Business Manager

The University of Georgia; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Georgia is seeking a Business Manager in Athens to handle professional accounting tasks and manage the life cycle of employees within the COE-Research & Graduate Educ department.

This role requires strong interpersonal skills, meticulous financial oversight of grants and accounts, and collaboration with center directors on budgets and HR processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.
• Knowledge of UGA systems such as UGA Financials, OneUSG Connect, UGA Jobs, P‑Card, UGA Mart, and financial reporting options.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to interact with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to manage multiple processes.

Responsibilities

• Review and reconcile state, IDC, sales, grant, residuals, and foundation accounts monthly.
• Assist with budgets by center directors and monitor revenue/expenditure plans.
• Support faculty with HR and payroll related paperwork and center postings.
• Maintain financial records and reconcile center accounts monthly.
• Advise on HR/payroll policy and prepare or help prepare OneUSG Connect transactions.
• Monitor timecards, approvals, and payroll deadlines to ensure compliance.
• Process purchasing via UGAMart and UGAF, and advise on policies.

Skills

UGA systems knowledge

Office best practices

Interpersonal communication

Organizational & time management

Accounting procedures judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

UGA Financials

OneUSG Connect

UGA Jobs

UGA Mart

P‑Card system

Job description

Business Manager

Department: COE-Research & Graduate Educ

Location: Athens Area

Position Summary

The incumbent of this position handles a variety of tasks of a financial and human resource nature. They perform professional‑level accounting work and manage the life cycle of employees. This individual will need strong interpersonal skills to work with various faculty, staff, students, and administrators at the college level. The incumbent utilizes close attention to grant/contract accounts and maintenance of income accounts to ensure they are current and balanced. They also manage personnel records and positions for all of the MFE COE Research Center employees and complete updates across various UGA systems as needed. Activities and decisions are varied in nature, involving the solving of both common and complex problems. In partnership with college and departmental leadership, the incumbent manages funds, works to evaluate, develop, and improve business processes, and makes financial decisions that are strategic, compliant, and timely. Discretion and confidentiality in financial and personnel conversations and matters are necessary. This employee’s supervisor or other appropriate position is consulted for clarification of policies where needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Knowledge of UGA systems, e.g., UGA Financials, OneUSG Connect, UGA Jobs, P‑Card, UGA Mart, and financial reporting options.
• Knowledge of general office practices and procedures, including strong word processing and spreadsheet skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels, exercising tact, confidentiality, sound judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Able to exercise judgment in maintenance of accounting procedures.

Physical Demands

Work at a computer for several hours during the work day.

Responsibilities

Account Review and Reconciliation

• Review all transactions for state, IDC, sales, grant, residuals, and foundation accounts on monthly basis, comparing local records with appropriate ledgers. Make any needed corrections immediately when errors are identified.
• Work closely with center directors to prepare and maintain budgets. Review account balances with directors regularly in order to discuss plans for revenue and expenditure.
• Assist faculty and post‑award paperwork for grants and contracts.
• Maintain financial records, track all account activity, and reconcile College of Education’s center accounts monthly.

Personnel

• Consult regularly with Center directors regarding personnel needs to help determine appropriate processes needed to ensure appointment changes are made in a timely fashion.
• Advise directors on HR and Payroll policy and procedure.
• Prepare or help prepare UGAJobs postings and help prepare hiring paperwork.
• Complete alternative hiring paperwork (Retire/rehire, dual appointment, Independent Contractor).
• Prepare or help prepare OneUSG Connect transactions for appropriate personnel and position changes.
• Review timecards to ensure appropriate entries and approvals are processed by payroll deadlines.
• Follow up with supervisors where approvals in the compliance component are needed.
• Review Estimated, Additional Pay, and Validate Pay reports for each pay period to ensure accuracy of payroll and report to CBO.
• Assist new hires with HR paperwork.

Manage purchases for Centers, including:

• Process requisitions via UGAMart, payment requests via UGA Financials, and UGAF paper or electronic payment processes.
• Communicate regularly with Centers to determine purchasing needs and distribute materials appropriately when received.
• Advise Centers on policies and procedures related to purchasing and payments. Ensure UGA/UGAF policies and procedures are followed. Review and help in processing of petty cash and gift card account requests. Reconcile transactions on these accounts and balances with custodian on a monthly basis.

Accounts Receivable Process

• Help maintain accounts receivable process, reviewing open invoices on sales accounts, and processing deposit transmittals on behalf of Center staff receiving funds.
• Review Accounts Receivable process on annual basis to ensure compliance with UGA standards.
• Submit accounts receivable paperwork to Accounting and manage the correct depositing as funds are received.
• Creation of invoices for services rendered by the College of Education’s centers.
• Assist faculty with travel arrangements as requested.
• Serve as Expense Delegate when requested to help expedite processing.
• Review expense reimbursements for accuracy, supporting documentation, policy compliance, and available/approved budget.

Equipment and Inventory

• Ensure equipment is appropriately tagged by UGA or by College IT and manage yearly equipment inventory process for College of Education’s centers, including managing yearly review of employee equipment with employee sign‑off (inclusive of non‑tagged equipment).
• Attend regular staff meetings.
• Update directors on fiscal matters using oral and written reporting on a regular basis as needed, and in fixed budget meetings twice monthly.

Credit and P-Card Policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre‑employment drug test for positions with high‑risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit UGA Background Check website.

Contact Details

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name: Pepa Deltcheva

Recruitment Contact Email: [e-mail]

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.