applicable chart strings and accounts for different income/expense groupings within the SoA.
• Communicate the chart string and account plan to the broad organization with ample descriptions and definitions.
• Monitor compliance to the plan by reviewing and analyzing financial data. Ensure the correction of errors.
• Monitor fund balances and resolve deficit conditions.

Financial processing

• Approve expenditures within spending limits and review those above such limits; monitor efficiency and effectiveness of processes and procedures and create/improve as necessary.
• Train personnel with finance-related tasks and provide oversight on these tasks; provide transactional assistance; research financial issues
• Reach out to contacts in F&T, SRA, ORPA and other departments as necessary
• Collaborate with SoA Manager of Finance and Administration as well as the SoA Dean.

Other School administrative responsibilities

• Manage records of all corporate cards issued to faculty and staff.
• Reviews weekly Unexpended Transaction Report and is responsible for resolving any items outstanding greater than 60 days.
• Reviews requests for new cards and limit increases based upon need.
• Follows up with faculty and staff regarding end dates for cards issued to visitors and that statements are reconciled.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in accounting, business administration, or related discipline and 4 years of relevant budgetary and financial management experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Must be reliable, adaptable, and responsive to meet changing work demands.
• Ability to maintain composure, tact, and focus in fast paced and dynamic work environment.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, exercise discretion and good judgment.
• Ability to work well with colleagues, including faculty, administrators, and students.
• Proficient in MS Office Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access).
• Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Must be able to exercise independent judgement.

Preferred:

• Experience in a university setting is desirable
• Degree in accounting is desirable. Master’s Degree is preferable but not required.
• Knowledge of academic processes and procedures at Princeton University, particularly CAP/CUP;
• Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Prime, Concur, Labor Accounting, and Blackboard

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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