Description
Job Overview
This position is responsible for all aspects of the McCourt School of Public Policy budget and financial operations. This position is a key position on the McCourt School of Public Policy Finance Team, reporting directly to the SBM. This position manages one position homed in McCourt School of Public Policy to manage all budget, planning, actuals, financial operations, and year end projections within McCourt School of Public Policy.
The Deputy Senior Business Manager (DSBM) will serve as the lead finance and business partner that leads and executes all financial aspects of their school's daily operations. Responsibilities include oversight of financial operations, management of actual financial performance, review and oversight of HCM and research expenditures and other activities directed by the SBM for their school. The DSBM will work directly with procurement and expense analysts (or accountants), serving as a liaison between the Office of the CFO and their school.
Work Interactions
The Deputy SBM will report directly to the Senior Business Manager for their school. This position will oversee the planning and budget analyst, procurement and expense analyst’s day-to-day activities for the financial management service center, coordinating work and giving guidance on policies and procedures. The DSBM will coordinate with planning counterparts, ensuring the analysts understand and support the functional activities for execution.
The Deputy SBM will regularly collaborate with other DSBM’s from schools and administrative areas and be part of the Main Campus Financial Operations Working Group that will be coordinated and led by the Campus Director for Financial Accounting and Compliance from the Provost Finance Office
Requirements and Qualifications
Master’s, Business or accounting preferred. A Bachelor’s degree plus substantial experience in closely related fields may substitute for a Master’s degree.
8+ years' progressive work experience financial analysis and budgeting in a sophisticated office environment.
Relevant financial acumen (budgeting, transactional support, revenue-generating activities, chart of accounts, journals, requisitions, purchase orders, procurement, and travel). Must be a subject matter expert in at least several of these functions
Ability to build and utilize financial reports
Advanced business analytics skills
Ability to support the establishment and management of budgets of at between $10M and $50M
Prior experience working with complex teams
Strong communications and customer service skills
Ability to engage regularly with internal and external stakeholders, including unit leads and administrators across the institution
Ability to engage in an efficient and professional manner
Strong organizational and time management skills; proficiency managing and prioritizing multiple tasks
Ability to work with a variety of financial systems, with prior experience preferred in Workday, Adaptive, and Cognos
Ability to interpret the strategic goals and plan for assigned units
Enrollment and financial planning experience
Revenue and expenditure analysis experience
Prior experience with complex financial and longitudinal planning and financial forecasting
Adaptability and flexibility
Attention to detail
Ability to triage and solve complex challenges and requests
Ability to engage internal and external stakeholders
Excellent customer service, including interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, with a mastery of excel and experience with managing and analyzing large volumes of data
Strong analytical ability
Service oriented, professional demeanor and a team orientation is required; i.e. avoiding “that’s not my job”
Ability to work well under pressure, in a high paced environment, and have a sense of humor.
Strong time management skills, with the ability to prioritize work and multi-tasking to meet deadlines.
Ability to think outside the box and to solve problems creatively
Preferred requirements and qualifications should be listed separately here.
Professional accounting qualification desirable
Experience in higher education financial administration
Strategic Financial Management
• Serve as a critical and holistic source of support for the school’s Dean’s Administrative Team by providing both financial and administrative expertise
• Serve as the senior administrative and fiscal officer for financial matters, policy development, and program evaluation for Institution's McCourt School of Public Policy.
• Lead annual budgeting and planning activities for all units within the school in partnership with the Dean and school/campus leadership, including: short- and long-term strategic planning and models for academic programs, tuition, centers, and business units; tuition and price setting analysis
• Develop financial models for gift stewardship and spending, cross-school interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts, profitability analysis, and financial performance dashboards
• Support school leadership team and program directors in conceptualizing, prioritizing, and planning new programs or program changes from the financial and business operations perspective
• Lead planning and management of new gifts in accordance with University policies and procedures, including: gift tracking, restricted funds spend review, pledge conversion review; and gift stewardship
Direct and manage financial operations including budget development, forecasts, long range plans for achievement of the school’s academic financial goals
• Oversight for compliance with all applicable federal and local labor laws and regulations.
• Oversight for development of internal programs and policies and adherence to the University's personnel philosophy.
• Apply analytical and planning expertise as needed in support of administrative, financial, and facilities management and program development activities.
• Work closely with senior officers from across the institution to develop university policies, procedures, and systems in a wide range of areas to make positive contributions to improve administration at The Institution.
• Provide creative and thoughtful leadership for the development of funding, compensation and resources allocation strategies, and policies which enable and enhance the McCourt School's research and teaching missions.
• Administer merit review process and staff development initiatives.
• Financial oversight for the Executive Education Unit.
Enrollment Planning and Analysis
• Enrollment planning and analysis, including: collaboration with Dean, graduate program directors, and Associate Director for Finance & Operations to develop financial plans and budgets for all graduate programs within the school; manage and maintain graduate program scholarship allocation; lead graduate financial aid planning
• Manage and maintain graduate financial aid analysis
HCM Business Planning and Operations
Work with Deans and Vice Deans on strategic staffing and resource planning
• Responsible for directing position budget management
• Responsible for HCM business transactions financial budget review and approval.
• Work with the appropriate Vice Dean / Associate Dean / Faculty Director and Deputy SBM on finalizing faculty merit; oversight of staff merit
• Interpret and ensure all staff adhere to University personnel policies and procedures.
• Ensure school's computing and technology needs are met. Work with Manager of Technology and UIS officials on designing and modifying school-wide information systems.
• Advise key personnel within the various departments of the School on operations and programs of an administrative nature.
• Participate in the recruitment of key McCourt leadership positions (staff) and in resource negotiations.
• Administer the flow of administrative, financial, budgetary, and statistical information and reporting for the School from various University units.
• Conduct and direct special projects, and represent the McCourt School on numerous task forces
Operations Management
• Direct responsibility for Finance and Administration, Facilities Planning and Management, and Information Technology.
• Management and oversight over space allocations, renovations, leases, and facilities in collaboration with appropriate University and campus offices, including: financial allocations and budgets; normal and deferred maintenance and renovation requests and projects, etc.
• Review, monitor, and ensure compliance for sponsored research performance within the school or unit, including: internal research awards administration; post-award financial administration; approve and plan for cost share commitments
Procurement and Financial Expenditures Analysis and Approvals
• Transactional approval up to assign system dollar threshold via assigned and relevant Workday (GMS) roles, fulfilling all transactional responsibilities within a timely fashion
• Liaise with and support financial analysts/DSBM assigned to initiate and review all school-related transactions
• As needed or on an exceptions-basis, review and ensure procurement and financial policies compliance, including: routine expenditure reporting and compliance checks; engagement with OCFO and campus offices on policy compliance, adherence with policies, and routine/direct communication with Provost Office and OCFO on all controls.
Financial Liaison and Support
• Participation and leadership in campus- and university-wide financial meetings, task forces and working groups
• Support onboarding, training, and development of assigned financial and budget analysts, including: acclimation and structural understanding of school/unit’s business model; general university and campus policies and procedures; system and functional training support and engagement; feedback on performance for annual and periodic performance reviews; and feedback/recommendations for continued optimization of university training resources and references for effective financial management and performance.
• Special assignments and collaborations with the Dean, Provost, Main Campus CFO, or OCFO